We are offering an additional retention payment of £3,000 to eligible deputy managers for the period 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024, subject to normal tax and national insurance deductions. For employees joining us after 1 December 2023 the payment will be adjusted on a pro rata basis.
As a Deputy Manager in our children’s residential service, you’ll thrive on ensuring that each young person in your care feels heard and is fully supported to achieve their potential, whatever challenges they face.
It’s not only about managing staff cover and the day-to-day operation of the home; as Deputy Manager you will play an active role in the lives of children and young people. The children have asked for someone who can do arts and crafts, take them to the movies, play games, keep them safe…and who likes pizza! Is this you?
It’s an exciting time to join Leeds City Council’s children’s services, rated outstanding by Ofsted at our last inspection. We are significantly investing in our children’s residential care across Leeds, including care for young people with disabilities.
We’re recruiting a Deputy Manager for a new, purpose-built 4-bed home in East Leeds, which will provide a stable home for young people with physical and/or learning disabilities, complex and potentially challenging needs.
We are also looking for senior staff who feel ready to expand and further their career as a Deputy Manager in homes around the city as we expand our provision for young people.
We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As Deputy Manager (children’s homes) you will bring appropriate experience and qualifications to the role. We will fund your studies if you do not already hold the specified Level 5 Diploma.
You must have:
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Child Care and Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (or willingness to complete Level 5 within 2 years)
- at least 2 years’ experience relevant to residential care in the last 5 years
- extensive knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and associated quality standards
- understanding of care planning and case management, with the ability to liaise constructively with professionals and families and manage challenging situations
- ability to lead a team, supervise and motivate colleagues
About the role
As our next Deputy Manager, you will bring a pro-social behaviour, restorative and solution-focused approach to the role. You will assess each young person’s needs and develop action plans to encourage behavioural change and promote positive relationships.
The role is integral to the management team in the home and leads on managing the home and staff team to ensure a safe, stimulating environment and excellent round-the-clock care.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary plus enhancements for nights and weekends
- generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holiday allowance
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities, including support to study for relevant qualifications
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words. Please ensure that your full employment history is covered in your CV.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please email workinginchildrenshomes@leeds.gov.uk.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2022. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job purpose
The Deputy Manager takes an active role in the lives of children and young people and is responsible for the provision of a safe and stimulating environment which primarily provides good quality care for children and young people. You will assess their needs and encourage behavioural and/or relational change through proactive and positive interaction, maintaining a pro-social behaviour, restorative and solution focused approach.
You will support the Registered Manager in the delivery of a high quality service that meets the emotional and developmental needs of children and young people.
You will take the lead role in the day-to-day leadership and management of the home in the provision of a safe home environment for children and young people; delivered in line with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and the associated quality standards. You will organise, deploy and manage staff ensuring work patterns and rotas are flexible and maintained to ensure cover always meets the needs of the service.
Special conditions
This post is subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure and Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
The hours of work are determined by the needs of the service and are worked on a rota basis, which includes weekends, Bank Holidays and, if required, sleeping-in duties.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for managing the physical environment, ensuring repairs and renewals are carried out promptly and health and safety matters are resolved
- Assist the Registered Manager with management of the home and deputise in their absence, commensurate with the grade
- Encourage and foster a commitment to continuous personal and professional growth and skills
- Supervision and appraisal of staff in line with associated policies and procedures, including participation in recruitment, selection, induction, training and support processes as required
- Management and oversight of care planning and risk management within the home and community, ensuring individual care plans are developed, delivered and evaluated, communicating any changes
- Ensure that key working sessions, skills development work and case management of children and young people’s care plans appropriately identify relevant and current risks
- Provide effective challenge to partners and corporate parents to provide resources and services
- Assist in developing, maintaining and monitoring robust quality assurance, audit systems, policies and procedures
- Physically manage young people’s behaviour in line with approved crisis management techniques, guidelines, procedure and interventions (training will be provided)
- Maintain data and information from digital and manual systems, preparing and presenting reports to senior managers and a wide range of audiences
- Keep up to date with local and national developments in respect of children and young people who are looked after, and ensure staff members are informed
- Convene, attend and chair meetings and reviews as required
- Be flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required, commensurate to grade
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion and development programmes
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days and events as requested
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures such as child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all by working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures
- The postholder is expected to work within the parameters of the council’s flexibility protocol
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post
Qualifications
- To work in this role you must hold at minimum NVQ Diploma Level 3 in Residential Child Care and the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. If you do not hold Level 5 we will fund your studies and you must achieve Level 5 within a reasonable period, normally 2 years after starting work.
- A social work qualification is an advantage but not essential to appointment.
Essential requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Management of staff, contributing to their development through appraisal, supervision and training
- Ability to take a lead role, manage, plan, organise and deploy staff, follow procedure and maintain records
- Maintenance of accurate manual and digital records in accordance with GDPR
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people including sensitive and complex information
- Use of initiative to adapt to changing circumstances and develop solutions to issues
- Ability to chair meetings constructively, arbitrating and resolving conflict when necessary
- Effective team working, organisational and time management skills, prioritising own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines
- Budget administration and monitoring, ensuring effective spending of budgeted sums
- In-depth knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and associated quality standards
- Good knowledge and experience of law and practice relating to looked after children
- In-depth knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development
- In-depth knowledge of child protection procedures and the impact of abuse and neglect
- Computer literate with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
- In-depth knowledge of equal opportunities policies and managing diversity
- At least 2 years’ experience relevant to residential care in the last 5 years
- Care planning, risk management and case management
- Leading a team, providing supervision, motivation and direction for staff
- Managing difficult, demanding and challenging children and young people
- Convening, chairing and contributing to meetings and reviews
- Working with budgets and financial management
Essential behavioural and other characteristics required
- Be physically fit enough to carry out all requirements of the role including the use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) to manage challenging behaviour as required
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
