Deputy Manager Children's Home

Join Our Team as a Deputy Manager!

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people? Budwood, part of Polaris Community, is on the lookout for a dedicated Deputy Manager to support our Children's Residential Homes in Poole. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a team and help guide young individuals towards independence in a nurturing environment.

About Us

At Budwood, we are committed to providing high-quality care for children and young adults who have faced challenging experiences. Our mission is to create a stable and supportive home where they can thrive, build confidence, and develop essential life skills.

The Role

As our Deputy Manager, you will play a crucial role in:

• Acting as Home Manager in their absence, with guidance from the Area Manager.
• Supporting and motivating the staff team through supervision, coaching, and development planning.
• Ensuring high-quality care and accommodation for young people, aligned with their individual placement plans.
• Building trusted relationships with young people, promoting safety, respect, and personal development.
• Championing a culture of listening, dignity, and empowerment for all young people.
• Promoting collaborative working with families, education providers, health services, and local authorities.
• Ensuring staff are trained in safeguarding and compliant with policies.
• Being an ambassador for Budwood's therapeutic model, CATCH.
• Assisting with rotas, budget management, and timesheet oversight.
• Leading new staff inductions and conducting absence review meetings.
• Overseeing record-keeping to ensure accuracy and clarity.
• Guiding the team in supporting young people's learning and emotional development.
• Managing home finances when needed and ensuring high domestic standards.
• Supporting inspections, audits, and upholding health & safety compliance.
• Participating in the on-call rota and engaging in continuous professional development.

What We Need From You

To thrive in this role, you should have:

• A Diploma Level 3 in Health and Social Care, Children and Young People, or equivalent (or working towards it).
• At least 2 years of experience in a residential children's home or Supported Living service.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• An understanding of The Children Act 1989 and 2004, as well as Supported Accommodation Quality Standards.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, health & safety, and compliance in care settings.
• Experience in residential care, youth work, or working with young people with Emotional Behavioural Disorders (EBD).
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
• A proactive, flexible, and child-centred approach.

Working Conditions

This is a full-time, 9-month fixed-term contract with a salary range of £24,701.04 - £28,108.08 pro rata, depending on qualifications and experience. You will work 40 hours per week in Poole.

Benefits

We value our team and offer a range of benefits, including:

• 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays).
• A company pension scheme.
• An employee discount scheme.
• Access to wellbeing programmes.
• Monthly clinical and professional supervision.
• Ongoing professional training and development opportunities.

At Budwood, we are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment, and successful applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS check.

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and grow your career with us, we’d love to hear from you!