Children's Residential Deputy Manager

Job Introduction

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.  

This full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £41,585 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.  

We are excited to be hiring a Children's Residential Deputy Manager  to join our fantastic residential team based at Applewood in Tadworth. 

This role is offered as a 12-month secondment opportunity. Please discuss with your Line Manager before submitting your application.  

Are you committed to providing a caring and safe home environment for children and young people? Are you a champion for creating the right conditions in which children and young people can thrive and seize opportunities? If so, we’d love you hear from you. 

Our Offer to You  

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service 
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave 
• A generous local government salary related pension  
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year  
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave 
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing  
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources 
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping 
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents 

We can support you to obtain a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Care if you are looking to build your career, as well as access to a range of learning and development activities including Restorative Approaches, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Behaviour Support and Contextual Safeguarding supporting you to progress your career. 

About The Role 

As a Deputy Manager in our home, you will help and support the team on a daily basis, whilst having the children and young people's interest at heart. Each of our residential homes is a specialist in a specific area of need. At Applewood we provide support for families of children with disabilities aged 5-18, offering overnight breaks and day care. 

As a Deputy you will be the heart and soul of our home, working alongside the Home Manager to provide operational leadership and make sure everything runs smoothly with the day to day management of the home and any linked services. 

You’ll support the growth and development of our children and young people by: 

• Ensuring they are listened to
• Ensuring they feel safe and cared for
• Providing them with opportunities to take part in games, activities and days out
• Promoting self-belief and creating the conditions to achieve endless possibilities

As a senior member of the team, we are looking for someone who is caring and passionate about our children and young people achieving their potential and this includes staff too!  

You’ll supervise and support staff to deliver services that meet the needs of our children and young people whilst injecting fun, energy and adventure into how things are done. Work will include managing complexity, risk or vulnerability, which means you will need to know the Ofsted inspection framework, the quality standards governing children’s homes and be able to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of work within the home. We also want you to be connected to your team and our young people providing them with visible leadership that is aspirational. 

We value our employees for the unique skills, backgrounds and perspectives they bring to the table, and we work continuously to help bring out the best in all our people, offering opportunities for development and flexibility, where possible. 

Your Application    

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours: 

• Proven ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with children/young people, their families and professionals involved in their care, and knowledge of the issues that affect them
• Proven experience in supervising, inspiring and leading staff, enabling them to improve practice and outcomes for young people
• Demonstrable competence in effective assessment, risk management and strengths-based care planning
• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent
• GCSEs in Maths and English (or equivalent alternative) and good IT skills
• In-depth knowledge of delivering statutory childcare services including at least 2 years’ experience relevant to the residential care of children and knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards

As part of your application you will be asked to submit a CV and answer the following questions:  

1. Please tell us about your motivation for applying for this role.
2. Please tell us about your knowledge of the Ofsted Inspection Framework and children’s homes quality standards, with an example of where you have you had to apply and adhere to these.
3. Please tell us about a time when you have provided effective leadership, what was the situation and the outcome?
4. This role will involve supporting others to work together as a team to improve outcomes for children and young people. Tell us about your experience of having supported and worked as part of a team around a child/ young person.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and our residential staff will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across the county. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job. 

Contact Us 

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Sarah Muzzall by e-mail at residentialrecruitment@surreycc.gov.uk 

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 12/10/2025 with interviews to follow. 

An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role. 

We are committed to the safe recruitment of staff in our Residential homes across Surrey therefore if you are successful in being offered a role within our service, we will work with you to collect all required checks in line with government guidance. You can find out more about what information you will be asked to provide HERE.  

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)   

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.    

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council   

 We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.    

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.