Operational Deputy Manager Ofsted

Operational Lead / Clinical Practice Lead (Deputy Manager Level) Children's Residential Services - Complex Needs / Tier 4 Pathway

Salary: Up to £100,000 per annum (DOE)

Full-time Leadership Role Residential Care Setting

We are currently recruiting for a highly experienced Operational Lead / Clinical Practice Lead to join a specialist children's residential service supporting young people with complex needs, mental health challenges, trauma, and neurodiverse presentations.

This is a senior leadership position, functioning at Deputy Manager level operationally, with a strong focus on therapeutic practice, clinical leadership, and service quality improvement across a high-support residential environment.

This is not a purely clinical role, we are looking for someone who can combine hands on operational leadership with strong therapeutic understanding and practice leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership (Deputy Manager Level)

• Act as senior operational lead on shift, including in the absence of the Registered Manager
• Support staffing, rota management, and workforce planning
• Ensure safe staffing levels and effective daily coordination of the home
• Oversee incident response and operational decision making
• Ensure compliance with Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards

Staff Leadership & Development

• Lead, supervise, and support staff teams in high pressure environments
• Deliver supervision, induction, and ongoing staff development
• Address practice concerns and promote consistent, high quality care
• Model calm, structured, and therapeutic leadership

Safeguarding & Incident Management

• Lead on safeguarding concerns, incidents, and high risk behaviours
• Manage situations including self harm, aggression, and missing episodes
• Ensure accurate reporting, escalation, and documentation
• Support staff to deliver proportionate, child centred responses

Therapeutic & Clinical Practice Leadership

• Embed trauma informed and therapeutic approaches across the service
• Support formulation led practice and behaviour understanding
• Lead reflective practice and case discussions with staff
• Strengthen staff understanding of behaviour, attachment, and trauma

Multi Agency Working

• Work closely with external professionals including CAMHS and social care
• Contribute to MDT meetings, placement reviews, and risk planning
• Support safe transitions and placement stability

What We're Looking For

We are open to two main backgrounds:

Option 1: Children's Residential Experience

• Strong experience at Deputy Manager / Operational Lead level
• Proven background in children's residential care (EBD / complex needs)

OR Option 2: Clinical Background

• RMN / RNLD / Mental Health Nurse
• Experience working with CAMHS, community mental health, or residential settings supporting young people

Essential Requirements

• Strong experience supporting high risk children and young people
• Confident in safeguarding, incident management, and escalation procedures
• Competent in medication administration, including:
  • Controlled drugs
  • PRN (anxiety/agitation medication)
  • MAR charts
• Minimum Level 2 medication training
• Strong understanding of when to escape to CAMHS / GP / crisis services
• Ability to lead and develop staff in complex environments

What's on Offer

• Salary up to £100,000 per annum (DOE)
• Senior leadership position within a specialist therapeutic service
• Opportunity to shape clinical and operational practice
• Strong MDT and therapeutic support structure
• Career progression toward senior registration level roles

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership position where operational responsibility and clinical practice leadership come together. You will play a key role in shaping the quality of care, staff development, and therapeutic approach across the service.