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Deputy Manager - Children's Home
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Deputy Manager – 6-Bed Children’s Home (Sutton, London)
Location: London Borough of Sutton, SM2 Salary: £39,000 – £43,000 (depending on experience) Contract: Permanent, 40 hours per week
About the Role
At Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust, we create children’s homes where children can thrive. We believe every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
Our 6-bedded home in Sutton supports children aged 11–18 with emotional and behavioural challenges. It is an award-winning facility that set new standards for UK children’s homes, offering a therapeutic, relationship-focused environment.
You’ll join an experienced leadership team, working within a values-driven organisation that prioritises Social Pedagogy—emphasising relationships, empowerment, and wellbeing.
As our Deputy Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping an inspiring home where:
- Children feel safe, valued, and supported
- Young people develop confidence and achieve their ambitions
- A reflective, collaborative team culture thrives
There are also pathways for career progression, with opportunities to move into Registered Manager roles as we expand.
Key Responsibilities
As the Deputy Manager, your role will involve:
- Building trusting relationships with children, families, and colleagues, guiding them towards personal and emotional growth
- Supporting young people in exploring their identities, aspirations, and next steps
- Leading and shaping a high-performing team—fostering a culture where everyone grows and succeeds
- Collaborating closely with the Registered Manager, taking on accountabilities during key visits, inspections, and decision-making
- Coaching and mentoring staff through structured supervision and reflective practice
- Working with schools, families, and external agencies to create joined-up support tailored to each child’s needs
- Contributing to innovation—ideas from our homes shape wicket changes in the sector
- Growing as a leader with clear pathways into Registered Manager roles
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Essential Requirements
Experience & Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
- Proven experience in managing and supervising staff (at a Deputy or Senior level) within a children’s home environment
- Dedicated experience working with teenagers (11–18) with emotional, behavioural, and social challenges
- Post-16 Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent) – with a commitment to progressing to a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management
- Strong ability as a reflective leader, promoting positive, relationship-centred organisational culture
Attributes & Mindset
Your approach should embody:
- Empathy and warmth—building trust with children, families, and colleagues
- Resilience and adaptability—an ongoing commitment to learning and improvement
- An advocate for children’s rights, putting safety and voice at the forefront
- Collaborative, strong communicator, with a growth mindset for leadership progression
Why Work for Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust?
✅ 94% staff retention rate—significantly above sector averages—thanks to exceptional wellbeing and development opportunities ✅ Supports charity values—financial surpluses reinvest into better care outcomes for children ✅ Professional growth—free Level 6 Diploma in Residential Childcare (fully funded) ✅ Flexible learning and ongoing training backed by partnerships with universities ✅ World-class children’s homes—recognized with National Children’s Homes Innovation Award & the Stephen Lawrence Prize
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Benefits
All staff members benefit from a comprehensive compensation package, including:
- Starting holiday allowance of 28 days (excluding bank holidays) – progressing to 30 days at 2 years, 33 days at 5 years
- Employer pension contributions and generous life insurance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Discounted shopping and cycle-to-work scheme
- states-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative team culture
Additional Information
Application Process
Submit an online application with:
- Your CV
- A cover letter addressing:
- Why you’re interested in Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust
- How you align with the person specification
Note: Early applications are strongly encouraged, as interviews are conducted as suitable candidates are identified.
Safer Recruitment & Vetting
As part of safeguarding standards:
- An Enhanced DBS check (including international police record checks if applicable) will be required
- Due to safeguarding requirements, all previous cautions and convictions must be disclosed
- Online search of publicly available information will be conducted on any shortlisted candidates
Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We actively promote diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness in recruitment.
Ban the Box Policy
We do not ask about criminal records in applications. Disclosure happens later in the process.
Next Steps? See the full job description and person specification
If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume your application was unsuccessful for this opportunity.
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