Assistant Manager

Main Responsibility

You will deputise for the Registered Service Manager, ensuring that each child is accommodated and supported appropriately, and that their needs are met, in line with the Statement of Purpose for the homes.  You will also provide guidance, positive role modelling and oversight of debriefs, supervisions and appraisals, and ensure that the team are the best they can be when supporting the children they look after.  You will assist the Registered Service Manager with the management of each of the properties within the Multi-Building Registration, ensuring, through partnership and collaboration, that our therapeutic practices promote the needs of each child throughout their time with us.

The Assistant Manager is responsible for:
▪ Coaching and mentoring the team around the Placement Plan objectives defined by the Registered Service Manager.
▪ Ensuring consistency of teams and care around each child.
▪ Being the primary contact for the people within the service, ensuring that they are supported, engaged, supervised and understand how they can be the best that they can be at work.
▪ Meeting our employees’ hierarchy of needs, including:
o Ensuring that they know where they are working, who their colleagues are, how the home functions, how they access what they need, and who to go to with queries and questions.
o Ensuring stability for our people and our children by maintaining consistency in rota planning for each team and child within the Multi-Building Registration.
o Ensuring that the teams work collaboratively through effective team-building and ensuring consistency in approach.
o Ensuring that people are recognised for their contribution and have ownership of tasks and responsibilities, that they know what they are doing and how and when to do it, through effectively leading the Senior Residential Support Workers to supervise and support their colleagues.
o Ensuring that our employees are developed, both personally and professionally, and allowing them to grow, by exposing them to different roles and responsibilities.
▪ Conducting half-yearly and yearly reviews with all SRSW’s and RSW’s (24) on a rolling basis, in addition to monthly supervision of all SRSW’s (8).
▪ Ensuring the effective deployment of a rota and signing-off timesheets, which reflect a robust utilisation of all employees in line with our employment contractual obligations. Managing and monitoring human resource costs, staffing structures and rotas, ensuring they meet the children’s needs and are in line with allocated budgets. This includes establishing rotas within the home that meet the needs of the children and the care team, production and communication of rotas within appropriate timescales, and ensuring a robust rota is in place 2 months in advance and there is a a rolling rota skeleton pattern for at least a rolling 6 months.

▪ Supporting the leadership and management of the whole service, including supervisions, coaching and guidance where delegated.
▪ Monitoring health checks and Key Performance Indicators on behalf of the Registered Service Manager and escalating red flags appropriately.
▪ Ensuring that the Signs of Safety model is embedded, and supporting and coaching the care teams to work in line with the processes implemented against this model.
▪ Working alongside the Registered Service Manager to ensure that any Reg 44 inspections and Ofsted inspections are facilitated and supported appropriately from a planning and delivery perspective. Demonstrating a clear understanding of the service and all children looked after under the registration.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have:

At least 12 months experience as a Manager, either as a Registered Manager of a small home or a Deputy/Assistant Manager of a larger service, where you have been responsible for managing a team of care givers and carrying out supervisions in an effective and proactive way.

Previous experience of working with children who may present with emotional or behavioural difficulties, and the ability to demonstrate that you have been responsible for supporting a team to effectively work through positive behaviour solutions with a positive outcome.

At least 12 months supervisory experience, acting as a positive role model to your colleagues and carrying out formal supervisions. In addition, in previous roles, you will have had experience of mentoring more junior colleagues.

Experience of managing finances and budget control and an appreciation and understanding of the need for commercial and financial acumen in a position of management.  You will be used to managing and maximising staff rotas and completing supervisions.

Demonstrable experience in working with and on behalf of children, respecting and maintaining their individuality and promoting their positive development, with the ability to provide examples where actions that you have taken have benefitted a child in your care.

Knowledge of how residential children’s home settings operate and the processes and policies that apply in the sector.  You will have an understanding of how to appropriately safeguard children and colleagues and will already have achieved Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce or equivalent.

Safeguarding

We are an equal opportunities employer and have a commitment to safeguarding children; we follow safer recruitment processes. All roles will be subject to a successful disclosure at an appropriate level from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Access NI or Disclosure Scotland. Proof of identity will be required and a reference will be contacted prior to interview.

Package Description

£36000 - £37,000 plus £1,000 quality bonus and excellent benefits

Benefits include:​

• Pension scheme
• Paid holiday
• Performance bonus based on quality outcomes
• Private Health Cover
• A 24/7 employee assistance and counselling programme
• 'Above and beyond' recognition scheme
• Full funded training for your CPD and recognised qualifications
• Employee medical benefit scheme
• Employee discount scheme
• Access to employee engagement events
• Ongoing continuous professional development opportunities

About the Company

AWW is one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of residential care for children who have suffered trauma and adversity.

We provide compassionate, nurturing care for children who are in crisis and have complex needs, supporting them to move from a difficult past to a brighter future.

Our homes are located in the peaceful and inspirational countryside of Cumbria, Northumbria, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and southern Scotland. Here, children experience safety and stability, as well as our renowned spirit of adventure and challenge: the ‘Wilderness Way’. With our support, children are able to thrive.