Band 7 Deputy Manager for Children's Homes

Job details

• Branch: Belfast HSCT
• Location: Belfast HSCT
• Directorate: Children's Community Services
• Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
• Contract Type: To create a waiting list
• Opening Date: 26/08/26
• Closes: Wed, 09 September 2026 @ 4:30 PM
• Interview Dates: TBC

Notes

We accept online applications only. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Deputy Manager Children’s Homes

LOCATION: Trust Residential Children’s Homes

BAND: 7

REPORTS TO: Team Leader

RESPONSIBLE TO: Children Service Manager

Children’s Community Services Directorate

Job Summary / Main Purpose

The post will assist the Team Manager and Residential Social Work Team in creating a warm, caring and trauma informed approach, which meets the emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual needs of a group of young people and their families.

The Deputy Team Leader will be involved in establishing and maintaining an approach that provides a warm, caring, compassionate, hopeful, therapeutic home environment that responds to the needs of each individual child.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

For each of the following, the post holder will

Alongside and/ or in the absence of the Team Leader to be responsible for the effective operation and management of the Children’s Home

Contribute to monitoring the quality and standard of care in the home.

To develop a high level of skill/knowledge and expertise in the care of young people and in particular the management of behaviour and to support other staff to develop their expertise in this area.

To undertake aspects of student /staff supervision and further training as appropriate.

Ensure all staff are compliant with NISCC registration requirements and NISCC Standards.

Ensure compliance with the Regional Supervision Policy in Children’s Service and contribute to annual appraisals as per Trust policy including Personal Development Reviews /Personal Development Plans.

Ensure compliance with reporting arrangements including; Untoward Event, 1B and DATIX.

Ensure that all records required under the Children’s Homes Regulations (NI) 2005, Children (NI) Order (1995), Guidance and Regulations (Vol.4), RQIA Minimum Standards for Children’s Homes and other Board or Trust Procedures are maintained in line with professional and Trust standards and available for audit or inspection as required.

To participate in reviews and meetings as requested.

To chair meetings as appropriate.

Ensure robust governance arrangements are in place in the Home to promote the safety of young people alongside the Team Leader.

Ensure robust governance arrangements are in place in relation to staff and resource management alongside the Team Leader.

Ensure effective oversight of allocated budget alongside the Team Leader.

To discharge statutory responsibilities under current legislation as appropriate.

To work as part of a team ensuring the day-to-day care and supervision of young persons within the home.

To ensure that appropriate records are maintained particularly those detailing observation and assessment of each young person.

To assist the Team Leader in ensuring that all records required under the Conduct of Children’s Home Direction, Residential Child Care Complaints’ Procedure, Children Order Guidance and Regulations (Vol.4) and other Board or Trust Procedures are kept in an efficient and accurate manner and available for inspection as required.

To assist the Team Leader in ensuring that good working relationships are established and maintained between residential staff, fieldwork staff and with other agencies.

To embed a trauma informed ethos within the home in line with the NI Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care.

To role model and promote Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) as a model of care/ practice.

To undertake assessments and implement care planning as agreed at supervision and with the multi-disciplinary team.

To assist in ensuring all aspects of the young people’s needs are met

To contribute and assist in the day to day organisation of the home thus ensuring positive involvement for young people in activities such as housework, shopping and budgeting.

To report to the Team Leader for supervision of work undertaken as appropriate.

To participate in an appraisal interview to identify his/her own training needs on an individual basis.

To provide information for use in the planning and monitoring of services.

To undertake ‘sleeping in’ duties as part of the staff roster.

To be aware of the implement legislative and statutory requirements such as the Health and Safety at Work Order (NI)1979 and also compliance with the Trust Health & Safety Procedure.

To ensure the Trust’s Complaint Procedure as it relates to children in residential care, is fully implemented in the facility and records kept.

To share in the day to day responsibilities and activities which are necessary in maintaining a high standard pf physical care of the facility.

To be accountable for monies allocated for specific purposes.

Other duties appropriate to the grade as may be assigned from time to time by the Trust.

Governance and reporting responsibility

Liaise with relevant statutory, voluntary and independent sector organisations.

Maintain clear records of work undertaken.

Participate in professional supervision process with Manager

Contribute to the development and delivery of the Trust’s governance framework, audit schedules and quality and service improvement agenda.

Contribute to needs assessment and service development.

General Responsibilities

Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:

At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with Belfast Trust’s Whistleblowing Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.

Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.

Maintain high standards of personal accountability.

Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Information Governance

All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

For further information on how we use your personal data within HR, please refer to the Privacy Notice available on the HUB or Your HR

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognizes the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

This includes:-

Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);

Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique;

Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;

Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);

Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);

Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and laundry;

Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;

Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE / BAND: Deputy Manager (Band 7) Children’s Homes

DEPT / DIRECTORATE: Trust Residential Children’s Homes

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined below at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage.

You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Qualifications

Registration

Professional Social Work Qualification (CQSW/DipSW/CSS or equivalent). Current registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council on the social work part of the register.

Have at least two years post qualifying experience in working with children and families.

A minimum of one years’ experience of working with young people in a residential setting.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Hold a current full driving licence, which is valid for use in the UK, and have access to a car on appointment.

(Where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements)

Knowledge

Skills

Abilities

Have an excellent knowledge of Legislation, Policy, Procedures and current issues in Family and Childcare services.

Have an excellent knowledge/understanding of models of care/practice such as Trauma informed care (N Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic care) and Therapeutic Crisis intervention

Ability to work flexible hours and participate in a twenty-four hour/ seven day rota system

Be able to participate in the On-Call Residential Management rota.

And

Interview

Other

(e.g. Knowledge

Abilities)

Knowledge/understanding of models of care/ practice such as trauma Informed Care (Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care) and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Desirable criteria will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Other (e.g. Driving etc.)

Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with key stakeholders within the statutory, voluntary and community sectors

Shortlisting by application

NOTE

Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates and one photocopy of same issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.

If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a P45, Payslip, National Insurance Card or a Birth Certificate confirming birth in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in a non-appointment.

Where a post involves working in regulated activity with vulnerable groups, post holders will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

HSC Values

Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role