Deputy manager jobs in Battersea, greater london

Salary: up to £50,000 depending on experience and qualifications

40 hours per week including evenings, weekends and bank holidays

Contract: Permanent 

Location: East Croydon (Sanderstead Station) 

We have a fantastic opportunity to join St Christopher's fellowship as a Deputy Manager for our new specialist Children’s home in Croydon. You will work alongside the Registered Manager to lead and support a professional team of staff committed to transforming young lives and creating positive outcomes. You will be supported by Team Leaders, experienced Residential Practitioners, as well as our Wrap Around and Education Teams.

Visit our website to watch our short video to gain an insight into our working life here at St Christopher’s

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.  We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities. 

About the Role

As Deputy Manager, you will lead and support a professional team of staff committed to transforming young lives and creating positive outcomes. You will be supported by a Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, Team Leaders, and the team of residential staff.

Key aspect of the role:

• To assist the manager in safeguarding and ensuring every child and young person receives high quality care as measured by Ofsted in the social care common inspection framework.
• To assist the manager in the management of the home, including the staff, external relationships, the budget, the resources and fabric of the building.

St Christopher’s Academy

Our 'St Christopher’s Academy' ensures our staff is continually developing. We will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please visit our website

The successful candidate will have:

• A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Nursing, Youth Work etc)
• A willingness to undertake a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, if possessing only a Level 3 qualification relevant to the role
• At least 2 years’ experience in residential children’s homes
• At least 1 years’ experience of staff supervision and management responsibility.
• Ability to develop appropriate one-to-one relationships with young people and employ mentoring skills that empower young people to achieve their goals.
• Numeracy skills to manage budgets efficiently and contribute to the budgetary process.
• An understanding of the regulatory framework relevant to the provision of residential services for children and young people.
• Awareness of issues facing young people such as bullying, gangs and exploitation and how these impact on behaviour.
• An understanding of trauma informed practice
• Ability to work shifts including weekends and bank holidays and undertake sleep-ins.
• Ability and willingness to be part of an on call rota overseeing multiple Homes. 

In return we offer:

• Starting salary up to £50,000 per annum depending on experience and qualifications
• Opportunities to develop your career and become a Registered Manager.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process:

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. For the full Job Description and Person Specification please visit our website. CV’s will not be accepted.

For more information or assistance during the application process, please contact us via our website.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

Closing date: 25/01/2026

Interview date: 06/02/2026

Ref SPSW - 0126

Internally the job title will be Senior Practitioner 

Whatever your experience of street homelessness and its impact on people’s lives – personal or professional – when you join the Thames Reach team as a Senior Practitioner, we will make the best use of all your understanding, compassion and commitment. 

About us…

Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in and around London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track. We help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities.

Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 15,000 people. 

Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There’s no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.

About this role…

We are looking for a Senior Practitioner to join the Southwark Works Team.

Prevention services support vulnerable people by providing them with skills, housing advice, accommodation, and tenancy sustainment support.  All these services to help people transition towards leading independent lives.

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions.

You will:

• Manage a team of Employment Support Workers, providing regular supervision and leadership on a day-to-day basis

• Compile and submit performance reports, carry out regular project evaluations, analysing data and presenting reports

• Provide person-centred and high-quality support to people in Southwark who are unemployed, supporting them to find work

• Manage an active caseload of clients, providing employment coaching support to help people achieve their employment goals

• Develop and maintain strong working partnerships with other managers and departments within the company, and with external organisations such as Southwark Council, Jobcentre Plus, GP practices, employment services, training providers, and community organisations

• Keep up to date with local and national labour market trends, education/training opportunities, welfare benefit changes, and employment law in relation to people with mental health conditions

You will have:

• Knowledge and experience of providing support to people to find employment

• Experience of leading a high-performing team

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and develop relationships with employers and other stakeholders

• Strong IT and administration skills, the ability to manage a caseload, record evidence and interpret data

• Effective time management skills to manage competing demands

• Experience in working creatively and problem solving to tackle obstacles

We are listed in the top 100 UK Best Workplaces 2023 in the UK. As part of a commitment to our employees we offer: 

• Generous holiday allowance – 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).

• Pension – we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%. 

• Excellent development opportunities – career progression, regular supervision and appraisals, and learning programmes to support your career with Thames Reach. 

• Wellbeing support – our 24/7 employee assistance programme and opportunities for TOIL. 

• Life assurance – four times your annual salary and critical illness cover.

• Other benefits including a blue light discount card, interest free season ticket and cycle to work loans.

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

To apply visit our website and complete our application form.

For further information please contact, Jo Hayward, Senior Practitioner via our website. 

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions.

Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.