Operational Lead / Clinical Practice Lead (Deputy Manager Level)
Children's Residential Services - Complex Needs / Tier 4 Pathway
The full job description covers all associated skills, previous experience, and any qualifications that applicants are expected to have.
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:
o Controlled drugs
o PRN (anxiety/agitation medication)
o MAR charts
* Minimum Level 2 medication training
* Strong understanding of when to escalate 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. xsngvjr You will play a key role in shaping the quality of care, staff development, and therapeutic approach across the service.
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