Location: Banstead, Sutton, United Kingdom
Contract type: Full time – permanent
Hours: 40 hours, Monday-Friday 9-5 (with flexibility as needed)
Salary: £39,000 - GBP 43,000 - yearly
Company Description
Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust is a charity creating children’s homes where children can thrive. We believe every child deserves the chance to achieve great things and lead fulfilling lives.
Our first home opened in Sutton in February 2022, supporting up to six children aged 11–18 with emotional and behavioural needs. We are currently renovating a second property in Banstead (SM7), a 5-bed children’s home due to open in autumn 2026. Our first children's home is an award-winning building that has set a new standard for UK children's homes.
We are part of the Catch 22 family, who’s work spans education, social justice and rehabilitation, children's social care, family support, social action and getting people into work.
What this role offers:
Opportunity to set up a new home, recruit your team and shape it from the very beginning.
Backing from an experienced and supportive leadership team and RI
Starting holiday allowance of 28 days (inclusive of bank holidays), increasing to 38 days at 2 years and 41 days at 5 years
4% employer pension contributions and life insurance
Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
Employee assistance programme, discounted shopping, cycle-to-work scheme and lots more benefits
Why work for LPT?
We have an annual staff retention rate of 94%. This is significantly above the sector average, reflecting our commitment to employee wellbeing, development and job satisfaction.
LPT is a charity, so any surplus revenue generated is reinvested into improving experiences and outcomes for children in care
Our first children’s home has been running for 4 years, and consistently achieving Good Ofsted grading
We are a values-driven organisation grounded in Social Pedagogy, prioritising relationships, empowerment, and wellbeing
LPT has partnered with Kingston University to develop a Level 6 Diploma in Residential care, and offers fully funded places on the course for our team
We have won several awards for the therapeutically informed and high-quality design of our home, including the Innovation in Care Award at the National Children’s Homes Awards and the Stephen Lawrence Prize
Job Description
As the Deputy Manager of our 6-bed home, you will:
Be part of creating a home where children feel safe, valued and able to thrive, building real, meaningful relationships that make a lasting difference.
Support young people to explore who they are, discover what they want from life, and take steps towards their goals and ambitions.
Play a key role in leading and shaping a dedicated team, helping to create a warm, reflective culture where everyone can grow and do their best work.
Build your leadership confidence by working closely with the Registered Manager and stepping up to lead when needed, including during key visits and inspections.
Develop your skills in coaching and mentoring, supporting colleagues through supervision, reflection and ongoing learning opportunities.
Work in a genuinely collaborative way with families, schools and partner agencies, creating joined-up, holistic support around each child.
Contribute to something bigger by helping us grow and develop our innovative approach, influencing practice beyond our home and into the wider sector.
Grow your career with us. With plans to open more homes, there are real opportunities to progress into Registered Manager roles and take on leadership of your own home over time.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be:
Experienced in managing and supervising staff in a children’s home (deputy/senior level experience).
Experienced working with teenagers with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties
A reflective leader who can contribute to a positive, relationship-focused culture
Warm, consistent and able to build trust with children, families and colleagues
Resilient, adaptable and committed to continuous learning and improvement
A strong advocate for children’s safety, wellbeing and voice
Eager to grow and progress into a Registered Manager role as we expand
Hold the Level 3 Diploma or equivalent and be willing to work towards the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management
Safer Recruitment
At Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust, we safeguard all children and young people in our care. As part of our recruitment process, we conduct rigorous checks and vetting of all applicants, in line with legal and regulatory requirements and best practices. Everyone who works in our homes will be responsible for safeguarding young people and putting their safety and wellbeing first.
This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (police records) check, including overseas police checks where necessary. Please note that this post is exempt from the limitations of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, and as such, all previous cautions and convictions will need to be disclosed as part of any application.
At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Catch22, please do not hesitate to apply
Salary description
£39000.00 - £43000.00 per year