Assistant Manager

Job Introduction

Job Title: Assistant Manager, Children with Disabilities Short Breaks Service

Salary: £42,839 - £47,181

Location: Strut House, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Closing Date: 14th June 2026

Are you a compassionate, reflective and resilient leader who is passionate about improving the lives of children  with disabilities?

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Assistant Manager to join our dedicated Children with Disabilities (CWD) Short Breaks Service. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role within a nurturing and child-focused environment that provides high-quality short breaks and support for children with complex needs.

As Assistant Manager, you will support the effective day-to-day running of the home and deputise for the homes Manager when required. You will help lead a skilled and caring team, ensuring that every child receives safe, consistent and trauma-informed care that promotes positive experiences and outcomes.

At the heart of our service is a commitment to creating a calm, caring and supportive environment where children feel valued, families feel listened to and staff are empowered to thrive.

About the Role

This is a varied and rewarding leadership role within a 24-hour residential short breaks service. Due to the nature of the service, there will be a requirement to work flexibly, including weekends, bank holidays, sleep-ins and unsociable hours in line with service need.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively as part of the wider Residential Management Team across the residential estate, supporting both mainstream and CWD residential homes. This includes participating in the management on-call rota and providing leadership support and guidance across services when required.

You will play a vital role in promoting consistency, high standards of care and positive outcomes for children  across residential services.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking someone who is:

• Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced care environment
• Caring, compassionate and genuinely child-focused
• Calm, resilient and able to lead confidently under pressure
• Reflective in practice and committed to continuous improvement
• Hard-working and reliable with a strong work ethic
• Trauma-informed in their approach to supporting children and families
• Passionate about achieving positive outcomes for children and young people
• Skilled in building positive relationships with families, professionals and partner agencies
• Confident in leading, motivating and developing staff teams
• Committed to creating a positive and inclusive team culture

Key Responsibilities

• Support the operational management of the Short Breaks Centre in line with Care Standards and relevant legislation
• Lead shifts and deputise in the absence of the Centre Manager
• Promote a positive culture and high standards of care across the service
• Ensure policies, procedures and safeguarding practices are consistently followed
• Support staff supervision, development and training, including NVQ Level 3 standards
• Monitor quality assurance systems and contribute to service improvement
• Work collaboratively with families and professionals to ensure care plans meet individual needs
• Support effective management of resources, staffing and the physical environment
• Respond appropriately to complaints, compliments and significant events
• Participate in the wider residential management and on-call arrangements across the residential estate

About You

You will have experience working with children and young people in a residential, respite or specialist care setting, alongside a sound understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and children’s social care regulations.

You will be a strong communicator who leads by example and promotes a culture of kindness, accountability, reflection and teamwork.

Why Join Us?

You will become part of a supportive and committed team that values:

• Compassion
• Teamwork
• Reflection and learning
• Inclusivity
• Child-centred care
• Professional development
• Positive relationships
• High-quality, trauma-informed practice

This role offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference in the lives of children, young people and their families every single day.

Enhanced DBS check required.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment.

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack here to support you in your application.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. Please also note: once an application is submitted it is final and cannot be amended. If you withdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated and you will not be able to submit another application for that vacancy. If you have an issue with your submitted application, please contact recruitment@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Fluency Duty 

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.