Deputy Children's Home Manager
Keys Group
£35388.00 per year
Saint Albans, United Kingdom
Full time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Respectful managers
- Proper training
About Keys Group
Keys Group provides care and support to children.
Job description from Keys Group
Deputy Manager - Children and Young people
Location: St Albans
Salary: From £35,388 rising to £37,398 per annum, depending on experience and level 5 qualification, plus additional sleep in payments
Full UK driving license and access to own vehicle are essential in this role.
Hours: 39 hours working a mix of long days and admin days plus occasional sleep in
Make Every Day EPIC with Keys !
Our home is a very nurturing, fun and active environment, where we support up to 4 young people who have emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties, helping them to come to terms with their past and preparing them for their future.
As a Deputy Manager, you will be an integral part of our welcoming and knowledgeable leadership team, being part of a region of children's homes, with the backing of a growing, national organisation, where you will be actively encouraged to be creative and bring your own unique skills and have the opportunity to influence change.
Our support includes access to specialist clinical advisors who will support you to achieve positive outcomes for our young people working together to deliver high quality, child centred support.
We have also developed our own therapeutic model of care called Keys Connect. As a member of the region's leadership team, you'll play an active role in shaping and evolving this approach.
You will be supported to gain level 5 qualifications, to grow and develop into future leaders and to take on additional responsibilities which will give you the confidence to step up to manage the home when needed.
If you are looking for an opportunity to thrive then this is the job for you !!
Not convinced yet?
What else do we offer?
- Career Progression: We invest in your growth with clear paths to advance, including opportunities to become a Registered Manager.
- Competitive Salary: We offer the Real Living Wage as a minimum.
- Enhanced Pay Scales: Recognise both qualifications and experience with higher pay rates
- Family Support: Enhanced company maternity and paternity pay.
- Rewarding Job - Full of variety and enjoyment. No two days are ever the same
- Supportive Management - regular supervisions and appraisals to ensure you are enjoying life at Keys Group
- Regular Team Meetings - Include and contribute your ideas towards the progression of the service and have your voice heard as part of our regional management team
- Funded Qualifications - We fully fund and support you to obtain a range of QCF's opening up further career opportunities and extra pay
- Paid Training - Get paid to enrol in our sector leading training and level up your career
- Full Induction Program: Comprehensive introductory training to set you up for success.
- Amazing Discount Schemes - Access amazing deals with the Hapi App & Blue Light Card
- NEST Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our pension plan.
- Wellbeing Support, Advice and Guidance - Access advice and guidance through our Employee Assistance Programme.
- Staff Referral Scheme - Refer a friend to join Keys Group and split a £500 referral bonus between you
- Circle App - internal communications on the next level, be part of something special
- Annual Leave: 28 days of annual leave, including Bank Holidays entitlement
Free Enhanced DBS Check
Requirements
- 2 years' experience working within a Residential Children's home either as a Senior or at Deputy level.
- NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Children and Young People
- Knowledge of Ofsted regulations and safeguarding procedures.
- Experience with budgets and rotas
- A full UK driving licence
Apply today and have an EPIC 2026
Keys is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including veterans and military families through our Armed Forces Covenant commitment.
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What employees say
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do Keys Group pay managers enough to live on?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
100% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 6 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £13.45 per hour, and £14.80 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
-
Most people are paid market rates
Do Keys Group pay managers market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
75% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 8 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Good
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Most people get sick pay
Do Keys Group pay managers sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
100% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
At a minimum, everyone is entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the government. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Hours and flexibility
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Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it for managers to book a holiday at Keys Group?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
100% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 8 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Good
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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it for managers to take sick leave at Keys Group?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
86% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do managers at Keys Group feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
88% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 8 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get proper breaks
Do managers at Keys Group get proper breaks?
Most people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
71% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful for managers to work at Keys Group?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
71% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do managers at Keys Group enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
86% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Good
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Most people recommend their team
Do managers at Keys Group recommend working with their team?
Most people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
71% of people report that they would recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
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Most people get enough training
Do managers get enough training when they start at Keys Group?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
83% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 6 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Good
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Most people get support to progress
Are managers given support to progress at Keys Group?
Most people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 86% of people report being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Okay
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Head office only partly understands what’s happening
Do managers think Keys Group head office understands what's happening where they work?
Some people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
57% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 7 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Good
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Most people feel well informed by head office
Do managers feel well informed about how Keys Group is doing?
Most people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
100% of people feel that they are kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 8 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Keys Group employees say about their job
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Best thing
The connections you make with the children
Worst thing
You may not get a break even on a shift, shifts can be up to 15hrs
Report this reviewResidential support worker at Keys Group, February 2026
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Best thing
The children I care for
Worst thing
It's stressful
Lots of paper work
Expectations are highReport this reviewResidential support worker at Keys Group, October 2025
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