Deputy Residential Manager

BARNARDO'S

36,427.87 per year

Whistlestop

Full-time

15th February 2026

Listed 1 day ago

Are you ready to lead, inspire, and make a real difference in the lives of children and young people with disabilities?

The Whistlestop, our residential short breaks home in Randalstown is looking for a passionate and skilled Deputy Residential Manager to join us on this journey!

Why Join Us?
This is your chance to be at the heart of an innovative service, where your expertise will help create a nurturing, supportive environment for children and young people to thrive. You will work closely with the Registered Manager to bring our vision to life, ensuring that every short break at The Whistlestop has a lasting positive impact.

To find out more, please watch our the short film all about The Whistlestop at the link below.

Your Role:
As Deputy Residential Manager, you will:

Support the Registered Manager in maintaining high standards and compliance with RQIA regulations
Line manage Residential staff
Take charge and lead the team in the Manager's absence.
Lead on staff planning to include staff rotas and shift planning around the child specific needs for each day.
Work collaboratively with the Trust and parents/carers in the development of care plans for the children and young people using the service
Provide a safe, caring, and stimulating environment where children and young people flourish.
Handle safeguarding concerns with professionalism and care.
Deliver on our commitment to excellence by writing insightful, professional reports.
Train and develop the staff team in line with the requirements of the regulator, RQIA and the Children's Home Minimum Standards.

What We're Looking For: Essential Criteria

Are you experienced, driven, and ready to make a difference? Here's what you'll bring to the role:

Hold the Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care (Northern Ireland) within your first period of Registration and be willing to work towards the Level 4 Certificate in Principles in Leadership & Management (Northern Ireland).
Within the last 5 years, worked for at least 3 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children.
Knowledge of completing staff, volunteer or student supervision
Experience in responding and coordinating responses to safeguarding issues.
Must be registered or willing to register with Northern Ireland Care Council (NISCC) on appointment
A valid driving license or alternatively be able to demonstrate how you can meet the mobility requirements of the post

Please ensure to outline in your application, how you meet the above essential criteria. The remaining criteria outlined in the attached Job Description and Person Specification will be assessed at interview.

Ready to Apply?
Take the next step in your career and join a service that truly makes a difference. Apply online today!

Location:Randalstown, Co. Antrim
Contract:Permanent (Subject to Funding)
Hours:37 hours per week, The hours can be worked flexibly across the week. Due to the nature of the service, there is an expectation that you will work a minimum of two days per month on either a Saturday or Sunday.
Additionally, the role requires on-call cover on a rota basis alongside the Registered Manager.
Salary:£36,427.87 - £48,749.06 per annum
Closing Date:Midnight, Sunday 15th February 2026
Interview Date:Week commencing 23rd Feb 2026

Important Notes:

Applicants must be registered with the NI Social Care Council (NISCC) or willing to register by appointment.
A waiting list will be maintained for similar roles for up to 12 months.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Access NI with Child Barred List Check.

Join us in creating a brighter future for children and young people at The Whistlestop. Your journey starts here!

Successful candidates must be at least 21 years of age upon commencement of employment in this role due to Children Home Regulations NI

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
Service related sick pay from day 1
Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
Cycle2work scheme
Interest free season ticket loans
Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
20% discount at Barnardo's stores
Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Reference number:22310
Job Title:Deputy Residential Manager
Location:Whistlestop
Contract type:Permanent
Hours:37
Salary:£36,427.87 - £48,749.06 per annum
Closing Date:15 February 2026
Interview Date:W/C 23 February 2026

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