The difference between a Deputy who's ready and one who isn't.

The Deputy role is arguably the most demanding in children's residential care. It requires operational excellence, front-line credibility, regulatory understanding, and the emotional stamina to hold both the team and the RM.

Three questions we ask every candidate for a Deputy Manager role — and every RM considering promoting one of their team into the position: 'When did you last make a decision that a member of your team disagreed with, and how did you handle their reaction?' 'What do you do when you notice you are dysregulated on shift?' 'What does the RM you'd most like to work for look like — and why?'

The answers reveal, in order: their tolerance for tension, their self-awareness, and the leadership model they aspire to. Any of the three can disqualify.