Abilities Development Ltd is seeking an experienced, motivated, and passionate professional to join our leadership team as a Registered Manager for our CQC-registered Respite Service and Operations Manager for our Day Service.
This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual who thrives in a dynamic environment and is committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and complex needs.
As our Respite Service is a small 3-bed short breaks service with relatively low occupancy levels and a lower volume of operational activity, the successful candidate will also take on responsibility for the operational management and day-to-day oversight of our Day Service, ensuring consistency, quality, and effective leadership across both provisions.
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will play a key role in driving quality improvement, maintaining regulatory compliance, supporting staff development, and ensuring the people we support receive safe, person-centred, and outcome-focused services.
Our services support adults with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs through a combination of educational, vocational, social, and respite opportunities designed to promote independence, wellbeing, and community inclusion.
Key ResponsibilitiesRegistered Manager Responsibilities Respite Service
- Hold responsibility for the registration and regulatory compliance of the CQC-registered Respite Service.
- Ensure the service operates in accordance with CQC regulations, legislation, company policies, and best practice guidance.
- Maintain oversight of admissions, assessments, care planning, risk assessments, safeguarding, medication management, and quality assurance processes.
- Lead on inspections, audits, action plans, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Promote a culture of dignity, respect, safeguarding, inclusion, and person-centred support.
- Develop positive relationships with families, local authorities, healthcare professionals, and external stakeholders.
Operations Manager Responsibilities Day Service and Respite
- Provide operational leadership and oversight across both the Day Service and Respite Service.
- Support the Managing Director in achieving strategic and operational objectives.
- Ensure smooth day-to-day service delivery, staffing arrangements, transport coordination, and resource management.
- Monitor service performance, occupancy, budgets, quality indicators, and improvement plans.
- Support the development of new initiatives, programmes, and opportunities for the people we support.
- Lead investigations, complaints management, incident reviews, and lessons learned processes where required.
- Ensure all staff training, compliance, supervision, and competency requirements are maintained.
- Promote effective communication and collaborative working across departments.
Leadership and People Management
- Provide visible leadership and professional support to the staff teams.
- Lead recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal, and staff development activities.
- Promote a positive culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Support succession planning and the development of future leaders within the organisation.
- Manage staffing levels and rotas effectively to ensure safe service delivery.
Skills and ExperienceThe successful candidate will have:
- A Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care or equivalent qualification.
- Previous experience as a Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, Service Manager, or Operations Manager within health and social care.
- Experience working with adults with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs.
- A strong understanding of CQC regulations, safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act, DoLS, and person-centred practice.
- Excellent leadership, organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience managing teams and driving service improvement.
- A proactive, flexible, and solution-focused approach.
- A commitment to delivering high-quality care and achieving positive outcomes.
Desirable
- Previous experience managing both residential/respite and community/day opportunities services.
- Experience working with local authority commissioners and external professionals.
- Experience supporting services through inspections and quality improvement programmes.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary package.
- Supportive senior leadership team.
- Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
- Opportunity to shape and influence the future development of both services.
- A rewarding role making a genuine difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism.
This is a rewarding opportunity to join a well-established, person-centred organisation supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and complex needs.
Our Respite Service is a small, CQC-registered 3-bed short breaks service with relatively low occupancy and operational activity levels. As a result, alongside holding the Registered Manager responsibility for the Respite Service, the successful candidate will also undertake the role of Operations Manager for our Day Service, providing operational leadership and support across both provisions.
As Registered Manager, you will be responsible for the governance, compliance, quality assurance, and overall management of the Respite Service, ensuring it continues to deliver safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led support in line with CQC requirements.
In your Operations Manager capacity, you will support the smooth day-to-day running of both the Day Service and Respite Service, including staff management, service development, quality improvement, performance monitoring, and operational planning.
This is a varied leadership role that combines strategic management with operational involvement. While primarily a management position, there may occasionally be a requirement to work alongside staff teams and provide direct support to individuals where necessary. Therefore, a flexible, practical, and hands-on approach is essential.
This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced manager seeking a diverse position that combines regulatory leadership with operational management within a growing organisation committed to delivering outstanding person-centred services.
Why Join Us?
- A small, stable, and positive service with long-standing client relationships
- Strong family engagement and very low levels of conflict
- A genuine opportunity to develop or consolidate your CQC registered status
- A supportive management structure and a team that cares
If you are passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young adults with a learning disability and have the skills and ambition to lead a high-quality respite service, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today and take the next step in your career.
