Service Manager – Colchester
Salary: Up to £35,000 per annum
Location: Colchester, Essex
Reporting to: Registered Manager
Are you an experienced manager within adult social care who enjoys being visible, hands-on and genuinely involved in the day-to-day running of a service?
Calm Futures is looking for an experienced and confident Service Manager to lead a six-bedroom residential service in Colchester.
The service supports six adults with a range of needs including learning disabilities, autism, ADHD and mental health needs. The people we support have differing levels of independence; some access the community independently, while others require staff support. Some individuals can also display behaviours that may be perceived as challenging.
This is an opportunity to take responsibility for one established service, get to know the people we support and the staff team properly, and have a direct influence on the quality of support being delivered every day.
Our work is guided by four core values: Meaningful, Limitless, Creative and Aspirational. These values shape how we support people, how we work together and how we develop services focused on strengths, independence, choice and positive outcomes.
About the role
The service has an established team of approximately 15 staff, with generally six members of staff working during daytime hours and two waking-night staff.
This is not a purely office-based management role. Approximately 60% of the role is supernumerary/management time, with around 40% spent operationally within the service.
You will have protected management time to lead the service, manage the team and fulfil your management responsibilities, while remaining visible and involved in the day-to-day delivery of support.
The operational element may include up to two 12-hour shifts, with supernumerary hours generally worked around core daytime hours such as 9am–5pm or 8am–4pm. The exact working pattern will be needs-led, and although weekend working is not routinely required, flexibility will be expected where the service requires management input.
You will also participate in the management on-call rota, currently approximately one week in every five.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and Service Management
· Work alongside the Registered Manager to lead and manage the day-to-day operation of the service.
· Provide visible, confident leadership and maintain a strong understanding of the people supported, staff team, operational priorities and risks within the service.
· Lead, motivate and hold staff accountable for delivering safe, consistent and high-quality person-centred support.
· Make appropriate management decisions and ensure agreed actions are followed through to completion.
· Deputise for the Registered Manager when required.
· Promote a positive and professional culture based on dignity, respect, inclusion, accountability and continuous improvement.
· Identify operational concerns and take timely action, escalating significant risks appropriately.
· Lead and support service improvement activity.
Quality, Safeguarding and Compliance
· Ensure the service operates in accordance with CQC requirements, relevant legislation, organisational policies and adult social care best practice.
· Lead quality assurance activities, audits, compliance checks and improvement plans.
· Maintain management oversight of support plans, risk assessments, behaviour support plans, health action plans and other key documentation.
· Ensure safeguarding concerns are recognised, reported and managed appropriately.
· Provide management oversight of incidents, risks and behaviours of concern, ensuring appropriate action, escalation and learning.
· Monitor incidents, accidents, complaints and other quality indicators.
· Prepare for and contribute confidently to internal audits, commissioner reviews and regulatory inspections.
· Ensure the Mental Capacity Act and relevant safeguards are understood and applied appropriately.
Person-Centred Support
· Ensure support reflects each person's individual needs, preferences, communication, strengths and goals.
· Promote choice, independence, positive risk-taking and meaningful outcomes.
· Ensure support plans and risk assessments translate into consistent day-to-day practice.
· Work collaboratively with the people we support, their families, advocates and other professionals.
· Maintain a visible presence within the service and be comfortable providing direct support, including personal care where required.
Staff Leadership and Development
· Provide clear and accountable leadership to the staff team.
· Conduct supervisions, appraisals, competency assessments and performance conversations.
· Coach, mentor and develop staff and identify opportunities to improve practice.
· Address performance, conduct, attendance and capability concerns appropriately.
· Lead or contribute to investigations, disciplinary and absence-management processes where required.
· Lead effective team meetings and management communication.
· Take an active role in recruitment, induction, probation, retention and ongoing staff development.
· Maintain oversight of mandatory training and competency compliance.
Operational Management
· Maintain oversight of staffing levels, rotas, deployment and skill mix.
· Respond effectively to vacancies, sickness, leave and other staffing pressures.
· Monitor agency usage and support efficient use of staffing resources.
· Maintain oversight of medication systems, audits and staff competencies.
· Ensure service-user finances and associated systems are appropriately managed and audited.
· Contribute to effective budget and resource management.
· Support referrals, assessments and transitions where required.
· Build effective relationships with commissioners, social workers, healthcare professionals, safeguarding teams, families and other stakeholders.
· Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota.
About You
We are looking for somebody who is confident taking ownership of a service and who enjoys being an active and visible manager.
You will need:
· A minimum of three years' experience supporting adults with complex needs within adult social care.
· Substantial experience supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism, including additional complex needs such as mental health needs or behaviours of concern.
· Management-level experience within a CQC-regulated adult social care service.
· Experience leading and managing staff, including supervision, coaching and addressing performance concerns.
· Practical management experience of safeguarding, incidents and risk.
· Experience of audits, quality assurance and compliance.
· Experience managing rotas, staffing levels and workforce pressures.
· Strong knowledge of CQC regulations, safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act.
· Confident leadership, communication and decision-making skills.
· The ability to remain calm, resilient and solution-focused when managing challenging situations.
· A proactive approach and willingness to take responsibility rather than waiting for direction.
· A Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care/Health and Social Care, or an equivalent relevant qualification.
· A full UK driving licence and ability to drive.
A Level 4 or Level 5 qualification in Adult Care/Leadership and Management is desirable, or you should be willing to work towards an appropriate management qualification.
Why join Calm Futures?
· Join a growing organisation with a clear social purpose and values rooted in being Meaningful, Limitless, Creative and Aspirational.
· Take ownership of an established residential service where you can have a direct impact on the quality of support people receive.
· Work closely with the Registered Manager while having genuine management responsibility and accountability.
· Lead and develop an established staff team.
· Remain actively involved with the people you support rather than moving into a purely office-based management position.
· Support people to achieve greater independence, choice and positive outcomes.
· Continue developing your management and leadership career within adult social care.
If you are an experienced social care manager who believes great leadership means being visible, accountable and genuinely understanding the people and team you are responsible for, we would love to hear from you.
Pay: £32,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you have a driving license, your own transport and live within a commutable distance of Hoddesdon?
- Do you have experience of completing audits, quality assurance and compliance activities?
- Do you have experience supporting services regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- Do you have experience of supervising or managing staff within a health and social care setting?
Experience:
- supporting adults with complex needs: 3 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
