Location: South Croydon / South London
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Hours: Approx. 40–44 hours per week, including management/on-call responsibilities
Employer: Integrity Lifestyle
Integrity Lifestyle is seeking an experienced Deputy Manager to support the day-to-day management of our supported accommodation service for young people aged 16–25.
This is a senior operational role for someone who can confidently manage staff, oversee safeguarding and quality assurance, liaise with Local Authorities and support the Registered Service Manager with referrals, placements and service delivery.
Main Responsibilities
The Deputy Manager will:
- Oversee the day-to-day running of the service and provide management cover when required.
- Supervise and support staff, monitor performance and ensure tasks are completed to the required standard.
- Review daily logs, incident reports, key work records, support plans, risk assessments and monthly reports.
- Provide management oversight of safeguarding concerns, incidents and missing episodes, escalating appropriately.
- Liaise professionally with social workers, Local Authority commissioning teams, brokerage and placement teams.
- Respond to placement enquiries and support the preparation of placement proposals.
- Review referrals and contribute to matching and impact assessments before admissions.
- Attend professionals' meetings, placement reviews and Local Authority quality assurance meetings.
- Support staff rotas, deployment, supervision, induction and training.
- Ensure young people receive appropriate support with education, employment, health, budgeting, independent living skills and emotional wellbeing.
- Complete service audits and ensure the service remains safe, organised and inspection-ready.
- Support the Registered Service Manager with compliance with the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and relevant Quality Standards.
Essential Requirements
Applicants should have:
- Experience working with looked-after children, care leavers or young people with additional support needs.
- Previous experience within supported accommodation, residential childcare, leaving-care services or a similar setting.
- Experience supervising or leading staff.
- Strong safeguarding knowledge.
- Experience working with social workers and other professionals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Confidence managing incidents, risk and operational decisions.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills.
- Minimum Level 3 qualification in Children and Young People, Residential Childcare, Health and Social Care or equivalent.
- Eligibility for an enhanced DBS check.
Desirable
- Previous Deputy Manager, Team Leader or Service Manager experience.
- Knowledge of the Supported Accommodation Regulations 2023.
- Experience liaising with Local Authority commissioning or placement teams.
- Experience reviewing referrals and completing placement matching assessments.
- Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification or willingness to work towards one.
- Experience preparing for Ofsted inspections or Local Authority quality assurance visits.
The Ideal Candidate:
We are looking for someone who is reliable, confident and able to take ownership of operational matters.
You should be comfortable speaking with commissioners and social workers, directing staff during safeguarding concerns, reviewing referrals, managing incidents and ensuring agreed actions are followed through.
This role would suit an experienced Team Leader or Deputy Manager who is ready to take greater responsibility for the operational management of an Ofsted-regulated supported accommodation service.
Pay: £26,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
