About Open Minds Social Care
Open Minds Social Care provides 24-hour supported accommodation for care leavers and young people aged 16–21.
We provide safe, nurturing and supportive environments in which young people can develop their independence, confidence, resilience and practical life skills. Our approach is person-centred, strengths-based and safeguarding-focused, with support tailored to each young person’s individual needs, circumstances and goals.
We work closely with young people, families, local authorities, social workers and other professionals to provide safe, responsive and high-quality services that meet Ofsted requirements for supported accommodation.
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and confident Registered Manager to lead the day-to-day operation of our supported accommodation services in Croydon and Bromley.
You will provide visible, values-led leadership and hold overall responsibility for service quality, safeguarding, regulatory compliance, workforce management, risk management and young people’s outcomes.
This is an excellent opportunity for an established manager or an experienced deputy ready to progress who can combine compassionate leadership with clear accountability, strong operational oversight and robust quality assurance.
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership and Service Management
- Provide effective day-to-day leadership across our supported accommodation services.
- Ensure services are safe, effective, well organised and consistently delivered.
- Maintain a visible and supportive presence for staff and young people.
- Monitor staffing levels and deployment to ensure safe 24-hour service provision.
- Lead team meetings, operational reviews and service-development activity.
- Respond effectively to incidents, staffing pressures and emerging service risks.
- Participate in management on-call arrangements where required.
- Contribute to the organisation’s strategic development and sustainable growth.
Ofsted Compliance and Quality Assurance
- Ensure services comply with Ofsted regulations and quality standards for supported accommodation.
- Lead preparations for and participation in Ofsted inspections.
- Maintain effective governance and quality-assurance systems.
- Conduct and oversee audits of support plans, risk assessments, safeguarding, incidents, records, health and safety and medication-related practice.
- Develop and monitor service-improvement plans.
- Ensure actions arising from audits, complaints, incidents, inspections and safeguarding reviews are completed and embedded.
- Produce clear management, quality and performance reports.
- Maintain evidence demonstrating compliance, service quality and continuous improvement.
Safeguarding and Risk Management
- Provide strong safeguarding leadership across the organisation.
- Ensure concerns relating to abuse, neglect, exploitation, domestic abuse, self-neglect and other risks are identified, recorded and escalated promptly.
- Maintain management oversight of safeguarding referrals, incidents and agreed actions.
- Work effectively with local authority safeguarding teams, social workers, police, health professionals and other agencies.
- Ensure staff understand professional boundaries, confidentiality, information sharing and whistleblowing.
- Identify patterns and themes from incidents and implement preventative action.
- Escalate significant risks promptly to senior leadership.
Supporting Young People
- Ensure support remains person-centred, strengths-based and focused on positive outcomes.
- Promote young people’s independence, dignity, rights, choice and participation.
- Ensure support plans clearly identify individual needs, strengths, risks, goals and desired outcomes.
- Ensure support plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated.
- Promote appropriate positive risk-taking and the development of independent-living skills.
- Ensure cultural, religious, identity, communication and accessibility needs are recognised.
- Support effective placement transitions and move-on planning.
Workforce Leadership
- Lead, motivate and develop a competent, compassionate and accountable staff team.
- Support recruitment, safer selection and induction processes.
- Ensure staff complete effective induction and probation programmes.
- Provide and oversee regular supervision, reflective practice and performance reviews.
- Monitor mandatory training and identify wider development needs.
- Address conduct, capability, performance and attendance concerns fairly and promptly.
- Develop leadership capability among Senior Social Care Officers.
- Promote staff wellbeing and a psychologically safe culture in which concerns can be raised.
Referrals and Multi-Agency Working
- Oversee referrals and pre-placement assessments.
- Liaise with local authorities to secure appropriate placements, including through referral portals such as CarePlace.
- Ensure placement decisions consider individual needs, risks, compatibility and the service’s ability to provide appropriate support.
- Build effective relationships with commissioners, social workers, CAMHS, community mental health teams, GPs, education providers, housing services and police.
- Attend professional and multi-agency meetings.
- Advocate for young people when barriers to appropriate support are identified.
Essential Requirements
You should have:
- A relevant Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management for Children and Young People’s Services, Health and Social Care, or an equivalent professional qualification or be willing and eligible to complete the required qualification.
- Significant experience in supported accommodation, semi-independent living, children’s or young people’s social care, mental health, or a comparable service.
- Previous management or substantial deputy-management experience.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding children and young people, particularly care leavers.
- Knowledge of Ofsted regulations and quality standards for supported accommodation.
- Experience managing staff, including supervision and performance management.
- Experience managing safeguarding concerns and significant incidents.
- Experience overseeing support planning, risk assessment and risk management.
- Experience of quality assurance, auditing and service improvement.
- Experience working with external professionals, local authorities or commissioners.
- Strong leadership, communication, organisation and decision-making skills.
- The confidence to challenge poor or unsafe practice constructively.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.
- High standards of professional integrity, accountability and record-keeping.
Desirable Requirements
It would be advantageous if you have:
- Previous experience managing supported accommodation for young people or care leavers.
- Experience preparing a service for an Ofsted inspection.
- Experience working with young people who have complex or multiple needs.
- Experience using placement portals such as CarePlace.
- A professional background in social work, nursing, occupational therapy or another relevant discipline.
- Training in safeguarding, mental health, trauma-informed practice or positive behaviour support.
Additional Requirements
The successful candidate will be required to:
- Complete an enhanced DBS check.
- Provide satisfactory employment references.
- Demonstrate the right to work in the UK.
- Travel between Open Minds Social Care services and attend external meetings.
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of a 24-hour service.
- Participate in management on-call arrangements as required.
- Maintain continuing professional development relevant to the role.
Why Join Open Minds Social Care?
This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping high-quality supported accommodation services and improving outcomes for young people as they move towards greater independence.
You will join an organisation committed to safeguarding, compassionate leadership, professional accountability and continuous improvement.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining how your experience, qualifications and approach meet the requirements of the role.
Alternatively, you can email your application to [email protected].
Open Minds Social Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment, and the successful candidate will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
We are an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive working environment.
Pay: £42,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
