Location: Preston
Salary: Competitive
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
About the Role
We are seeking an ambitious, organised, and commercially minded Deputy Manager to support the Registered Manager in the leadership and operational management of our growing domiciliary care service in Preston.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced manager who combines a passion for delivering high-quality care with strong business, financial, and people management skills. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the service remains compliant, efficient, financially sustainable, and focused on achieving outstanding outcomes for the people we support.
Working closely with the Registered Manager, you will help oversee service delivery, workforce management, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and service growth.
In the absence of the Registered Manager, you will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the service.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Service Management
- Support the Registered Manager in the effective leadership and management of the domiciliary care service.
- Ensure high-quality, person-centred care is delivered in accordance with care plans and agreed outcomes.
- Promote a culture of accountability, professionalism, continuous improvement, and excellent customer service.
- Lead and support care teams to deliver safe, effective, and responsive care.
- Participate in the management on-call rota.
Financial & Commercial Management
- Support the achievement of financial performance and business growth targets.
- Monitor staffing costs, travel costs, and resource utilisation to ensure operational efficiency.
- Assist with payroll validation and the accurate recording of care delivery hours.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and contribute to performance improvement initiatives.
- Support budget management and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and value for money.
- Produce and analyse operational and management reports.
- Assist with contract compliance, commissioner reporting, and service development opportunities.
Workforce Management
- Support recruitment, induction, retention, and development of care staff.
- Conduct supervisions, spot checks, competency assessments, and annual appraisals.
- Identify training needs and ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements.
- Support the management of staff performance, attendance, and wellbeing.
- Foster a positive and supportive working environment that promotes staff engagement and retention.
Quality & Compliance
- Assist in maintaining compliance with CQC Fundamental Standards and all relevant legislation.
- Conduct audits, quality monitoring activities, and service reviews.
- Support investigations into complaints, incidents, accidents, medication errors, and safeguarding concerns.
- Ensure records are maintained accurately and confidentially.
- Support preparation for CQC inspections and implementation of action plans.
- Monitor care quality and drive continuous service improvement.
Care Planning & Service User Engagement
- Participate in assessments of prospective service users.
- Support the development, review, and updating of care plans and risk assessments.
- Conduct service reviews to ensure care remains responsive to changing needs.
- Build positive relationships with service users, families, healthcare professionals, and commissioners.
- Promote independence, dignity, choice, and person-centred outcomes.
Safeguarding
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture across the service.
- Ensure safeguarding concerns are identified, reported, and managed appropriately.
- Support staff in recognising and responding to abuse, neglect, and poor practice.
- Maintain compliance with safeguarding policies and local authority procedures.
What We're Looking For
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
- Willingness to work towards a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care if not already achieved.
- Minimum three years' experience within health and social care or a regulated service environment.
- Experience in a supervisory, team leader, coordinator, or management role.
- Experience managing teams and supporting staff development.
- Knowledge of CQC regulations and quality standards.
- Strong organisational, leadership, and communication skills.
- Commercial awareness and understanding of business performance.
- Ability to analyse performance data and make informed decisions.
- Competent IT skills and experience using electronic management systems.
- Understanding of safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act, and health and safety requirements.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Enhanced DBS check.
Desirable
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care.
- Experience within domiciliary care.
- Experience managing budgets, KPIs, workforce planning, or operational performance.
- Experience supporting a CQC-regulated service through inspection.
- Knowledge of local authority contracts and commissioned services.
- Qualification in Business Management, Leadership, Operations Management, Finance, or a related field.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary.
- Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
- Support towards further qualifications.
- A supportive and collaborative leadership team.
- Opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of a high-quality care service.
- Pension scheme.
- Mileage allowance.
- Employee wellbeing support.
Our Values
We are looking for someone who demonstrates:
- Compassion and empathy.
- Integrity and professionalism.
- Strong leadership and accountability.
- Commercial awareness and a solutions-focused approach.
- Respect for diversity and inclusion.
- Commitment to continuous improvement.
- Passion for delivering outstanding care and support.
If you are an experienced manager looking to combine operational leadership, business performance, and high-quality care delivery within a growing organisation, we would love to hear from you.
Pay: From £25,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
