Job Summary
Job Title: Deputy/Service Manager – Residential Care and Supported Living
Location: Leicester
Salary: £38,000 per annum during probation, rising to £42,000 per annum after successful completion of probation
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Reports to: Registered Manager
Companies: Baba Sawan Lodge Ltd and BSL Care Services Ltd
About the role
BSL Care Group is recruiting experienced and motivated Deputy/Service Managers to support the management of our residential care homes and supported living services across Leicester.
We welcome applications from candidates with management or senior leadership experience in:
- Residential care;
- Supported living; or
- Both residential care and supported living.
Successful candidates will be allocated to an appropriate service based on their experience, skills and the operational needs of the organisation. Depending on the position offered, the employing company will be either Baba Sawan Lodge Ltd or BSL Care Services Ltd.
This is an excellent opportunity for experienced Deputy Managers, Service Managers, Team Leaders or senior care professionals who are ready to take the next step in their careers.
Working closely with the Registered Manager, you will help ensure that services are safe, effective, caring, responsive, person-centred and compliant with CQC requirements. You will provide visible operational leadership, support staff performance and maintain high standards of care and support.
Key responsibilities
Leadership and service management
- Support the Registered Manager with the effective day-to-day management of residential care homes or supported living services.
- Provide visible leadership, direction and guidance to Senior Support Workers, Team Leaders and Support Workers.
- Promote a positive culture based on dignity, respect, choice, independence and inclusion.
- Ensure people receive safe, consistent and person-centred care and support.
- Maintain an effective presence within services and regularly observe the quality of support being delivered.
- Ensure services operate in accordance with CQC regulations, contractual requirements and company policies.
- Deputise for the Registered Manager when required, within delegated authority.
- Recognise that the Registered Manager retains overall statutory and regulatory accountability.
- Participate in the management on-call rota and respond appropriately to out-of-hours incidents and emergencies.
Person-centred care and support
- Ensure care and support are tailored to each person’s individual needs, preferences, goals and desired outcomes.
- Promote independence, choice, dignity, privacy and community participation.
- Ensure people are involved in decisions about their care, support and daily lives.
- Monitor the quality and consistency of personal care, emotional support, behavioural support and healthcare assistance.
- Ensure support plans, care plans, risk assessments, health action plans and behaviour-support plans remain accurate and current.
- Support effective transitions, admissions, placements and service moves.
- Ensure residential environments are safe, welcoming and appropriately maintained.
- In supported living services, promote each person’s rights as a tenant and maintain clear boundaries between housing and care responsibilities.
- Support people to access meaningful activities, education, employment, appointments and community opportunities.
Staff management and development
- Lead, motivate, coach and support staff to deliver high-quality care.
- Conduct planned staff supervisions, probation reviews, return-to-work meetings, competency assessments and performance reviews.
- Support the appraisal process and identify individual training and development needs.
- Provide constructive feedback and address performance, conduct or attendance concerns promptly.
- Support capability, disciplinary, grievance and investigation processes when delegated.
- Promote staff wellbeing and encourage open, professional communication.
- Support recruitment, interviewing, safer recruitment and selection processes.
- Ensure new employees receive an effective induction and complete mandatory training.
- Monitor training compliance and ensure staff remain competent for their assigned duties.
- Ensure agency and temporary workers are appropriately inducted and competent before undertaking shifts.
Rotas and staffing
- Coordinate staff rotas and ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill mix.
- Arrange safe and effective cover for sickness, absence and vacancies.
- Monitor working hours, overtime and the appropriate use of agency staff.
- Ensure staff are deployed according to the assessed needs of the people being supported.
- Respond to staffing emergencies while maintaining continuity and quality of care.
- Escalate significant staffing risks to the Registered Manager.
Safeguarding and incident management
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture and ensure concerns are identified, reported and escalated without delay.
- Respond appropriately to allegations, disclosures, accidents, incidents and near misses.
- Preserve evidence and follow reporting requirements where police, local authorities or other external agencies are involved.
- Support safeguarding enquiries and internal investigations when authorised.
- Ensure notifications and referrals are completed accurately and within the required timescales.
- Review incidents to identify trends, learning and actions needed to reduce future risks.
- Support an open and transparent approach, including duty of candour where applicable.
Medication and healthcare
- Ensure medicines are stored, administered, recorded and audited safely.
- Monitor MAR charts, stock balances, medication errors and staff medication competencies.
- Take immediate action when medication concerns or errors are identified.
- Support people to access healthcare appointments and follow professional advice.
- Work effectively with GPs, pharmacies, community nurses, specialist teams and other healthcare professionals.
- Ensure changes in a person’s health or wellbeing are recognised, documented and escalated promptly.
Care records and documentation
- Ensure all care and support records are accurate, factual, respectful and completed promptly.
- Review daily notes, handovers, care plans, risk assessments and monitoring records.
- Ensure records demonstrate the person’s needs, choices, outcomes and the support provided.
- Maintain confidentiality and ensure compliance with data-protection requirements.
- Ensure records are securely stored and available for authorised audits or inspections.
Quality assurance and compliance
- Complete regular audits covering care records, medication, health and safety, finances, staffing and the service environment.
- Develop, implement and monitor action plans arising from audits, inspections, incidents and feedback.
- Support CQC inspections, local-authority monitoring visits and commissioner reviews.
- Maintain service-readiness for announced and unannounced inspections.
- Monitor compliance with CQC Fundamental Standards and relevant legislation.
- Identify areas for improvement and support changes that improve outcomes for the people using the service.
- Contribute to service development plans and quality-improvement initiatives.
- Ensure learning from complaints, incidents and safeguarding concerns is shared and embedded.
Risk management, health and safety
- Ensure individual and environmental risk assessments are completed and regularly reviewed.
- Maintain safe systems of work and ensure staff follow health and safety procedures.
- Monitor fire safety, infection control, food safety, equipment and environmental standards.
- Ensure accidents, hazards and maintenance concerns are reported and acted upon promptly.
- Support emergency planning and ensure staff understand the procedures they must follow.
- Balance positive risk-taking with the need to keep people safe.
Communication and partnership working
- Build positive and professional relationships with the people supported, families and representatives.
- Work collaboratively with social workers, commissioners, healthcare professionals, advocates and external agencies.
- Attend and contribute to reviews, multidisciplinary meetings and professional discussions.
- Respond professionally to questions, concerns and complaints.
- Ensure important information is communicated accurately through handovers, meetings and management reports.
- Escalate significant operational, safeguarding or regulatory concerns to the Registered Manager.
Financial and resource management
- Monitor service expenditure, petty cash and the appropriate use of resources.
- Ensure people’s personal finances are managed and recorded safely where support is provided.
- Complete financial checks and investigate discrepancies promptly.
- Help control unnecessary overtime and agency expenditure.
- Ensure service resources and equipment are used responsibly.
- Support the Registered Manager with budget monitoring where delegated.
Professional responsibilities
- Act as a positive role model and demonstrate professional conduct at all times.
- Maintain clear professional boundaries.
- Keep knowledge of legislation, CQC requirements and good practice up to date.
- Attend training, meetings and professional-development activities.
- Maintain confidentiality and comply with data-protection requirements.
- Carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the level and nature of the role.
Person specification
Essential experience and knowledge
- Previous management, supervisory or senior leadership experience within adult social care.
- Experience in residential care, supported living or both.
- Experience supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, complex care needs or behaviours that may challenge.
- Experience leading shifts and providing direction to frontline staff.
- Experience conducting staff supervisions and supporting staff performance.
- Good knowledge of safeguarding adults, medication management, person-centred care and risk assessment.
- Understanding of CQC regulations and the Fundamental Standards.
- Experience completing or contributing to care plans, support plans and quality audits.
- Ability to respond appropriately to emergencies, safeguarding concerns and incidents.
- Good written, verbal and digital communication skills.
- Ability to prepare accurate records, reports and action plans.
Qualifications
- Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care, Health and Social Care or an equivalent qualification is essential.
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care is desirable.
- Candidates who do not currently hold Level 5 must be willing to work towards it if required.
Skills and personal qualities
- Strong leadership and people-management skills.
- Compassionate, respectful and person-centred approach.
- Confident decision-making and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure.
- Strong organisation and time-management skills.
- Ability to prioritise competing operational demands.
- Commitment to safeguarding, equality, inclusion and continuous improvement.
- Ability to work independently while escalating matters appropriately.
- Flexibility to work across services according to operational needs.
Additional requirements
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Flexibility to work evenings or weekends where required.
- Willingness to participate in the management on-call rota.
- Satisfactory enhanced DBS check and employment references.
- Valid right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship.
What we offer
- Two full-time management opportunities.
- Permanent employment for 40 hours per week.
- Starting salary of £38,000 per annum.
- Salary increase to £42,000 per annum following successful completion of probation.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- Opportunities for career progression.
- Support from experienced Registered Managers and senior leaders.
- The opportunity to contribute to the continued development of residential and supported living services.
Important information
Visa sponsorship is not available for these roles. Applicants must already have a valid right to work in the UK and must not require current or future sponsorship.
Applicants do not need to have worked in both residential care and supported living. We welcome candidates with strong and relevant management experience in either setting.
Recruitment agencies may contact us regarding suitable candidates, including potential temp-to-perm arrangements.
How to apply
Please submit your CV with a supporting statement outlining:
- Your adult social care management or leadership experience;
- Whether your experience is in residential care, supported living or both;
- Your experience of managing staff and maintaining CQC compliance; and
- Why you are suitable for the Deputy/Service Manager position.
BSL Care Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. Appointments will be subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS checks, right-to-work verification, employment references and all other required pre-employment checks.
Pay: From £38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
- Store discount
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Leicester LE5: reliably commute or be willing to relocate with an employer-provided relocation package (required)
Application question(s):
- Please describe your management or senior leadership experience in residential care, supported living or both. What type of care needs have you supported?
- What experience do you have in safeguarding, medication management, care-plan reviews, risk assessments, staff supervisions and maintaining CQC compliance?
- Please describe a time when you managed a serious care incident or safeguarding concern. What action did you take, who did you notify and what was the outcome?
- Please describe your experience of leading staff teams while balancing hands-on management of the care floor with office-based responsibilities such as rotas, supervisions, audits, care documentation and compliance. How do you prioritise these competing demands?
Education:
- Diploma of Higher Education (preferred)
Experience:
- Care home: 5 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
