Operations Manager – Supported Living
Internal Job Title: Operational Service Manager
Company Introduction
Lead with purpose. Inspire people. Transform lives.
At Pioneering Independence, we deliver high-quality supported living services for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, empowering them to live lives filled with choice, dignity and independence.
We're not simply recruiting a manager. We're looking for a leader. Someone who is passionate about people, committed to delivering outstanding, person-centred care and driven to inspire teams to be the very best they can be.
As our new Operational Service Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our services. You'll empower colleagues, champion high-quality, person-centred support and help create environments where both the people we support and our employees can thrive.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a genuine difference, not just to the lives of the people we support, but to the future of an ambitious and growing organisation.
At Pioneering Independence, we don't believe in simply maintaining services. We believe in continually improving them. We invest in our people, encourage innovation, embrace new ideas and work together to deliver exceptional outcomes.
Our ambition is to deliver services that consistently exceed regulatory standards, embrace innovation and set the benchmark for outstanding person-centred support.
If you're an experienced care leader who thrives on developing others, building positive cultures and driving quality, we'd love to hear from you.
Join us and help shape services that change lives- every single day.
Job Summary
As an Operational Service Manager, you will provide leadership across allocated supported living services, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care while maintaining direct operational responsibility for designated services.
This is a varied and rewarding role that combines strategic service leadership with hands-on operational management. You'll lead, coach and develop your teams, oversee quality and compliance, drive continuous improvement, manage resources effectively and build positive relationships with the people we support, their families and external professionals.
Working closely with the Registered Manager and wider leadership team, you'll be responsible for delivering high-quality services that meet regulatory requirements, achieve positive outcomes and create an environment where both the people we support and our colleagues can thrive.
This opportunity is ideally suited to an experienced care manager who enjoys leading from the front, empowering others, solving problems and continually improving the quality of support and operational performance across multiple services.
Salary
£30,000–£32,500 per annum (depending on experience), plus on-call payments and opportunities for career progression.
There are also opportunities to increase your earnings through participation in waking night shifts and additional overtime, subject to business needs and operational requirements.
This is a full-time leadership role requiring flexibility to participate in the on-call management rota and occasional evening or weekend working to meet operational requirements.
What You'll Be Doing
As an Operational Service Manager, you will:
- Provide visible leadership that inspires high-performing teams to deliver safe, effective and person-centred support.
- Provide operational leadership by overseeing the day-to-day delivery of services, ensuring high standards of care, quality and regulatory compliance.
- Coach, mentor and develop Team Leaders and Support Workers through regular supervision, performance management and ongoing professional development.
- Drive quality and continuous improvement by monitoring performance, completing audits, implementing action plans and promoting best practice.
- Ensure compliance with CQC regulations, safeguarding legislation, Health & Safety requirements and Pioneering Independence policies and procedures.
- Manage resources effectively, including staffing, rotas, annual leave, budgets and service performance to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of care.
- Build positive relationships with the people we support, their families, local authorities, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcomes.
- Lead on safeguarding, risk management and incident response, ensuring concerns are managed promptly, lessons are learned and improvements are implemented.
- Support organisational growth and innovation by identifying opportunities to improve services, enhance quality and contribute to strategic development.
- Participate in the on-call management rota, providing leadership and operational support outside normal working hours when required.
Why This Role Is Different
This isn't a traditional Service Manager position.
As an Operational Service Manager, you'll have the opportunity to influence how our services evolve, develop future leaders and drive quality, innovation and continuous improvement across multiple supported living services.
You'll have the autonomy to make meaningful decisions, the support of an experienced leadership team and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on both the people we support and the colleagues you lead.
What You'll Bring
We're looking for a confident and compassionate leader who is passionate about delivering outstanding care and developing high-performing teams.
Just as importantly, you'll be someone who leads with integrity, treats people with respect and believes that great leadership is about enabling others to succeed.
To be successful in this role, you'll have:
- Proven leadership experience in adult social care, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop high-performing teams.
- Experience managing supported living, residential or community-based adult social care services.
- Experience managing operational performance, staffing, budgets and resources effectively.
- A good understanding of CQC regulations, safeguarding, person-centred care and quality assurance.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work collaboratively with colleagues, families, commissioners and healthcare professionals.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and make sound decisions.
- A proactive approach to continuous improvement, with a commitment to driving quality and positive change.
- Good IT skills and experience using digital care management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
- A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle suitable for business use.
- A Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Adult Care (or a willingness to work towards this qualification).
It would also be great if you have:
- Experience managing multiple services or complex care environments.
- Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) knowledge or experience.
- An ILM Level 5 Leadership qualification or recognised management qualification.
- Experience leading quality improvement initiatives and preparing services for CQC inspections.
Why You'll Love Working Here
At Pioneering Independence, we believe that when we invest in our people, they deliver exceptional support to the people who rely on us. We're committed to creating an environment where our colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to grow.
When you join us, you'll benefit from:
- The opportunity to make a genuine difference by leading services that empower people to live fulfilling, independent lives.
- A leadership role with real influence, where your ideas and experience will help shape the future of our services.
- A supportive and collaborative leadership team that values openness, innovation and continuous improvement.
- Professional development opportunities, including access to training, qualifications and ongoing learning to support your career progression.
- The chance to lead, inspire and develop others, creating positive, high-performing teams that deliver outstanding care.
- A varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same and every day brings new opportunities to make a positive impact.
- A culture that values quality, compassion and innovation, where your contribution is recognised and celebrated.
- The autonomy to make meaningful decisions, challenge the status quo and influence the future direction of our services.
In addition, you'll receive:
- Company pension scheme.
- Access to employee discounts.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Ongoing mandatory and specialist training.
- Opportunities for career progression within a growing organisation.
- Participation in our leadership development programme.
Our Values
We're looking for leaders who demonstrate:
- Compassion
- Respect
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Innovation
- Excellence
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're ready to lead with purpose, inspire others and make a lasting difference to people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.
Join Pioneering Independence and help shape the future of person-centred support.
Closing Date: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive sufficient applications.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Pioneering Independence is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Interview Dates:
3 & 10 September 2026- in person at Torbay Business Centre, Lymington Road, Torquay, TQ1 4BD.
Pay: £30,000.00-£32,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
