At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead outreach and day centre services, providing support to individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Company: Established organisation in Southend-on-Sea dedicated to community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full-time hours, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a passionate team focused on inclusion and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Be a leader in transforming lives and creating positive outcomes for vulnerable individuals.
- Qualifications: Experience in homelessness support and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Location: Southend-on-Sea
Salary: Competitive
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Overview
We’re recruiting on behalf of a well-established organisation in Southend-on-Sea seeking an experienced and passionate Day Centre Manager to lead both day centre and outreach services. This is a senior leadership role responsible for delivering high-quality, person‑centred support to individuals experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage. You will drive service performance, lead multidisciplinary teams, and ensure services are delivered in a safe, trauma‑informed, and psychologically informed way.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across outreach and day centre services
- Ensure delivery of flexible, person‑centred support to individuals at risk
- Oversee safe and effective day centre operations, creating a welcoming and supportive environment
- Embed trauma‑informed and psychologically informed practices across services
- Oversee case management quality, including assessments, support plans, and risk management
- Lead on complex and high‑risk cases, including multi‑agency safeguarding responses
- Ensure robust incident management and continuous learning
- Manage and support deputy managers and frontline teams
- Oversee staff performance, development, recruitment, and retention
- Promote a positive team culture focused on wellbeing, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Ensure outreach services are proactive, responsive, and intelligence‑led
- Drive assertive engagement with individuals experiencing entrenched rough sleeping
- Support pathway progression through effective partnership working
- Lead the day‑to‑day running of centre‑based services
- Ensure high standards of health & safety, hygiene, and compliance
- Oversee performance targets, data quality, and reporting
- Build strong relationships with external agencies and community partners
- Represent the service at multi‑agency forums and meetings
- Work collaboratively to improve outcomes and reduce rough sleeping
- Oversee budgets and resource allocation
- Ensure compliance with financial procedures and controls
About You
Essential Experience
- Strong background in homelessness, outreach, or community‑based support services
- Experience managing teams in complex, frontline environments
- Proven experience handling safeguarding, crisis intervention, and complex cases
- Experience working collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector partners
- Track record of delivering services against KPIs and performance targets
- Strong understanding of trauma‑informed approaches
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent leadership and people management skills
- Confident decision‑maker in high‑pressure situations
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement ability
- Organised, analytical, and performance‑driven
- Calm, resilient, and solutions‑focused
- Passionate about inclusion, dignity, and positive outcomes
Desirable
- Experience managing day centre services
- Knowledge of local outreach or homelessness pathways
- Full UK driving licence
Equal Opportunities Statement
Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Homelessness Outreach & Day Centre Leader employer: Adecco
Join a well-established organisation in Southend-on-Sea that prioritises the wellbeing and development of its employees while making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness. With a strong focus on trauma-informed practices, this role offers a supportive work culture, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to lead a dedicated team in delivering high-quality, person-centred support. Enjoy competitive remuneration and the satisfaction of contributing to a vital community service in a vibrant coastal location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Homelessness Outreach & Day Centre Leader
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the homelessness and community services sector. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet people who might know about job openings or can give you insider tips.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and why you're passionate about supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. Authenticity goes a long way!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you’re the right fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be perfect for you. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Homelessness Outreach & Day Centre Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in homelessness and outreach services. We want to see how your skills align with the key responsibilities mentioned in the job description.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a senior leadership role, don’t forget to emphasise your experience managing teams and driving service performance. Share specific examples of how you've led teams in complex environments to achieve positive outcomes.
Highlight Trauma-Informed Practices:Given the importance of trauma-informed approaches in this role, be sure to mention any relevant training or experience you have in this area. We’re looking for candidates who understand how to create a supportive environment for those experiencing homelessness.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adecco
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Day Centre Manager role. Familiarise yourself with trauma-informed practices and how they apply to homelessness support. This will show your passion and understanding of the sector.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing teams in complex environments. Think about times when you’ve successfully led a team through challenges or improved service delivery.
✨Engage with Real Scenarios
Be ready to discuss real-life scenarios related to safeguarding and crisis intervention. The interviewers will likely want to see how you handle high-pressure situations, so have a few examples up your sleeve that demonstrate your calm and solutions-focused approach.
✨Build Connections
Research the organisation and its community partners. Be prepared to talk about how you would build strong relationships with external agencies. This shows you understand the importance of collaboration in improving outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness.
