At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead day centre and outreach services, providing high-quality support to those in need.
- Company: Established organisation in Southend-on-Sea with a focus on community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full-time hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to inclusion and positive outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Qualifications: Experience in homelessness support and team management required.
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
- Service Leadership & Delivery
- 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
- Safeguarding & Case Management
- 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
- Team Leadership
- 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
- Outreach & Engagement
- 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
- Operational Oversight
- 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
- Partnership & Stakeholder Management
- 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
- Financial & Resource Management
- 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
Day Centre Manager in Southend-on-Sea employer: Adecco
Join a well-established organisation in Southend-on-Sea that prioritises high-quality, person-centred support for individuals facing homelessness and multiple disadvantages. As a Day Centre Manager, you will benefit from a supportive work culture that values team wellbeing and continuous improvement, alongside competitive salary packages and opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic and impactful environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Day Centre Manager in Southend-on-Sea
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the homelessness and community services sector. Attend local events or workshops to meet potential employers and showcase your passion for making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate that you're the perfect fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and delivered person-centred support in previous roles. This will highlight your ability to lead effectively in a challenging environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Day Centre Manager in Southend-on-Sea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in homelessness and community support. We want to see how your background aligns with the key responsibilities of the Day Centre Manager role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a senior leadership position, emphasise your experience managing teams and driving service performance. We love to see examples of how you've led multidisciplinary teams in the past!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Don’t forget to mention any specific experiences you have with safeguarding, crisis intervention, or working with complex cases. We’re looking for someone who can handle high-pressure situations with confidence.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and get you on the path to joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adecco
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of a Day Centre Manager. Brush up on trauma-informed practices and how they apply to service delivery. Being able to discuss specific examples from your experience will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory, but you can also put it into practice.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience managing teams in complex environments. Think of specific situations where you’ve led a team through challenges or improved performance. Highlight your ability to foster a positive team culture and how you’ve supported staff development.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since partnership and stakeholder management is crucial, be ready to discuss how you’ve built relationships with external agencies. Share examples of successful collaborations and how they improved outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness. This will demonstrate your proactive approach to outreach.
✨Be Solutions-Focused
In this role, you’ll face high-pressure situations. Prepare to discuss how you’ve handled crises or complex cases in the past. Emphasise your calmness and resilience, and be ready to share your thought process in making decisions under pressure. This will show that you’re equipped to handle the demands of the role.