OFSTED Deputy Service Manager - Part Time or Freelance: from £15.00p per hour DOE in London

Our clients at Wandsworth, Southwest London are looking for Full time or Part time, experienced OFSTED Deputy Service Managers for Supported Living Services for young people aged 16 to 18.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Operational Management: Support the Registered Manager in the day-to-day operation of the service, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and structured environment for young people aged 16 to 18. Contribute to strategic planning, service development, and continuous improvement. Lead shifts and act as senior on duty as required. Fully deputise for the Registered Manager in their absence.
• Safeguarding and Risk Management: Act as Deputy Safeguarding Lead, ensuring safeguarding concerns are identified, reported, and responded to appropriately. Promote a strong safeguarding culture where young people feel safe, listened to, and protected. Oversee the quality and completion of individual risk assessments and Support Structures. Ensure compliance with local MASH, LADO, and London Safeguarding Partnership procedures.
• Young People’s Support and Outcomes: Promote independence, emotional resilience, wellbeing, and life skills development. Ensure young people have personalised, outcome-focused Support Structures that reflect their needs, aspirations, and risks. Monitor progress against care and pathway plans, working collaboratively with partner agencies to improve outcomes. Advocate for young people’s rights, education, training, health, and therapeutic needs.
• Staff Leadership, Development, and HR: Line manage staff through supervision, appraisal, and performance management processes. Identify and support staff training and professional development needs. Promote a positive team culture grounded in inclusion, consistency, trauma-informed practice, and professional curiosity. Support recruitment, induction, rota planning, and workforce stability.
• Communication and Multi-Agency Working: Build and maintain strong working relationships with social workers, personal advisors, local authorities, health professionals, education providers, and partner agencies. Attend statutory meetings, reviews, strategy discussions, and professionals’ meetings. Produce high-quality written reports and contribute effectively to care planning processes.
• Health, Safety, and Service Compliance: Ensure the service environment is safe, clean, and compliant with health and safety, fire safety, and infection control requirements. Lead on incident reporting, reflective practice, and debriefs to promote learning and service improvement. Maintain robust recording standards in line with GDPR and organisational policies.
• Administration and Finance: Support monitoring of budgets, petty cash, and financial systems. Ensure accurate record keeping and data reporting. Complete management reports as required by the Registered Manager.

Qualifications

• Essential Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent.
• Willingness to work towards the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Children and Young People.
• Safeguarding Level 3 qualification.
• Full UK driving licence or ability to travel across London as required.

Experience

• Essential Minimum of two years’ experience working with children or young people in residential or supported living settings.
• Experience leading shifts and supervising staff.
• Experience supporting young people with complex needs, trauma, exploitation risks, or emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Experience working with local authorities, safeguarding teams, and multi-agency partners.
• Strong experience in writing professional reports, risk assessments, and support documentation.

Skills and Knowledge

• Essential Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, child protection, and London multi-agency procedures.
• Knowledge of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015, Quality Standards, and Ofsted inspection processes.
• Effective leadership, coaching, and team-building skills.
• Ability to manage complex situations, incidents, and emergencies calmly and professionally.
• Excellent written communication skills for reports, risk assessments, and support plans.
• Ability to build positive, therapeutic, and trusting relationships with young people.
• Strong organisational, time management, and IT skills.

Personal Qualities

• Child-centred, empathetic, and trauma-informed in approach.
• High levels of professional curiosity and safeguarding vigilance.
• Resilient, emotionally intelligent, and able to lead by example.
• Non-judgemental, inclusive, respectful, and reflective in practice.
• Committed to continuous improvement and high standards of care.
• Maintains professionalism, confidentiality, and appropriate boundaries.
• Passionate about improving young people’s life chances and independence.

Plus, other duties required by the organisation.

If you think you’d be a great fit for our team, apply today! Please email us your CV to: Please follow the link to complete and submit your application form.