Supported Living Scheme Manager – Mental Health in Dunstable

Vacancy at Bedfordshire Supported Housing Ltd

Supported Living Scheme Manager – Mental Health

Garden House, Church Walk, Dunstable (occasional travel to Bedford)

Vacancy listed07/07/2026

About the Role

We are seeking a committed and compassionate Care, Support & Safeguarding Lead to provide high‑quality, person‑centred support to adults with diverse needs. You will act as a key worker, lead a staff team, uphold safeguarding standards, and ensure the service operates safely, effectively, and within budget.

Responsibilities

Operational Management & Compliance

• Oversee the operational day‑to‑day management of the service, ensuring adequate staff cover through working with the rota coordinator, property maintenance, and adherence to company policies.
• Ensure the service is maintained in a continuous state of audit readiness, with all care records, risk assessments, support plans, medication administration records, and compliance documentation accurately completed, consistently reviewed, and readily available for inspection by any relevant regulatory or commissioning body at any time.
• Ensure full compliance with quality standards, commissioning standards, and legislation, including the Health and Social Care Act (2012) and CQC requirements.
• Maintain, monitor, and review fit‑for‑purpose administrative and record‑keeping systems (e.g., Service User Care Files, Health and Safety, Medication, Safeguarding, Incidents, and Complaints).
• Conduct service‑wide random checks, audits, and care observations, analysing the data to disseminate learning points and implement necessary changes.
• Ensure the environment is safe, clean, and hygienic, strictly managing fire alarms, food preparation, lone working procedures, visitors, and refuse collection.
• Lead on safeguarding matters, raising alerts, sending key documents to relevant authorities (e.g., SOVA team), carrying out investigations, and monitoring action plans.
• Produce, analyze, and present compliance and performance reports weekly at appropriate management forums.

Care, Support & Safeguarding

• Act as an advocate and Key Worker for an allocated cluster of service users, taking responsibility for care and risk management plans, progress notes, and regular 1:1 meetings.
• Support service users in expressing their needs, views, and concerns, and provide support in accessing external agencies (e.g., advocacy, citizen’s advice).
• Promote a person‑centered, anti‑discriminatory culture responsive to the specific needs of individuals, including female service users and those from ethnic minorities.
• Support service users in developing socially valued, culturally, and age‑appropriate lifestyles encompassing nutrition, relaxation, exercise, and community rehabilitation.
• Ensure safe procedures for the collection, storage, administration, and recording of medication.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to emergencies and incidents within established policy guidelines.
• Liaise sensitively with service users’ families and carers regarding needs, care, and identified risks.
• Convene, chair, and minute service user meetings.
• Take a lead role in specific care areas, such as mental health care and support, physical health reviews including dental care, opticians, GP appointments, yearly physical health checks etc.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide high‑profile, consistent senior leadership to the staff team, ensuring a cohesive, open, and honest working culture.
• Take first‑line responsibility for staff supervision, and personal support, addressing any performance issues with timely supportive and corrective action.
• Support the recruitment process to ensure the retention of staff with the right values, behaviours, and skills.
• Identify staff training and development needs, actively participating in the planning and delivery of these activities.
• Work with the registered manager to organise regular team meetings.
• Ensure all staff safely and correctly carry out their care and support tasks to the required standard.

Financial & Strategic Responsibilities

• Ensure the service runs within financial constraints by planning and remaining within the constraints of the rota with the Rota Coordinator and Registered Manager.
• Conduct regular and systematic reviews of commissioned care packages to assess continued viability, ensuring packages remain sufficient to meet the assessed needs of the people we support. Proactively liaise with the relevant commissioning teams to initiate formal reviews within required timescales, safeguarding both service quality and financial sustainability.
• Oversee and authorise service expenditure in line with agreed budgets and ensure the accurate verification of hours worked by the team to support timely and compliant payroll processing.
• Participate in the on‑call rota for the service, arranging last‑minute or emergency cover as needed.
• Encourage customer feedback and promote a positive attitude toward complaints, ensuring timely and full investigations.
• Liaise professionally with external agencies and stakeholders (e.g., ELFT, LA, CQC).
• Oversee the creation and submission of digital and social media content by the team.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangement to suit you
• Pension Scheme
• 28 days of annual leave
• £300 'refer‑a‑friend' scheme (after qualifying period)
• Staff recognition & awards
• Highly supportive team