At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to deliver exceptional support for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
- Company: Values-led organisation dedicated to improving lives through high-quality care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, autonomy in your role, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Opportunity for career progression and professional development in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and empower individuals to live fulfilling, independent lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care management and strong leadership skills required.
Our client is seeking an experienced and passionate Support Manager to lead high-quality supported living services for adults with learning disabilities, mental ill-health, and complex support needs. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated care leader who is committed to delivering exceptional person-centred support while developing and inspiring high-performing teams.
As Support Manager, you will be accountable for the operational leadership of your services, ensuring people receive safe, effective, and outcome-focused support that enables them to live fulfilling and independent lives. You will play a key role in driving quality, compliance, staff development, and continuous improvement across your locations.
Key Responsibilities- People We Support
- Lead the delivery of high-quality, person-centred support tailored to individual needs, aspirations, and outcomes.
- Oversee support plans, risk assessments, health plans, and person-centred documentation, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Build strong working relationships with families, health professionals, commissioners, social workers, safeguarding teams, and other stakeholders.
- Monitor incidents, accidents, safeguarding concerns, and risk, ensuring appropriate action is taken and lessons are learned.
- Maintain a visible presence within services and provide hands-on support when required.
- Support positive outcomes through effective multi-disciplinary working and proactive communication.
- Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, motivate, and develop Support Workers and frontline teams across multiple locations.
- Manage recruitment, induction, training, supervision, performance management, and staff development.
- Foster a positive and inclusive culture that promotes engagement, wellbeing, retention, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure staffing resources are effectively managed, including rotas, agency usage, and workforce planning.
- Deliver regular 1-to-1s, team meetings, coaching, and observations of practice to support high performance.
- Champion change, innovation, and best practice across services.
- Quality & Compliance
- Ensure services consistently meet regulatory, contractual, and organisational standards.
- Maintain compliance with CQC requirements, safeguarding procedures, health and safety legislation, GDPR, and equality standards.
- Monitor training compliance and ensure staff possess the skills and knowledge required to deliver outstanding support.
- Contribute to inspections, audits, quality reviews, and service improvement initiatives.
- Undertake Registered Manager responsibilities where required.
- Financial Management
- Demonstrate sound financial awareness and accountability.
- Manage budgets effectively and authorise expenditure in accordance with organisational procedures.
- Monitor staffing costs and resource utilisation to ensure services remain sustainable and efficient.
About You
We are looking for an experienced manager with a strong background in social care and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and complex support requirements.
You will have:
- Previous experience managing staff and services within health and social care.
- Experience leading dispersed teams across multiple locations.
- Strong knowledge of CQC regulations, safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
- Experience managing incidents, safeguarding concerns, and quality assurance processes.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and organisational skills.
- The ability to prioritise a demanding workload while maintaining attention to detail.
- Strong leadership skills with a positive, solutions-focused approach.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office 365 and electronic care management systems.
Desirable
- NVQ Level 5 / QCF Diploma in Health & Social Care (or willingness to work towards).
- Experience as a Registered Manager or readiness to progress into a registered role.
- Experience managing service budgets and financial performance.
What's on Offer?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a values-led organisation where you will have the autonomy to make a real difference to the lives of the people you support and the teams you lead. You'll work alongside dedicated professionals who are committed to delivering outstanding care, quality, and outcomes.
If you're an experienced Support Manager, Service Manager, Deputy Manager ready to step up, or Registered Manager looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you.
Applications are handled in strict confidence by the recruiting agency.
Contact Details:
Care First UK Recruitment Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Manager
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Care First UK Recruitment Solutions.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Care First UK Recruitment Solutions!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Care First UK Recruitment Solutions, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Care First UK Recruitment Solutions or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Support Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Care First UK Recruitment Solutions:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Care First UK Recruitment Solutions! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Care First UK Recruitment Solutions
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
