Children's Contracts Accommodation Manager - (Ref:CRH383) in Kent

Job title: Children's Contracts Accommodation Manager

Department: Children's Contracts

Reporting to: Children's Contracts Manager

Location: Field / Hybrid Worker

Contract type: Permanent

Hours of work: 40 hours p/w (Mon - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm)

Salary: £47,000.00 - £55,000.00 per annum

The Children’s Contracts Accommodation Manager is responsible for the safe, compliant and effective management of accommodation provided to children and young people across the contracted service. The role ensures properties are suitable, well maintained and ready for occupation, with safeguarding, health and safety, contractual and Ofsted requirements embedded in day-to-day delivery. The postholder leads and supports accommodation staff, coordinates with internal teams and external partners, and drives timely action on property, placement and service-quality issues. The role contributes to positive outcomes for young people by maintaining stable, welcoming and appropriately supported living environments.

Key Relationships:

Internal: Children’s Contracts Manager, Director of Children’s Services, placement and support teams, safeguarding leads, property, maintenance, procurement, finance, HR, quality and compliance colleagues, and out-of-hours teams.

External: Children and young people, local authority commissioners and social workers, Ofsted and other regulators, landlords, managing agents, contractors, suppliers, emergency services and relevant community partners.

Scope and Decision Making:

The postholder manages the allocated accommodation portfolio and supervises accommodation staff within agreed policies, budgets, contract requirements and delegated authority. They prioritise operational activity, allocate work, approve routine property actions within authorised limits, assess accommodation readiness, and escalate safeguarding, significant compliance, financial or contractual risks promptly. The role has access to relevant property, case-management, compliance and reporting systems and is accountable for accurate records, performance information and completion of corrective actions. Decisions affecting placement suitability, service suspension, major expenditure or material contractual risk must be referred to the Children’s Contracts Manager or appropriate senior lead.

The postholder will deliver the following responsibilities in line with Clearsprings Group values, contractual requirements, safeguarding expectations and the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023.

Core Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day performance, safety and compliance of the allocated children’s accommodation portfolio, ensuring each property remains suitable, secure, welcoming and ready for occupation.
• Lead, supervise and support accommodation staff, setting clear expectations, monitoring performance, completing regular supervision and identifying training or development needs
• Coordinate property inspections, repairs, defects, void works, inventories and readiness checks, ensuring actions are risk assessed, recorded, prioritised and completed within required timescales.
• Monitor compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety, HMO and housing requirements, contract standards, company procedures and Ofsted expectations, escalating concerns without delay.
• Maintain effective working relationships with young people, placement teams, local authorities, landlords, contractors and internal departments to resolve accommodation issues and minimise disruption.
• Produce accurate operational and performance information, identify trends and recurring risks, and implement service-improvement and corrective-action plans.

Procedures:

• Follow and consistently apply all relevant operational procedures, accommodation standards, safeguarding arrangements, policies and systems.
• Maintain complete and accurate property, inspection, inventory, maintenance, compliance and management records, ensuring documentation is current, auditable and stored securely.

Connect and Collaborate:

• Work closely with your line manager and team members.
• Collaborate with others, attending meetings as required.
• Supporting team members and provide on-the-job training.
• Provide cover for other staff as agreed by line manager.

Responsive:

• Keep up to date with all written and verbal communications (i.e., emails/messages/calls)
• Ensure all records are maintained and kept up to date according to company policies and procedures.

Talented:

• Previous housing experience/knowledge at supervisory or management level.
• Must have previous people management experience and used to working with a challenging tenant group
• Strong communication skills, in particular the ability to influence, persuade and negotiate at all levels.
• Excellent relationship building skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Must be able to travel across a large geographical portfolio on a daily/weekly basis.
• A full UK driving licence and use of own vehicle. The role involves working from home with daily travel involved to provide direct support to the K.C.C. Team.
• Monitor own work levels, progress and development in the role.
• Undertake all core learning and development programmes as required.
• Undertake relevant learning according to agreed Personal Development Plan.

Trusted:

• All employees are responsible for ensuring any personal data which Clearsprings Group holds and for which they are responsible is kept securely and is not under any conditions disclosed to any third party unless that third party has been specifically authorised by Clearsprings Group to receive that information and has entered into a confidentiality agreement.

Agile and Diverse

• Any other duties within the scope of responsibility and ability, as required, inclusive of providing similar support to any other local company project.

Professional

• Maintain a good understanding of the legislation of the contract.
• You will be required to make sure the service is in line with OFSTED Government guidance, to ensure compliance with the Supported Accommodation Regulations 2023 and that the necessary changes are made to achieve the minimum standards required.

Safeguarding, Compliance and Conduct:

• Comply with all company policies, procedures, professional standards and contractual requirements relevant to the role.
• Promote safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of work.
• Complete mandatory training and maintain any required vetting, checks, licences or professional registrations.
• Act professionally and respectfully when working with colleagues, residents, service users, partners and stakeholders

Person Specification

The person specification must be directly linked to the duties of the role. Criteria should be objective, measurable and assessable through application, interview or selection activity.

Essential Criteria:

• Essential criteria must reflect the minimum requirements for the role. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the minimum knowledge, skills, experience, behaviours and requirements needed to perform the role effectively.
• Demonstrable experience of managing housing, supported accommodation, property or a comparable regulated service.
• Experience of supervising or managing staff, allocating work, monitoring performance and supporting development.
• Experience of working with children, young people or other service users who may present complex needs or challenging circumstances.
• Working knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities, health and safety, fire safety, property compliance and risk management.
• Understanding of the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, Ofsted expectations and relevant contractual or quality standards, or the ability to acquire this knowledge quickly.
• Experience of coordinating repairs, inspections, voids, inventories, contractors and corrective actions across multiple properties.
• Communicates clearly and professionally and can influence, negotiate and build constructive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Organises and prioritises a varied workload across a geographical portfolio, meets deadlines and responds effectively to urgent or changing priorities.
• Uses sound judgement, assesses risk and escalates safeguarding, compliance, financial or operational concerns appropriately.
• Leads and motivates colleagues, provides constructive feedback and addresses performance or conduct concerns fairly and promptly.
• Analyses information, identifies trends and produces concise, accurate reports and action plans.
• Confidently uses Microsoft 365 and relevant property, compliance, case-management and reporting systems while maintaining accurate records.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle for business travel, subject to reasonable adjustments where applicable.
• Right to work in the UK and ability to meet the required pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the allocated portfolio and participate in operational or out-of-hours arrangements where required.
• Relevant management, housing, property, safeguarding or health and social care qualification, or equivalent demonstrable experience.

Desirable Criteria:

• Desirable criteria describe additional knowledge, experience or qualifications that would support performance in the role but are not required at appointment.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience within Ofsted-regulated supported accommodation or another children’s social care setting.
• Knowledge of HMO licensing, housing health and safety rating requirements, fire risk controls and property compliance assurance.
• Experience of mobilisation, service expansion, commissioning activity, audit preparation or continuous-improvement programmes.

Skills and Abilities:

• Experience using property-management, compliance, case-management, workforce or performance-reporting systems.
• Ability to use data and audit findings to monitor performance, track corrective actions and improve accommodation quality.

Behaviours and Values:

• Demonstrates the Clearsprings values of being connected and collaborative, responsive, talented, trusted, agile and diverse, and professional.
• Works collaboratively, takes ownership, treats people with dignity and respect, and consistently delivers a safe and high-quality service.

Qualifications and Development:

• Level 3 or above qualification in housing, property management, leadership and management, safeguarding, health and social care, or a related discipline.
• Training in safeguarding children, health and safety, fire safety, risk assessment, trauma-informed practice or related areas.

Additional:

• Wider experience of working with local authority children’s services, commissioners, landlords, contractors or multi-agency safeguarding partners.
• Evidence of contributing to service innovation, accommodation sufficiency, business continuity or quality-improvement activity.

• 25 days annual leave plus national bank holidays
• Westfield Health Membership (offering cashback on health services plus discounts for retailers and gym memberships)
• Life Cover (2 x basic salary)
• Employer pension contribution (4% employer, 4% employee)
• Laptop/Phone/other equipment if required as part of job role
• Referral Scheme

Diversity Statement

Clearsprings Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Modern Slavery Statement

Clearsprings Groups conduct robust checks on any new employee including eligibility to work in the UK to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.

Safeguarding Statement

Clearsprings Group is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expect all employees to share this commitment.

All successful applicants will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check in line with their job role.

This role is not open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer withdrawn.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if there is a higher level of interest that expected.