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- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver high-quality support for autistic individuals and develop your management skills.
- Company: Join a specialist care provider in the stunning Orkney Islands.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days annual leave, life assurance, and a matched pension contribution.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while enjoying a unique lifestyle in one of the UK's most beautiful locations.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care and a passion for supporting autistic people.
- Other info: This role offers excellent career progression and professional development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 37041 - 39464 £ per year.
Defour Partnership is proud to be supporting a specialist care provider with the recruitment of a Senior Autism Practitioner (Team Leader) in Orkney.
Are you ready to move into a junior management role where you can lead, inspire, and make a meaningful difference every day? Do you have experience in social care and want to progress into a position that gives you more responsibility, leadership exposure, and the opportunity to shape high-quality support services? If so, this could be the ideal next step in your career.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Senior Support Worker, Team Leader, or aspiring Deputy-level professional to take on a first-step management role within a specialist autism service in Orkney. Alongside the career opportunity, this role also offers the chance to enjoy a completely different pace of life in one of Scotland's most beautiful and distinctive island communities.
Why Orkney? For the right person, this role offers more than just career progression. Orkney provides an incredible lifestyle opportunity with stunning coastlines, a strong sense of community, open space, and a slower, more balanced way of living. Whether you're looking for a fresh start, a better work-life balance, or the chance to build a rewarding career in a truly unique setting, this role could be the perfect move.
If you've ever thought about relocating to an island community while continuing to grow your social care career, this is a rare opportunity to do both.
About the Role: As Senior Autism Practitioner (Team Leader), you'll play a key role in supporting the successful day-to-day delivery of the service while developing your experience in leadership and management. This is a junior management position, ideal for someone ready to take the next step beyond frontline senior support work into a role with greater responsibility, leadership, and influence.
You’ll lead and support a team of Autism Practitioners, helping to create a positive, person-centred, and high-performing environment where both colleagues and the people supported can thrive.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Leading and supporting a team to deliver high-quality, person-centred support
- Coaching, mentoring, and developing staff in their day-to-day practice
- Supporting the implementation and review of individual support plans
- Working collaboratively with families, agencies, and multidisciplinary teams
- Taking on increasing responsibility as part of your management development journey
- Supporting rota planning, service coordination, and team organisation
- Playing an active role in recruitment, induction, and staff development
- Helping to maintain a service culture built around quality, inclusion, and positive outcomes
Who This Role Would Suit: This role would be ideal for someone who is:
- Currently working as a Senior Support Worker, Team Leader, or in a similar senior care role
- Ready to take a step into management
- Passionate about supporting autistic people in a person-centred and strengths-based way
- Keen to build leadership experience within a supportive specialist service
- Looking for a new challenge, lifestyle change, or potential relocation opportunity
Essential Requirements:
- Experience in a supervisory and/or leadership role within care or support services
- A relevant Health & Social Care qualification, or willingness to work towards SVQ Level 4 / Leadership & Management for Care Services
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
- Experience of rota planning and team coordination
- A genuine commitment to high-quality, person-centred support
Whats on Offer: This is an excellent opportunity to join a service that values difference, development, inclusion, and high-quality support. Benefits include:
- 32 days annual leave (increasing with service)
- Life assurance
- Employer pension contribution matched up to 9%
- Employee discount platform
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to excellent training and professional development opportunities
- A genuine opportunity to progress your leadership career
This role also includes occasional on-call and weekend work.
Additional Information:
- Location: Orkney
- Contract: Fixed term for 1 year
- Hours: 37 hours per week
Please note: Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Interested? If you're looking for a role that offers both career progression and a unique lifestyle opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.
Junior Manager - Social Care in Scotland employer: Defour Partnership Ltd
Contact Detail:
Defour Partnership Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Manager - Social Care in Scotland
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care sector, attend local events, and join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their approach to autism support and think about how your experience aligns with their mission. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets it.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable discussing your leadership experience and how you've positively impacted teams in the past. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel when it counts.
✨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 Junior Manager - Social Care in Scotland
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Junior Manager - Social Care role. Highlight your relevant experience in social care and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for supporting autistic individuals shine through in your application. Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles. We love to see candidates who are genuinely passionate about person-centred care!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate when candidates communicate effectively, as it reflects the kind of clarity we value in our team.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity in Orkney. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Defour Partnership Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of autism support and the specific needs of individuals in this area. Familiarise yourself with person-centred approaches and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams or mentoring others. Think about times when you've successfully coached a colleague or managed a challenging situation, as this will demonstrate your readiness for a junior management role.
✨Understand the Community
Research Orkney and its unique lifestyle. Be prepared to discuss why you're interested in relocating and how you see yourself contributing to the community. This shows your commitment not just to the job, but to the place you'll be living.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the role and the team dynamics. Inquire about the support structures in place for staff development and how success is measured within the service. This shows your genuine interest in the position and your proactive approach.