At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to empower learning disabled adults and promote independence.
- Company: Join Hft, a leading social care provider with a focus on inclusivity.
- Benefits: 33 days annual leave, award-winning training, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Flexible pay options and family-friendly policies available.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in people's lives while fostering a supportive team culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing CQC-regulated services and strong leadership skills required.
Lead with Purpose. Empower Independence. At Hft, a leading Social Care provider, we stand alongside learning disabled adults, empowering them to live life their way. As a Service Manager, you’ll lead a residential service, ensuring people feel valued, independent, and in control of their daily lives. You’ll guide your team to deliver person-centred support, foster skills, promote choice, and create opportunities for achievement, while maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where both learning disabled adults and colleagues can thrive.
What You’ll Be Doing
As a Service Manager, you’ll be at the heart of your service, inspiring your team to deliver support that empowers learning disabled adults to live life their way:
- Lead and develop your team to provide safe, person-centred support that promotes independence, skill development, and well-being
- Ensure services meet regulatory and internal standards, maintaining quality, compliance, and safety
- Hold or maintain CQC registration for allocated residential services, ensuring services meet all regulatory expectations
- Manage budgets, resources, and colleagues effectively to maintain strong and sustainable services
- Build open, trusting relationships with learning disabled adults, families, colleagues, and external partners
- Support recruitment, induction, training, supervision, and appraisal to develop your team and enable achievement
- Be a visible, proactive leader, including on-call responsibilities as required
Who You Are
You’re an experienced manager who knows what it takes to run a great service and leads with kindness, clarity, and confidence. You bring:
- Experience managing CQC-regulated residential service for learning disabled adults
- The ability to hold CQC registration
- A Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Adult Care (or the commitment to achieve this within 18 months)
- Proven leadership skills that inspire teams, develop talent, and drive positive outcomes
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and partners
- A proactive, solution-focused approach to challenges and change
- A valid driving licence and the flexibility to travel across services as needed
Life at Hft
Joining Hft means becoming part of a team that believes every learning disabled adult should have the opportunity to live life their way. We’re a social care provider with a clear focus on the people we support, and we’re committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable services. You’ll be part of a supportive, inclusive organisation where your leadership creates lasting, meaningful impact. Our values guide everything we do: we’re diverse and inclusive, kind and compassionate, positive and solution-focused, and visionary about what the best life possible looks like.
As a Service Manager, you’ll lead a team where empowerment, kindness, and compassion guide every interaction. You’ll enable learning disabled adults to feel confident and independent, while ensuring your team feels valued, supported, and able to thrive.
What We Offer
- A role with real impact, where your leadership empowers others
- A warm, supportive, and inclusive team culture.
- 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays)
- Access to award-winning training and career development
- Flexible pay options via Wagestream
- Wellbeing support including Digital GP, counselling, and mental health services
- Discounts on mobiles, life assurance, and referral rewards
- Family-friendly policies and return-to-work bonuses
Stand alongside learning disabled adults as they live life their way. Apply today and become part of a future where everyone’s life is truly their own.
Accessibility: We believe everyone should have the support they need to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process or in the role itself, Hft - proudly a Disability Confident Employer - is committed to ensuring disabled people can apply, succeed, and thrive with us.
Background checks: We’re committed to keeping the people we support safe, so this role requires a satisfactory DBS and background checks. Don’t worry; we’ll guide you through the process.
Service Manager (Edenbridge) employer: Hft
Hft is an exceptional employer that prioritises a values-driven culture, fostering a supportive environment where employees can thrive. With a strong focus on professional development and continuous improvement, our Purchase Ledger Lead will have the opportunity to lead a dedicated team while making a meaningful impact in the charity sector. Located in a vibrant community, we offer competitive benefits and a collaborative atmosphere that encourages innovation and growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager (Edenbridge)
✨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 Hft.
✨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 Hft!
✨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 Hft, 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 Hft 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 Service Manager (Edenbridge)
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 Hft:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Hft! 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 Hft
✨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.
