Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage supported living services across the South West, ensuring high standards of care.
- Company: Join Lifeways, a leading provider of specialist support for individuals with diverse needs.
- Benefits: Flexible home-based role, travel expenses covered, and a supportive workplace culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care management and a passion for quality improvement.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on innovation and continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Home-based with travel across the South West
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Relief Service Manager to provide cover across our Supported Living services in the South West region. Our services consist of individual dwellings and flat schemes supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and related cognitive and developmental conditions. The Relief Service Manager role involves working flexibly across services to cover periods of absence, including long‑term sickness, vacancies during recruitment cycles, and to provide expert support in preparation for and during CQC inspections. This is a home‑based role requiring regular travel across the South West region as needed. Wherever possible, work will be planned in advance to support effective service delivery and work‑life balance.
Impactful Leadership
Step into a dynamic role where you’ll provide leadership to services during pivotal times, ensuring continuity and high standards of care while managing multisite teams. If you are a Service Manager or a Residential Manager with aspirations to become an Area Manager or gain a peripatetic skillset - this is the role for you!
Career Flexibility
This is a home‑based role, offering the flexibility of remote work, but will require travel across the regions, including occasional overnight stays during weekdays. All accommodation and travel expenses will be covered and planned in advance.
Quality‑Focused Environment
As part of Lifeways’ transformation journey, you will contribute to our mission to be the provider of choice, focusing on delivering safe, effective care that not only meets but exceeds regulatory expectations.
Continuous Improvement
Be part of a culture that values innovation, feedback, and growth, where you will lead initiatives to improve service quality, compliance, and outcomes for the people we support.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide time‑limited leadership and management across services experiencing prolonged absence of managers, ensuring seamless delivery of care.
- Lead teams in delivering safe, effective, and person‑centred support, driving quality improvement initiatives to meet and exceed CQC standards.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, embedding Lifeways’ values and ensuring that all services under your leadership excel in care delivery.
- Engage with external stakeholders, families, and health professionals to ensure the well‑being and safety of the people.
What You’ll Bring
About You
You are an experienced Service Manager or Registered Manager with a proven track record of delivering high standards of care in social care settings. You are passionate about quality improvement and have the leadership skills necessary to inspire teams to deliver person‑centred support. Flexibility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact are key to your success in this role.
- A minimum Level 3 qualification in Health & Social Care with Level 5 being desirable (or working towards it)
- Strong experience in operational and people management
- A valid UK driver’s licence and willingness to travel locally
- A genuine passion for quality care — and the ability to lead by example
We’re looking for individuals who embody empathy, courage, honesty, equality, and passion. If that sounds like you, we’d love to welcome you to the team.
Why Join Lifeways?
Role
When you join Lifeways, you step into a leadership role in a company that values and invests in its people. Our shared values guide everything we do: Caring – Honest – One Team – Innovative – Courageous – Equal
You’ll Get
- A supportive, inclusive workplace culture
- Matched contribution company pension scheme
- Wellbeing resources and mental health support
- Reward and Recognition Schemes
- Discounts on shopping, tech, travel, and more through CHOICE Rewards
Who We Are – Lifeways
Every day at Lifeways, our team members make a difference — and on our new careers website, you can read their real stories. You’ll meet people who have built rewarding careers with us, and people whose lives have been transformed through the support we provide. These aren’t just stories — they’re proof of the impact we make together. Because at Lifeways, you’re not just anyone. You’re part of something bigger — a team that changes lives.
Lifeways is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist support for people with learning disabilities, autism, brain injuries, mental health conditions, and complex care needs. We’ve recently completed one of the biggest digital transformations in our sector — and we’re just getting started. From Property to PBS, our ambition is bold: to become the Care Provider of Choice, powered by innovation, stability and the belief that great care starts with great people.
Relief Service Manager - South West England (Supported Living) employer: Lifeways Group
Contact Detail:
Lifeways Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Relief Service Manager - South West England (Supported Living)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care sector, especially those who might know about opportunities at Lifeways. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job openings that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your leadership skills and examples of quality improvement initiatives you've led. We want to hear how you’ve made a difference in previous roles, so have those stories ready to share!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research Lifeways and our values! Understanding our mission and how we operate will help you stand out during interviews. Show us you’re not just looking for any job, but that you genuinely want to be part of our team.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Lifeways and making a positive impact in the lives of those we support.
We think you need these skills to ace Relief Service Manager - South West England (Supported Living)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Relief Service Manager role. Highlight your experience in social care, especially with adults with learning disabilities and your leadership skills. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for quality care shine through in your application. Share specific examples of how you've made a positive impact in previous roles. We love candidates who embody our values of empathy, courage, and innovation!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you're the perfect fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our careers website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll find more info about our culture and values there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lifeways Group
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Relief Service Manager role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with the key aspects of supported living services, especially those related to adults with learning disabilities and autism. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and passion for quality care during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led teams or managed services. Highlight how you’ve driven quality improvement initiatives and ensured compliance with CQC standards. This will show that you have the impactful leadership skills they’re looking for.
✨Emphasise Flexibility and Resilience
Since this role requires travel and adaptability, be ready to discuss how you handle changing circumstances and manage multiple sites. Share specific instances where your flexibility and resilience made a positive impact on service delivery.
✨Engage with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with Lifeways’ core values: Caring, Honest, One Team, Innovative, Courageous, and Equal. During the interview, weave these values into your responses to show that you align with their culture and are genuinely passionate about making a difference in the lives of those you support.
