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- Tasks: Lead and inspire a team to support young people in Bracknell.
- Company: Join Look Ahead, a compassionate organisation dedicated to social care.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 30 days annual leave, generous pension, and free DBS.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Degree level education and experience in contract management required.
The predicted salary is between 41200 - 41200 £ per year.
We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Service Manager to join our Young People Social Care Service in Bracknell. £41,200.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Our benefits include:
- Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
- Free DBS
- A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
In this role, you will actively listen to and engage with young people, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. Developing and maintaining essential external partnerships will be key to providing a robust support structure for our customers. We are looking for an empathetic leader who can connect with young people and staff alike, showing genuine care and understanding. You should be adept at comprehending and implementing policies and procedures to benefit both customers and the organisation. Excellent communication skills are essential for effectively liaising with stakeholders, Children services, Commissioning teams, and OFSTED. A proactive approach to service development and regulatory compliance will be crucial to your success.
What you'll do:
- Drive business planning activities within your contract, ensuring relevant and challenging objective setting and ongoing performance tracking, developing turnaround action plans as may be necessary.
- Using sound financial and accounting principles, manage contract budgets to deliver on corporate and local contract financial targets.
- Successfully lead and motivate your team to ensure the championing of and maintenance of a positive local culture within your service.
- Work to continuously improve staff competence, ensure ownership of all staff issues and speedy and effective conflict resolution.
- Responsible for reporting all staff changes to HR and Payroll departments, as appropriate e.g. starters, leavers, additional hours etc.
- Responsible for maintaining quarterly staff succession plans.
- Deliver effective, professional and commercially focused briefings and supervision meetings with staff and ensure that information, reporting & communications flow up/down is effective.
- Responsible for managing and allocating customers to support staff (casework management).
- Develop key business relationships with all relevant customers/external parties to ensure service delivery excellence and maximise new business opportunities in own patch.
- Plan, organise and prioritise operations within your contract to ensure maximum efficiencies/utilisation of all resources.
- Working with your team to lead creative and ambitious customer involvement plans across the patch and ensure successful implementation.
About you:
- Ability to lead and motivate staff to deliver excellent services.
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
- Has a practical and logical mind.
What you'll bring:
- Essential: Educated to degree level or equivalent.
- Experience of managing contracts and resources and delivering to budget and performance targets.
- Experience of delivering to housing management performance targets.
- Desirable: Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications.
About us:
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
Service Manager- Bracknell in Reading employer: Look Ahead Care and Support
Contact Detail:
Look Ahead Care and Support Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager- Bracknell in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the social care sector. Attend local events, join online forums, or even reach out to current employees at Look Ahead. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to service management. Think about how you would handle specific scenarios involving young people and staff. We want you to show off your empathy and leadership skills!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your understanding of policies and procedures during interviews. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these in past roles. This will demonstrate your proactive approach to service development, which is key for us.
✨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 genuinely interested in joining Look Ahead and making a difference in the lives of young people.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager- Bracknell in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Compassion: When writing your application, let your kind and compassionate nature shine through. Use examples that demonstrate how you've engaged with young people or supported your team in a caring way.
Be Clear and Concise: We want to see your communication skills in action! Make sure your application is clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and keep it simple so we can easily understand your experience and qualifications.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Service Manager, you'll need to lead and motivate your team. Share specific instances where you've successfully managed a team or resolved conflicts, showing us your proactive approach to leadership.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Look Ahead Care and Support
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a Service Manager in social care. Familiarise yourself with Look Ahead's values and how they align with your own. This will help you articulate why you're a great fit for the position.
✨Show Empathy
As a Service Manager, empathy is key. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully engaged with young people or resolved conflicts. Highlight your ability to listen actively and respond compassionately to their needs.
✨Communicate Clearly
Excellent communication skills are essential for this role. Practice explaining complex policies or procedures in simple terms. During the interview, ensure you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing stakeholder engagement.
✨Demonstrate Leadership
Be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you motivate teams. Share specific instances where you've led a team through challenges or improved service delivery. This will showcase your capability to foster a positive culture within the service.