At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to provide outstanding support services in a dynamic housing environment.
- Company: Join Riverside, a leading not-for-profit housing association transforming lives for over 90 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working hours, 28 days holiday, and investment in your personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by empowering vulnerable communities and enhancing their everyday lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in supported housing and strong leadership skills are essential; IT competency is a must.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; we guarantee interviews for diverse candidates meeting minimum criteria.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Job Description
Job Title: Service Manager
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £35,928.31 Per Annum, Pro Rata (£37,176.40 is achieved after 18 months successful performance in the role) Per Annum, Pro Rata
Working Hours: 25 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday-Friday, either 4 or 5 days per week
Location: Managing a variety of services – Elizabeth Court; Swale Housing First; Medway & Swale Dispersed services
If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don\’t meet all the essential criteria on the job description.
The difference you will make as a Service Manager
You will be working from one of our supported services providing motivational leadership to empower and engage your team to deliver an outstanding service that puts customers first with responsibility for the safe operational management of care and support services.
About You
We are looking for someone with:
- Experience of managing a team within a supported housing environment with a vulnerable and diverse group of customers
- Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise, organise tasks to achieve results
- Ability to listen and communicate clearly, encourage feedback and reflection, empower, motivate and gain improvements
- Have conflict resolution skills and be confident and consistent when making decisions
- Experience of reviewing, monitoring and evaluating outcomes in the delivery of support services
- Competent IT skills, including using databases, producing reports and other communications, and analysing key outcomes data to understand and drive service improvements
Why Riverside?
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.
Working With Us, You’ll Enjoy
- Competitive pay & generous pension
- 28 days holidays plus bank holidays (pro rata)
- Flexible working options available
- Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
- A wide range of benefits
Diversity And Inclusion At Riverside
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.
This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview.
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered
Role Profile
Leading And Engaging a Team
- Line manage a team and create a safe environment where colleagues can talk openly and honestly
- Work together to set expectations and performance targets
- Hold regular ‘one-to-one’ sessions to reflect on achievements, performance and support individual personal wellbeing
- Undertake six monthly performance reviews to support and guide colleagues to fulfil their potential
- Facilitate regular team meetings to update and empower your team to share ideas and best practice
- Embrace reflective practice techniques so the team can learn from their experiences
- Recognising, praising and acknowledging achievements of colleagues and team
- Build effective partnerships with regional and other colleagues across Riverside, participating in wider initiatives
Leading a Service
- Manage the service as per contractual requirements, reviewing contract performance annually, to deliver excellent outcomes for customers
- Meet Riverside performance targets
- Participate in the setting and management of service budgets. Monitor spend by accessing the finance system and report budget variances to the budget holder
- Resource, plan and deliver a colleague rota that covers all shifts effectively
- Recruit great people for your team, sourcing and engaging relief or agency workers as and when required
- Devise, plan and deliver a comprehensive induction and continuous development plans for all colleagues
- Be responsible for cash handling, ordering goods, administration of monthly timesheets, raise and approve invoices through accurate record keeping
- Produce reports and other written documentation as required to support contract delivery
- Ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation and other regulatory obligations, assessing risk, putting in control measures and reporting risks
- Work with customers and colleagues to deliver the objectives within Riverside’s corporate plan
- Actively build positive relationships with all key stakeholders by attending forums, tasks groups and networking events to promote and position Riverside as the preferred provider in the area
Housing And Income Management
- Manage and report responsive repairs and liaising with contractors
- Monitor that welfare checks of customers rooms are being carried out
- Working in partnership with asset and compliance colleagues to ensure our properties are safely managed
- Manage empty properties, ensuring that they are referred to asset colleagues for void work and follow void procedure to ensure rooms are ready to let
- Lead on hearing appeals, serving notice and ending of tenancies as per Riverside policy framework
- Manage an effective housing allocation and referral pathway into the service, ensuring customers are able to access the service as quickly as possible
- Manage the rental income for the service by ensuring the team collect rent payments from customers and manage any arrears to minimise any losses
- Deliver a tenancy sustainment and advice service to customers, by maximising their income i.e. claiming correct benefits, ensuring that the team support customers to maintain their tenancy through effective budget management
Supporting Customers
- Lead your team to provide a person centred, service for customers in line with our psychologically and trauma informed approach
- Promote the highest levels of customer consultation, communication and partnership working in all aspects of service delivery
- Work with your team to ensure customers are supported to achieve their ambitions and aspirations through creative support planning and a flexible approach
- Continuously develop relationships and networks with a range of stakeholders, including housing providers to identify pathways to plan and deliver positive move-ons
- Involve and engage customers in the design and delivery of all aspects of the service, including encouraging participation in internal audits
- Work with your team to continuously identify and build relationships with community resources and promote multi-disciplinary working to enhance the service for customers
- Guide your team to record customer information on Riverside and relevant local or external digital platforms, ensuring information is clear, accurate and strengths-based
- Enable customers to move towards self-management of their medication through adherence to medication management procedures
- Handle complaints and reports of anti-social behaviour transparently, ensuring customers are kept up-to-date with progress and a culture of continuous improvement is embedded
Other Information
- You will be required to work flexibly to meet customer and business needs, which may include out-of-hour working and participating in an “on-call” rota
- Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely
- Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary
- Ensure customers are safe at all times – carrying out all of your duties within Riverside’s Policy and Procedure Policy and Procedure framework e.g. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR, cash handling, etc
- Deliver your role in line with Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way”
- Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflective practice sessions
- From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager
Person specification
Essential
- Experience of working within a supported housing environment with a vulnerable and diverse group of customers.
- Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise, organise tasks to achieve results .
- Be a team player with a caring, empathic, supportive and flexible with a resilient can-do attitude.
- Ability to listen and communicate clearly, encourage feedback and reflection, empower, motivate and gain improvements.
- Have conflict resolution skills and be confident and consistent when making decisions.
- Experience of reviewing, monitoring and evaluating outcomes in the delivery of support services.
- Competent IT skills, including using databases, producing reports and other communications, and analysing key outcomes data to understand and drive service improvements.
Desirable
- Experience of managing and developing a small team.
- Financial experience or previous budgetary responsibility.
- Previous experience of managing contracts, achieving KPIs, managing compliance.
- Recognised formal care, support or housing qualification.
About Us
Riverside is one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit social housing and regeneration organisations, owning or managing around 75,000 homes from Irvine to Kent. We are a leading provider of supported housing services, particularly for those affected by homelessness, and our track record of transforming lives and revitalising neighbourhoods dates back over 90 years. We have plans to build over 15,000 affordable homes over the next decade.
Our Values and Behaviours
Creating an Inclusive Environment #J-18808-Ljbffr
Service Manager employer: Riverside
Contact Detail:
Riverside Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Riverside's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to inclusivity and community support will help you align your approach during interviews, showcasing how your personal values resonate with theirs.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to manage teams in challenging environments. Highlight instances where you've successfully empowered your team or improved service delivery, as this will be crucial for the Service Manager role.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees of Riverside if possible. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can help you tailor your responses during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your understanding of the specific services you'll be managing by researching the local housing needs and challenges. Being knowledgeable about the context in which Riverside operates will show your commitment and readiness for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in managing teams within a supported housing environment. Emphasise your ability to work with vulnerable and diverse groups, as well as any specific achievements that demonstrate your leadership skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and how your values align with those of Riverside. Use specific examples from your past experiences to illustrate your conflict resolution skills and your ability to motivate and empower a team.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your IT competencies, especially in using databases and producing reports. Mention any experience you have with budget management and compliance, as these are key aspects of the Service Manager role.
Showcase Your Commitment to Inclusivity: Riverside values diversity and inclusion, so be sure to mention any initiatives or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to creating an inclusive environment. This could include working with diverse teams or engaging with community resources.
How to prepare for a job interview at Riverside
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Service Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and motivate a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on how you empowered your colleagues and fostered a positive work environment.
✨Highlight Your Experience with Vulnerable Groups
Make sure to discuss your experience working with vulnerable and diverse groups. Share specific instances where you made a significant impact on individuals' lives, showcasing your empathy and understanding of their needs.
✨Prepare for Conflict Resolution Scenarios
Given the nature of the role, be ready to discuss your conflict resolution skills. Think of examples where you've effectively handled disputes or challenging situations, and explain the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Your IT Competence
Since the role requires competent IT skills, be prepared to talk about your experience with databases and report generation. Highlight any specific software you've used and how you've leveraged data to drive service improvements.