At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead supported accommodation services for young people, ensuring safety and positive outcomes.
- Company: Choices Home for Children, dedicated to supporting young people's independence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong leadership support, health programmes, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in supported accommodation and strong safeguarding knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 42500 - 42500 £ per year.
We’re recruiting an experienced Service Manager to lead two Ofsted‑regulated supported accommodation services for Looked After Children aged 16–18:
- Macclesfield (SK10): 2‑bed service (1 young person currently in residence)
- Edgeley, Stockport (SK3): 2‑bed service (1 young person currently in residence)
You’ll oversee quality, safeguarding, staff performance, and outcomes across both homes, with strong support from senior leadership and head office functions.
At Choices, we support young people to feel safe, build confidence, and move towards independence with the right guidance around them. This is a service where standards matter, safeguarding is taken seriously, and managers are backed by a strong head office team so you can focus on running a great service.
As Service Manager, you will lead a 16+ supported accommodation service and set the day‑to‑day culture across the provision. You’ll ensure consistent practice, strong safeguarding, and clear plans that help each young person move forward. This role suits someone who can balance care and control: warm with young people, clear with staff, and confident with partners and compliance.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead the day‑to‑day running of the services, ensuring safe, structured, outcomes‑focused support
- Act as safeguarding lead in practice, managing risk, incidents, and follow‑up actions with calm decision‑making
- Line manage staff through supervision, coaching, support, and performance management
- Ensure support plans, risk assessments, and daily recordings are strong and meaningful, not just paperwork
- Build effective relationships with social workers, commissioners, education, health, and other professionals
- Drive quality assurance, audits, and continuous improvement to keep the service inspection‑ready
- Manage rotas, staffing levels, training, and general service performance
- Maintain a clear focus on independence skills, routines, engagement, and measurable progress for each young person
What We’re Looking For
Essential
- Previously held Ofsted registration within the last 2 years in supported accommodation (16–18)
- Experience managing or deputising in supported accommodation, semi‑independent, or a closely related children and young people service
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and confidence making decisions under pressure
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (or working towards)
- Confident leading teams, improving standards, and maintaining compliance and service reporting
- Organised, reliable, and outcomes‑driven
Desirable
- Experience supporting care leavers or young people at risk of exploitation
- Experience supporting a service through inspection, audit, or quality improvement
- Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel locally
What You’ll Get at Choices
- £42,500 annual salary with a stable Monday to Friday working pattern
- Strong senior leadership support
- Head office support including HR, recruitment, and compliance backing
- Company pension
- Relaxed dress code
- Blue Light Card
- Employee Welfare Programme via salary sacrifice, including retail discounts plus GP and counselling hotlines
- Quarterly welfare raffle with prizes such as holidays, spa breaks, and cinema vouchers
- Discounted or free food
- Health & wellbeing programme
Choices Home for Children is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to complete safer recruitment checks including an enhanced DBS, right‑to‑work checks, satisfactory references, and relevant vetting.
Job Details
- Job Types: Full‑time, Permanent
- Pay: £42,500.00 per year
Experience
- Supported accommodation management: 3 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification
- Driving Licence (preferred)
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (preferred)
Work Authorisation
- Right to work in the UK required (sponsorship not available)
Service Manager - Care Leavers Service (16-18) in Macclesfield employer: SGS Care Ltd
Join a dedicated and compassionate team as a Children's Registered Manager in East Lancashire / Greater Manchester, where you will lead a therapeutic children's home committed to providing high-quality, child-centred care. With a supportive leadership team, ongoing professional development opportunities, and a strong focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, this role offers a meaningful chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Enjoy a competitive salary package and the satisfaction of working in an environment that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Care Leavers Service (16-18) in Macclesfield
✨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 SGS Care Ltd.
✨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 SGS Care Ltd!
✨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 SGS Care Ltd, 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 SGS Care Ltd 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 - Care Leavers Service (16-18) in Macclesfield
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 SGS Care Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to SGS Care Ltd! 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 SGS Care Ltd
✨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.
