Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations in adult social care, ensuring quality and compliance across multiple sites.
- Company: Kent Autistic Trust, a values-led organisation focused on quality and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 33 days holiday, professional growth, and employee assistance programme.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for shaping operational structures.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with autism and learning disabilities.
- Qualifications: Senior management experience in adult social care and knowledge of relevant frameworks.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 62000 £ per year.
Salary: £55,000 - £62,000 pa, dependent on experience. Location: Kent – Hybrid / On site (multi‑site) 3-4 days per week.
THE ROLE
- Provide senior operational leadership and line management to Service Managers across multiple sites.
- Act jointly as a Registered Manager for Supported Living services.
- Share responsibility and regulatory risk for safeguarding practice, risk management, and complaint oversight.
- Drive improvement through audits, business plans, appraisals and performance management.
- Work closely with a dedicated Compliance and Quality Manager with a clear separation of compliance and operational functions.
- Support inspection readiness and act as the first line operational lead during CQC inspections.
- Play a key role in service development, mobilisation, and capacity planning.
- Commit to an on‑call schedule approximately 1 in 3-4 weeks.
- Operate in a hybrid environment with travel across Kent.
This role is designed to provide proactive, well‑governed operational leadership rather than being a fire‑fighting role.
ABOUT YOU
- Experienced, confident leader with significant senior management experience in adult social care.
- Existing or former Registered Manager (Supported Living or equivalent).
- Strong working knowledge of the Care Act, safeguarding, MCA/DoLS and CQC frameworks.
- Comfortable managing multisite services.
- At scale, can balance operational grip with values‑led, person‑centred leadership.
- Sound judgement and knows when to raise risk appropriately.
WHY JOIN KAT
- Opportunity to shape a newly strengthened operational structure.
- Clear executive support with delegated authority and trust.
- Strong values‑led organisation focused on quality and inclusion.
- Real influence over culture, systems, and outcomes.
- Collaborative senior team with specialist compliance and support functions.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- A supportive and collaborative work environment.
- The chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the people we support and the community.
- Paid DBS Check.
- 33 days holiday.
- Company sick pay after 12 months service.
- Death in service benefits.
- Long service and contribution recognition awards.
- Pension after 3 months.
- Employee assistance programme with counselling services.
- Significant retail and leisure discount scheme that could save staff an average of £1,000 pa.
- Discounted gym membership.
- Financial well‑being scheme (loans and savings).
- Refer a friend scheme via Care Friends app.
ABOUT THE TRUST
Supporting over 80 people in Medway and across Kent, The Kent Autistic Trust provides a wide range of services designed to meet diverse needs of those with autism, learning disabilities and related difficulties. We provide residential homes, supported living accommodation, day resource services and outreach services. Ensuring the voices of those we support are actively listened to, our care and support is consistently of high quality, with CQC rating all our services good and many outstanding.
OUR VALUES AND COMMITMENT
KAT is committed to providing high quality supports designed around individual abilities, needs and choices. KAT promotes independence and inclusion within communities and believes everyone can make their own individual contribution. KAT seeks to work in partnership with all relevant parties, especially with the individuals themselves.
We are not accepting applications from agencies for this role. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found or due to a high volume of applications.
Care Operations Manager - Kent £55,000 - 62,000 pa dependent on experience in Gillingham employer: The Kent Autistic Trust
Contact Detail:
The Kent Autistic Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Care Operations Manager - Kent £55,000 - 62,000 pa dependent on experience in Gillingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the adult social care sector. Attend local events or online webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their approach to care and how they align with your own beliefs. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly fits into their culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvement in previous roles. Highlight your experience with compliance and quality management to demonstrate your fit for the Operations Manager position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission at KAT.
We think you need these skills to ace Care Operations Manager - Kent £55,000 - 62,000 pa dependent on experience in Gillingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Care Operations Manager role. Highlight your experience in adult social care and any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Leadership Style: In your application, let us know about your approach to leadership. We value a person-centred style, so share examples of how you've led teams effectively while keeping the needs of individuals at the forefront.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point, showing us why you're the right fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Kent Autistic Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the Care Act, safeguarding, and CQC frameworks. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the regulations but also understand how they impact operational leadership.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams and managing multisite services. Think about times when you've driven improvement or handled challenges effectively, as this will demonstrate your capability to provide proactive operational leadership.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific situations, like a CQC inspection or a safeguarding issue. Practising your responses to these scenarios can help you articulate your sound judgement and risk management skills during the interview.
✨Align with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with the values of The Kent Autistic Trust and be prepared to discuss how your own values align with theirs. Showing that you’re committed to quality, inclusion, and person-centred care will resonate well with the interviewers.