We are seeking an experienced and passionate Service Manager to lead, manage, and develop a high-quality semi-independent living service for young people aged 18 and over. This is a rewarding leadership opportunity for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is committed to supporting vulnerable young adults as they transition into independent living.

In this pivotal role, you will oversee the day-to-day running of the service, ensuring the delivery of person-centred, outcome-focused support that empowers young people to build resilience and achieve positive futures. You will be responsible for ensuring that all care and support plans, risk assessments, and safeguarding measures are accurate, up to date, and regularly reviewed in line with legal, contractual, and regulatory standards.

As the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the service, you will take the lead on safeguarding concerns, risk management, incident reporting, and investigations, ensuring that all actions comply with both internal policies and local safeguarding procedures. Your leadership will be crucial in promoting a safe, supportive, and empowering living environment for all service users.

Staff leadership and development will be at the heart of your role. You will recruit, train, supervise, and performance-manage a team of Support Workers and Keyworkers, ensuring that staffing levels and rota management meet the needs of the young people in your care. You will provide regular supervision and support to your team, fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

You will ensure full compliance with local authority contracts, supported accommodation standards, and other regulatory frameworks, maintaining accurate records and contributing to audits, inspections, and quality assurance processes. Working closely with external agencies such as local authorities, social workers, education providers, and health professionals, you will represent the service at multi-agency meetings and case conferences, advocating for the best interests of the young people you support.

The role also includes financial management responsibilities, where you will oversee service budgets, housing benefit claims, young people’s contributions, and petty cash processes, ensuring robust financial control and reporting.

We are looking for someone with a minimum of one to two years’ experience working with vulnerable young people, ideally within the 16-25 age range, along with at least one year’s supervisory or managerial experience in supported accommodation, youth services, or social care. A strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, risk management, and support planning is essential, along with excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills. You should have a sound understanding of the challenges faced by care leavers, homeless young people, or those with complex needs, and be confident in managing and motivating staff teams.

While a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (Children and Young People’s Services) or equivalent is desirable, we welcome applicants willing to work towards this qualification. Additional training in safeguarding (DSL level), health and safety, and risk management would be advantageous, as would experience of working with external agencies and quality frameworks such as Ofsted inspections.

You must be flexible, outcome-focused, and emotionally resilient, with a proactive and solution-focused approach to challenges. Strong IT and report-writing skills are essential, as is the ability to participate in an on-call management rota where required.

An enhanced DBS check for both the Children and Adults Workforce is required for this role. A full UK driving licence is desirable, depending on the location and setup of the service.

If you are driven to make a positive difference in the lives of young people and have the leadership skills to deliver outstanding supported accommodation services, we would love to hear from you.