Deputy Manager - Complex Residential Service

Overview

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is proud to partner with a well-established national charity in their search for a Deputy Manager to lead within a specialist complex care residential service. The organisation has been supporting people to lead fulfilling lives for over 140 years, with a person-centred approach tailored to individual needs, wishes, and aspirations. 100% of their autism services hold National Autistic Society accreditation, providing assurance that they deliver exceptional outcomes for autistic people.

This is a settled, high-performing service rated Good with Outstanding features by CQC following its first inspection. The organisation is actively expanding its complex care provision, with approximately six new services in development, creating real pathways for career progression. The charity also runs an Aspiring Leaders Programme, designed for people looking to advance into leadership and management roles, reflecting a genuine commitment to developing talent from within.

The Candidate

The Deputy Manager will take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the service, supporting the Service Manager to drive quality, compliance, and staff performance. This is a management-heavy role; the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time on staff oversight, compliance monitoring, and quality assurance rather than direct support work.

The team is experienced, settled, and well-established. The Deputy Manager will need the confidence to lead them firmly and fairly, holding boundaries while remaining flexible. Previous candidates who have approached this as primarily a hands-on support role have not been successful.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Management: Day-to-day oversight of a staff team of 35 within a 4-bed residential complex care service; managing staff performance, attendance, and absence; conducting supervisions and addressing conduct where required; maintaining a firm but flexible management style with an experienced team that requires consistent leadership.
• Quality and Compliance: Monitoring care plans and ensuring staff adherence across all residents; ensuring notes, records, and reporting obligations meet the required standard; supporting internal and external audit processes; contributing to the push toward an Outstanding CQC rating.
• Operational Management: Contributing to the development of outcomes-focused care for residents; telephone on-call cover approximately 1 week in 8, complex care services only, with senior operational support above; occasional weekend presence to connect with night shift staff; not a regular requirement.

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience in a management or supervisory role within a care setting
• Background in autism, learning disabilities, or complex needs services
• Comfortable and confident managing an experienced staff team
• Strong understanding of care plan compliance, quality monitoring, and regulatory frameworks
• Comfortable working within a service where physical intervention (low-level, PBS-informed) is present
• Level 5 in Health and Social Care or working toward it (funding available)

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in residential complex care settings
• Interest in career progression; Deputy-to-Manager pathways are available within the organisation as expansion continues
• Positive Behaviour Support awareness or qualification

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £37,176 per annum (rising to approximately £38,291 from April 2025 following a 3% pay increase). Benefits include 33 days annual leave with option to buy or sell 1 week; BHSS bronze health cover including dental and opticians; £50 gift card on birthday and at Christmas; Gem Award recognition scheme; Cycle to work scheme; strong training offer including funded Level 5, PBS qualifications up to master's level, autism qualifications, NEBOSH, food hygiene; Employee assistance programme.

Application Process

To apply or find out more, please contact Andy at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] for an informal discussion about the role on [contact hidden] or email [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Ltd acts as a Recruitment Consultancy for this permanent vacancy. Successful referrals receive £500 in vouchers or a £500 charity donation.

About [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]: Established in 2009, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is an award-winning, UK specialist Health and Social Care Recruitment Consultancy.