Job Description

Job Title: Deputy Manager - Supported Living (16-21-Year-Olds)

Reports To:

Registered Manager

Location:

At least one day for each placement (Enfield, Basildon, Croydon) and the rest of the days of the week on hybrid working

Hours:

Full-time (including on-call Rota)

Salary:

28,000 to 36,000

Job Purpose

To assist the Registered Manager in managing the daily operations of an Ofsted-registered Supported Living provision for young people aged 16-21 who are transitioning toward independent adulthood.

The Deputy Manager will ensure a safe, supportive, and empowering environment that promotes resilience, independence, education, and positive life outcomes while maintaining compliance with Ofsted standards and organisational policies.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

Support the Registered Manager in all aspects of service management, regulatory compliance, and staffing. Lead, mentor, and supervise support workers to deliver consistent, high-quality care and guidance to young people. Act as the responsible person in the absence of the Registered Manager, ensuring operational continuity and decision-making. Support staff recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance reviews. Promote a culture of independence, inclusion, and positive outcomes.

Safeguarding & Compliance

Ensure safeguarding and child protection policies are followed and incidents are reported in line with statutory procedures. Maintain compliance with Ofsted regulations and ensure readiness for inspection at all times. Conduct regular health, safety, and welfare checks across the service. Contribute to Regulation 32 Quality Review reports. Notification of Serious incidents to Ofsted Keep accurate records of incidents, risk assessments, and outcomes, ensuring data confidentiality.

Care & Support Planning

Oversee individual support and pathway plans that reflect each young person's needs, aspirations, and goals. Support young people in developing independent living skills (budgeting, cooking, education, job readiness, tenancy awareness, etc.). Liaise with social workers, personal advisers, and external agencies to ensure multi-agency collaboration and support continuity. Encourage participation in decision-making, reviews, and house meetings. Model trauma-informed and strengths-based practice to empower young people.

Operational & Administrative Duties

Manage staff rotas, on-call schedules, and shift coverage to ensure adequate support across the home. Monitor budgets, petty cash, and expenditure to ensure transparency and accountability. Maintain high standards of record-keeping, including daily logs, MAR charts, and incident forms. Track and report performance data to senior management to support service improvement.

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

Support the Registered Manager in developing and implementing the home's Quality Improvement Plan. Lead internal audits and contribute to policy reviews and compliance updates. Encourage reflective practice and continuous professional development across the team.
Prepare for and participate in Ofsted inspections and local authority reviews.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Regulatory Compliance

Ofsted inspection outcome - Minimum "Good" rating across all judgement areas

Internal audit compliance - ?95% compliance on monthly audits

Safeguarding

Safeguarding incident management - 100% of incidents logged and reported within 24 hours

Risk assessment review - All risk assessments reviewed monthly or after incidents

Young People's Outcomes

Pathway plan completion - 100% of young people have an up-to-date pathway plan

Independent living skills development - 80%+ of young people meet 3+ independence goals per quarter

Education, training, or employment (ETE) participation - 90%+ of young people engaged in ETE activity

Support & Engagement

Young people's satisfaction feedback - ?90% positive satisfaction rate per biannual survey

Participation in house meetings and reviews - 100% attendance or representation recorded each review period

Staff Performance & Development

Supervision & appraisal completion - 100% of staff receive supervision every 4-6 weeks

Training compliance - 100% staff completion on mandatory and refresher training

Operational Efficiency

Staff retention rate - ?85% annual retention

Agency staff usage - <10% of total shifts filled by agency staff

Health & Safety

Premises safety audits - 100% completion of monthly safety checks

Quality Improvement

Completion of Regulation 32 actions - 100% of actions completed within set timescales

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Children and Young People) or equivalent qualification. Working towards or holding Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare or equivalent. Minimum 2 years' supervisory experience within supported accommodation or semi-independent settings. Strong understanding of Ofsted regulations, safeguarding legislation, and pathway planning for care leavers. Experience working with young people with complex or challenging needs.

Desirable:

Experience supporting young people transitioning from care or at risk of exploitation/homelessness. Knowledge of trauma-informed and restorative approaches. Full UK Driving Licence.

Personal Attributes

Passionate about empowering young people toward independence. Calm, resilient, and confident decision-maker. Strong communication, organisation, and leadership skills. Reflective, ethical, and committed to continuous improvement.
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 28,000.00-36,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Flexitime On-site parking Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Croydon CR0