Deputy Manager

Look Ahead Care Support and Housing; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading not-for-profit care provider in London is seeking a compassionate Deputy Manager to join their Young People Service. This role involves supporting the Service Manager, leading a team, and ensuring a supportive environment for young people. The ideal candidate should be educated to degree level, have relevant qualifications, and possess experience in mental health environments. The salary for this position is £34,500 per annum with a 40-hour work week, along with various perks and benefits.

Benefits

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service

Free DBS

Exclusive discounts and cashback

Fully paid induction programme

Healthcare Cashplan

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Online wellbeing resources

Generous pension contribution

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge related to supporting young people with mental health diagnoses.
• Experience working within complex mental health environments.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of trauma-informed practice.

Responsibilities

• Support the Service Manager in operational activities and performance tracking.
• Lead and motivate the team to maintain a positive culture.
• Build supportive relationships with young people.
• Manage staff competence and resolve conflicts effectively.
• Ensure risk assessments and support plans are updated.

Skills

Team leadership

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Resilience under pressure

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Relevant qualification in business or management (e.g., CMI/NVQ Level 4)

Job description

We're looking for a kind, compassionate, and resilient Deputy Manager to join our Young People Service in Ealing. The Deputy Service Manager shares responsibility for ensuring that a holistic and cohesive approach to customer support is embedded across accommodation services.

Look Ahead operates trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches, ensuring customers benefit from strengths-based support practices. The role requires an individual who embodies psychologically informed practice through their leadership style.

Together, these services support up to 12 young people at any one time, offering a welcoming, supportive environment on a spot-purchase basis.

The role of Deputy Manager will involve five 8-hour shifts, Monday to Friday.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

• Support the Service Manager in driving operational activities within your service area, ensuring clear, relevant, and challenging objectives and ongoing performance tracking.
• Successfully lead and motivate your team, championing and maintaining a positive local culture within the service.
• Build supportive, trusting relationships with young people and create a welcoming and positive atmosphere.
• Prioritise the prompt filling of voids and the reduction of arrears and bad debts.
• Continuously work to improve staff competence, ensuring proactive ownership of staffing matters, swift resolution of conflicts, and effective management of issues.
• Facilitate transparent and effective communication flows between management and frontline teams.
• Lead on casework management, ensuring that risk assessments and support plans are regularly updated and dynamic.

What we're looking for:

• Enjoys social interaction and engaging with others; actively participates in local activities to promote customer involvement and inclusion.
• Able to lead and motivate staff transparently and consistently.
• Exhibits warmth, friendliness, and an open approach.
• Prefers working collaboratively within a team.
• Calm and resilient under pressure; does not allow emotions to negatively impact judgement.
• Practical, logical, and naturally well-organised.
• Thrives in environments characterised by change, diversity, and dynamic challenges.

Essential qualifications and experience:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Relevant qualification in business or management (e.g., CMI/NVQ Level 4 or equivalent).
• Specialist knowledge related to supporting young people with mental health diagnoses.
• Experience working within complex mental health environments.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of trauma-informed practice.

Desirable qualifications and experience:

• Experience managing accommodation-based services and resources, with proven ability to deliver within budget and meet performance targets.
• Experience supervising and leading staff teams providing support to young people in or leaving care.

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values: We focus on Excellence and innovation. We are Caring and Compassionate. We are Inclusive and Trusted. We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

The salary for this role is £34,500.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution