Deputy Manager

Look Ahead Care and Support; Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave up to 30 days

Pension contributions up to 8%

Life assurance up to 3x pensionable

Discounts via Reward Gateway

Free DBS

Learning & Development

Job summary

Look Ahead Care and Support in Kingston is seeking a proactive Deputy Manager for our Forensic Mental Health service. You will lead daily operations, ensure shifts are safely staffed and aligned with support, risk and progression plans.

The deputy manager will support the Senior Service Manager to translate the service model into consistent frontline practice across High and Low Support. Reporting to the Senior Service Manager, you will develop frontline practice, coach staff, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Experience leading frontline staff in mental health, supported housing, criminal justice, forensic or another complex-needs setting.
• Proven ability to plan and manage rotas, shifts, leave and deployment effectively.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and dynamic risk management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with escalation judgment.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage rotas, shift allocation, leave, bank cover and deployment so the service is safely and effectively staffed.
• Lead daily handovers and risk huddles, ensuring changes in presentation and required actions are understood.
• Line manage staff through induction, supervision, and development.
• Monitor quality of support plans, risk and crisis plans, medication records, and customer reviews.
• Coordinate responses to incidents, safeguarding concerns and emerging risks.
• Prepare for MDT discussions and escalate concerns promptly.
• Step into direct support and lead shifts during increased complexity or crisis.
• Contribute to audits, incident learning, KPI monitoring and service improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Risk awareness

Communication

Job description

Deputy Manager

We're looking for a determined and hardworking Deputy Manager to join our Forensic Mental Health service located in Kingston.

£37,226.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
• 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
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
• Free DBS

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.

The deputy manager will lead the service's daily operational delivery, ensuring each shift is safely staffed, well coordinated and aligned with customers' support, risk, crisis and progression plans. The Deputy Manager supports the Senior Service Manager to translate the service model into consistent frontline practice across High and Low Support.

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

What you'll bring:

• Plan and manage rotas, shift allocation, leave, bank cover and deployment so the service is safely and effectively staffed.
• Lead daily handovers and risk huddles, making sure changes in presentation, statutory requirements and agreed actions are understood and followed through.
• Line manage designated staff through induction, supervision, reflective discussion, practice observation, performance management and development.
• Keep a close eye on the quality and timeliness of support plans, risk and crisis plans, medication records, daily notes and customer reviews.
• Coordinate operational responses to incidents, safeguarding concerns, missing episodes, substance use, deterioration and other emerging risks.
• Make sure planned keywork, appointments, community activity, environmental checks and practical support actually happen, rather than merely existing in a diary.
• Prepare for MDT discussions and work closely with FOS, escalating clinical, statutory or public-protection concerns promptly and clearly.
• Step into direct support and lead shifts during periods of increased complexity, transition or crisis.
• Contribute to audits, incident learning, KPI monitoring, service improvement and the management on-call rota.

Essential:

• Experience leading frontline staff in mental health, supported housing, criminal justice, forensic or another complex-needs setting.
• Confidence organising a busy service, making proportionate decisions and giving staff clear direction without becoming rigid or over-controlling.
• Working knowledge of safeguarding, dynamic risk management and recovery-focused support.
• Ability to supervise, coach and challenge staff constructively, including when practice needs to improve.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with the judgement to distinguish what can be managed in the service from what needs prompt escalation.
• A proactive style: visible in the service, interested in customers and willing to get involved when the team needs leadership.

Desirable:

• Forensic mental health pathways, restricted-patient arrangements and the interface with probation/MAPPA.
• Relational security, formulation-informed practice and positive risk-taking in community settings.
• SWLSTG/FOS processes and the detailed local operating procedure for the pathway.
• Service data, pathway-flow measures and specialist quality assurance requirements.

The service is anticipated to open on 4 January 2027, subject to contract finalisation, successful mobilisation and confirmation of operational readiness.

About us:

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. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

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.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.