Deputy Manager - Supported Living Services

Outward; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading care and support provider in Greater London is seeking a committed Deputy Manager to enhance the quality of life for adults with learning disabilities and autism. You will play a pivotal role in daily operations, providing hands-on support and mentoring staff to achieve person-centred care. The ideal candidate will have supervisory experience in social care and a passion for empowering individuals. This position offers a dynamic environment, with continued professional development and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

25 days Annual Leave

Comprehensive Learning & Development Programme

Cycle-to-Work Scheme

Health Assured – Employee Assistance Programme

Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of experience in a supervisory or leadership role within social care.
• Proven knowledge to co-produce and review person-centred support and risk management plans.
• Comfortable working weekends and evenings.

Responsibilities

• Support adults with learning disabilities and/or autism towards independent living.
• Oversee rota planning and promote quality and compliance.
• Mentor and lead staff through reflective supervision.

Skills

Experience supporting adults with learning disabilities and/or autism

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to motivate and lead a team

Proficient IT skills

Education

Formal qualification in health and social care

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Outward

For 50 years, Outward has been providing high-quality support and care services to vulnerable people across London, predominantly in North East London. Established by families seeking alternatives to institutional care, we’ve grown into a respected provider of person-centred support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, and complex needs. We support over 1,000 people across nine boroughs, guided by our core values : engage, enable, and empower.

Please Note

Outward has a number of Deputy Service Manager roles across a range of services in North and East London. Deputy Managers may occasionally move between services depending on organisational needs. If your experience fits the wider profile of service management and complex needs support, even if not every detail matches, we strongly encourage you to apply — we will consider your application across our current opportunities .

About the Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic, committed and values-driven Deputy Manager to join our Care & Support services. You will support adults with learning disabilities and / or autism, many of whom have moved towards independent living, to achieve greater autonomy, build confidence, and engage fully with their communities.

You will play a key leadership role in the day-to-day running of one or more services, supporting the Team Manager in supervising staff, overseeing rota planning, promoting quality and compliance, and maintaining strong partnerships with families and professionals.

We currently have vacancies at several supported living services across North East London, where we support adults with autism, learning disabilities and PMLD.

Key Responsibilities

• Work in partnership with the Team Manager to ensure the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care and support.
• Provide hands‑on support, with at least 50% of your working hours directly supporting people.
• Mentor, coach and lead staff through best practice, reflective supervision, and day‑to‑day operational guidance.
• Support the development and regular review of support and risk plans tailored to individuals’ goals and preferences.
• Provide a robust induction to new staff to include regular 1 : 1 mentoring, coaching and modelling best practice
• Build effective relationships with family members and stakeholders, advocating for the people we support.
• Support positive behaviour support (PBS) approaches within the team and promote a strengths‑based culture.
• Monitor service performance and quality, ensuring services meet or exceed CQC standards.
• Help manage rotas, finances (including petty cash and purchasing), staff inductions and competency assessments.
• Monitor service budgets and work closely with operation team to ensure services are financially viable.
• Be a key player in implementing upcoming digital systems e.g Nourish, Sona etc
• Work closely with Team manager with change implementation for frontline staff as and when required.
• Liaise with HM / Landlord / colleagues, lead on and have main oversight of sign up process, referrals and assessments, following up in‑action.
• Contribute to audits, reporting, and inspection readiness.
• Participate in on‑call duties as part of the management rota.
• Take part in assessments from receiving referrals and oversee void management.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone with integrity, energy and a commitment to empowering people with complex needs to lead fulfilling lives. You will support the team to develop support plans and risk assessments that reflect people’s needs, preferences and aspirations; creating a culture where plans are actively implemented and reviewed so that people are supported in the way that they want

Essential

• Experience supporting adults with learning disabilities and / or autism, including behaviours of distress
• At least 1 year of experience in a supervisory or leadership role within social care.
• Proven knowledge and skills to co‑produce and review person‑centred support and risk management plans.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to liaise with professionals, families, and staff.
• Ability to motivate, support and lead a team in a flexible and responsive manner.
• Established commitment to safeguarding, equality, and the rights of people with disabilities.
• Comfortable working weekends, evenings, and providing on‑call support on a rota basis.
• Proficient IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, case management systems).
• Staff must have access to a smartphone capable of receiving SMS messages and installing authentication apps for secure systems access
• Right to Work in the UK. Please note : Outward will not provide visa sponsorship

Desirable

• Experience supporting service users in supported living or outreach services.
• Formal qualification in health and social care (e.g. Level 3 or 5 Diploma).
• Experience working with Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
• Experience contributing to service quality audits and CQC compliance.
• Budget awareness or experience managing petty cash or local service budgets.

Diversity at Outward

Outward applies its Equal Opportunities Policy at all stages of recruitment and selection. Shortlisting, interviewing and selection is carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age or trade union membership. Those with disabilities meeting the minimum requirements for the post will be shortlisted and reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure they are not disadvantaged during the interview process.

As an employer, who aspire to become Disability Confident Committed, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. Please indicate clearly at the beginning of your supporting statement if you have a disabilityas defined by the Equality Act 2010), and you wish to be considered for an Offer Of an Interview (OOI) Pleasenote that the OOI is available to disabled candidatesonly. Regrettably, any false declaration of disability in order to secure aninterview will impact on your overall application

How to Apply

If you think you have the necessary skills and experience for this role please send your CV and a covering letter (preferably in one document). In your covering letter, outline your motivation for applying, how your skills align with the role, and highlight relevant achievements. In the subject line, please state clearly the role you are applying for and your name.

The closing date for all applications is open-ended. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. It would be great to hear from you.

Benefits

• 25 days Annual Leave excluding Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Comprehensive Learning & Development Programme
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Death in Service Benefit
• Health Assured – Employee Assistance Programme
• Eye care Vouchers
• Flu Jab Reimbursement
• Pension Scheme
• Purchase Additional Annual Leave
• Refer-a-Friend Scheme