Domiciliary Care Manager

Keystone Care; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Keystone Care in Essex is seeking a Domiciliary Care Manager to take full operational responsibility for a community-based service supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism in their own homes. You will lead the care team, ensure robust care planning and assessments, and maintain compliance with CQC and safety standards.

With oversight of a 26-person service, you will drive quality, safeguard practice, and build strong relationships with families, professionals, and local

Qualifications

• Proven experience in domiciliary care management or senior leadership in learning disabilities/autism.
• Strong leadership and ability to motivate staff.
• In-depth knowledge of CQC regulations and compliance.
• Experience with care planning, assessment, and risk management for adults with complex needs.
• Organised, detail-focused, and compliant.

Responsibilities

• Lead domiciliary care team to deliver high-quality person-centred care for 26 individuals.
• Oversee care plans and risk assessments for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
• Ensure compliance with CQC regulations and health and safety standards.
• Monitor day-to-day operations, rota management, and resource allocation.
• Conduct quality audits, spot checks, and supervision.
• Maintain safeguarding practice and incident reporting.
• Build relationships with service users, families, professionals, and local authorities.
• Represent the service professionally to stakeholders and maintain service reputation.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

CQC compliance

Care planning

Risk management

Health & safety

Communication

Autonomy

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care

Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care

Safeguarding adults training

Health and safety training

Tools

Digital care planning systems

Compliance systems

Job description

Step into a pivotal leadership role where you'll shape the quality of care delivered to adults with learning disabilities and autism across Essex. This is a chance to lead a dedicated domiciliary care service, overseeing tailored support for 26 individuals and driving high standards of compliance, safety, and person-centred practice. Offering £37,000 to £40,000, this role is ideal for a switched-on manager who thrives on responsibility and making a measurable impact.

About the Role

As Domiciliary Care Manager, you will take full operational responsibility for a community-based service supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism in their own homes. You will lead and develop the care team, ensure robust care planning and assessments, and maintain full compliance with CQC and health and safety standards. Your leadership will directly influence service quality, client outcomes, and the reputation of the service across Essex.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and support the domiciliary care team to deliver consistent, high-quality person-centred care to 26 individuals.
• Oversee the creation, implementation, and regular review of individual care plans and risk assessments for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
• Maintain strict compliance with CQC regulations, internal policies, and all relevant legislation, ensuring the service is inspection-ready at all times.
• Monitor and manage day-to-day service operations, including rota oversight, workload allocation, and effective use of resources.
• Conduct regular quality audits, spot checks, and supervision sessions to identify improvements and drive best practice.
• Ensure robust health and safety procedures are in place and adhered to, including incident reporting and follow-up actions.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with service users, families, external professionals, and local authorities to support collaborative care.
• Lead on safeguarding practice within the service, ensuring concerns are identified, reported, and managed in line with policy.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience in a domiciliary care management or senior care leadership role, ideally within learning disabilities and/or autism services.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a track record of developing and motivating staff.
• Deep understanding of CQC regulations and compliance requirements in a domiciliary care setting.
• Demonstrable experience in care planning, assessment, and risk management for adults with complex needs.
• Highly organised and detail-focused, with the ability to stay switched on to compliance and quality at all times.
• Solid knowledge of health and safety legislation and its practical application in community care.
• Confident communicator, able to handle sensitive situations and represent the service professionally to stakeholders.
• Comfortable working autonomously, making sound decisions, and taking accountability for service performance.

Desirable Skills

• Experience managing services specifically for individuals with learning disabilities and autism in Essex or similar localities.
• Familiarity with digital care planning and compliance systems.
• Background in implementing service improvements following CQC inspections or internal audits.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, commissioners, and advocacy services.
• Training in positive behaviour support or other relevant specialist approaches.

Qualifications

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or working towards, with strong experience at management level).
• Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care (or equivalent) as a minimum baseline.
• Up-to-date safeguarding adults training and health and safety training relevant to social care.
• Additional management or leadership training/certifications in social care settings (preferred).

If you're a proactive, compliance-focused Domiciliary Care Manager ready to take ownership of a high-impact service in Essex, we'd like to hear from you.