Service Manager

Autism; Croydon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Annual leave 33 days

Training

Discounts

Healthcare

Life Assurance

Flexible Benefits

Support

Mindfulness

Blue Light Card

Job summary

The National Autistic Society is seeking a Service Manager for St Edwards, Croydon. This full-time role drives operational excellence in service delivery, upholds safeguarding, and leads staff development and recruitment to build resilient teams.

You will oversee inspection readiness, risk management, and continuous improvement aligned with organisational priorities, with a focus on reflective practice and innovation.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Experience developing teams and delivering staff coaching.
• Willingness to work towards QCF Level 5 or equivalent if not held.

Responsibilities

• Prepare services for inspection readiness and service redesign.
• Lead safeguarding and risk management processes.
• Lead and develop staff through regular supervisions, appraisals, coaching & mentoring.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding and retention strategies to build resilient teams.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Safeguarding

Staff development

Recruitment

Education

QCF Level 5 or equivalent

Job description

# Service Manager## Job Introduction***The National Autistic Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.*****Join Us as an Service Manager** The National Autistic Society helps create a world that works for autistic people, and we have a rewarding opportunity for a **Service Manage**r at **St Edwards, Croydon**. If you share our values and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.Visit our website to find out more about who we are: https://www.autism.org.uk/**About the Service** St Edwards Close is a residential service separated into two homes in New Addington, London, a quiet residential area. We currently have two bedrooms available, sharing a home with a maximum of 6 others. We are a short drive from Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve as well as Croydon town itself, giving us access to a range of activities for different lifestyles.**About the Role** A fantastic role that is responsible for driving operational excellence in the delivery of services, and employee performance. The Service Manager will support continuous improvement and contributes to service development through reflective practice and innovation, in alignment with organisational priorities.**What You’ll Do*** Prepare services for inspection readiness & contribute to service redesign and transformation.* Lead safeguarding and risk management processes.* Lead & develop staff through regular supervisions, appraisals, coaching & mentoring.* Manage recruitment, onboarding and retention strategies to build resilient teams.**What We’re Looking For*** Strong leadership and people management skills with a track record of developing teams.* Ideally hold a QCF Level 5 or equivalent, or be willing to work towards this qualification.* Resilience under pressure and ability to adapt to changing priorities.Click here for the Job DescriptionThis advert is for a full-time contract, for 35 hours per week.**What we can offer you*** **Pension**– Auto-enrolled pension scheme.* **Annual****Leave**– 33 days (including public holidays). You can buy or sell leave each year.* **Training**– Great induction and training, including autism training.* **Discounts**– Online staff discount scheme for shopping, cycling, tech, and more (e.g., Asda, Tesco, Nike, Apple).* **Healthcare**– Cash plan for permanent staff.* **Life****Assurance**– 2x your base salary.* **Flexible****Benefits**– Options like private health, dental insurance, holiday trading, enhanced pension.* **Support**– 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme and counselling.* **Mindfulness**– Free Headspace app for you and up to 3 family/friends.* **Blue Light Card**– Eligibility for discounts.**About our application process**When you write your supporting statement:* Look at the job description and person specification.* Tell us how your skills and experience match the role.* Give examples if you can.We might close this job advert early if we get lots of suitable applications.**To protect our autistic adults at the National Autistic Society, all staff are required to have a criminal background check. Possession of an Enhanced DBS Check either on the Update Service or conducted within the last 12 months would be preferable but not essential.***Applications for this job are sought from anyone who is suitably qualified and experienced for the role but particularly welcome from autistic people.**We are an equal opportunities employer and part of the Disability Confident Employer scheme.***Important Information**Agencies need not apply.Please note the National Autistic Society are unable to provide sponsorship for Visas.**The National Autistic Society may use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist our recruitment team with reviewing applications for this role. All application decisions are made by people and are not determined automatically by AI.**