Supported Accommodation Service Manager – Lewisham

St Christopher's Fellowship; Lewisham; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + Bank Holidays

Contributory pension

Life Assurance

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work

Bluelight discount scheme

Training programs

Career development opportunities

Job summary

St Christopher's Fellowship in Lewisham is seeking a dedicated professional to lead and support a residential/home setting for young people. You will supervise staff, manage safeguarding procedures and collaborate with external services to promote safety and positive outcomes.

The role focuses on housing management, staffing, training, and ensuring compliant referral processes while working within a values‑led charitable environment.

Qualifications

• Three years' experience providing leaving-care and housing support to single homeless people or similar groups.
• At least one year of effectively managing and supporting professional staff.
• Good understanding of safeguarding and relevant regulatory framework for residential services.
• Knowledge of welfare benefits and relevant agencies supporting young people.

Responsibilities

• Safeguard young people through effective management strategies and collaborative external agency work.
• Provide supervision and development for staff, identifying training needs.
• Manage housing policies, income, licences and fair referral processes.
• Plan staffing levels and recruit locum staff within budget.

Skills

People management

Safeguarding knowledge

Behavioural management

Communication skills

Education

NVQ Level 4 or equivalent

Job description

Salary: £45,195 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, with some shift work and on-call responsibilities

Contract: Permanent, full-time

About the Role

We are looking for a resourceful, energetic and approachable individual who is confident in managing challenging situations and behaviours. You will play a key role in motivating and supporting young people to make positive choices, manage risks and develop their independence, while working collaboratively with a dedicated team of professional staff within a supported accommodation home in Lewisham.

Key aspects of the job will be:

To safeguard young people through effective management strategies, collaborative working with external agencies and emergency services, and full compliance with local authority safeguarding procedures.

To provide regular supervision and support to staff , identifying training and development needs to ensure required performance and professional standards are met. To source and/or deliver appropriate training and coaching where required .

To ensure housing management policies and procedures are effectively implemented , including maximising income, managing licences and ensuring fair, transparent and equitable referral processes.

To ensure appropriate staffing levels are maintained within the home through effective rota planning and, where necessary, the recruitment of locum staff. To ensure staffing requirements are met within agreed staffing budgets.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to reach their full potential and have a bright and positive future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity supporting children and young people. We are proud of our long history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving-care services across the UK. We have a passionate commitment to the young people we support, placing them at the heart of everything we do.

We strive to provide safe, nurturing and positive life experiences for young people who are unable to remain in their parental or foster homes, helping them to build confidence, develop their independence and achieve their aspirations.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to developing an inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued, respected and that they belong. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups, including people from different cultures , nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as people of all ages, abilities, religions and faiths, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities and those with caring or childcare responsibilities.

St Christopher's Academy

We have launched St Christopher's Academy to support the continuous learning, development and progression of our staff. We are committed to helping you build your career, map out your career journey and achieve your professional ambitions. Whether you are looking to develop new skills, gain qualifications or progress within St Christopher's, our Academy provides opportunities to support you at every stage of your career.

Applicants should have

At least three years' experience of providing leaving-care and/or housing support to single homeless people or other vulnerable client groups, including young people.

At least one year's experience of effectively managing and supporting professional staff.

A good understanding of safeguarding and the legal and regulatory framework relevant to the provision of residential and supported accommodation services for young people aged 16 and over.

A thorough understanding of the issues that can lead to young people becoming homeless, including alcohol and drug dependency, mental health difficulties and other complex needs.

Good knowledge of the welfare benefits system, together with an understanding of the range of statutory and voluntary agencies, resources and services available to support young people.

A good understanding of health and safety requirements and procedures, with the ability to identify , assess and minimise risks.

A strong commitment to supporting young people, with the ability to build positive and professional relationships with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and to manage challenging and conflict situations effectively.

A vocational or management qualification at NVQ Level 4 or equivalent would be desirable.

What you should expect from us

A friendly working environment at a values-led charitable organisation.

25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years' service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.

Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.

UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.

BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.

Cycle to work scheme.

Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK both in store and online.

Discretionary funded training programs for you to explore and attain new and relevant skills.

Employee awards based on performance and length of service.

Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment note :

Please note that it is against the law to apply for work with Children/Young People if you are barred from working in Regulated Activity and if your name is added to a Children Barred List.

St Christopher's Fellowship has a minimum age requirement of 21 for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and semi-independent Homes.