Job Post Summary

Job Title: Ofsted Deputy Manager – Supported Accommodation

Pay: £35,000–£42,000 per year

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person –Plymouth

Job Description

Overview

Starlight Support Services Ltd is seeking an experienced, motivated and committed Ofsted Deputy Manager to support the effective management of our Supported Accommodation services for young people aged 16–17.

Working closely with the Ofsted Registered Manager, the Deputy Manager will play a key role in ensuring our services are safe, well-led, compliant and focused on achieving positive outcomes for young people.

The successful candidate will support the day-to-day management of the service, provide leadership and guidance to staff, maintain high safeguarding standards, contribute to quality assurance and ensure practice remains consistent with the Supported Accommodation Regulations and Quality Standards, Ofsted requirements, safeguarding procedures and organisational policies.

This role would suit an experienced Deputy Manager, Team Leader or senior practitioner who has strong knowledge of children's services and is ready to take greater responsibility for service leadership and development.

Responsibilities

• Support the Registered Manager with the effective day-to-day management of the Supported Accommodation service.
• Deputise for the Registered Manager when required and provide leadership in their absence.
• Support the service to maintain compliance with Ofsted requirements, Supported Accommodation Regulations and Quality Standards, safeguarding requirements and relevant legislation.
• Assist with preparation for Ofsted inspections, including ensuring records, evidence, audits and action plans are maintained to a high standard.
• Support the implementation of actions and improvements arising from inspections, audits, monitoring and service reviews.
• Promote a strong culture of safeguarding, professional curiosity and child-centred practice.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns, incidents and allegations are identified, recorded, reported and escalated appropriately.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and support to Team Leaders and Support Workers.
• Complete and contribute to staff supervisions, performance reviews, team meetings and development plans.
• Monitor the quality of support plans, risk assessments, key-work records, safeguarding records and other documentation.
• Ensure young people are actively involved in decisions about their support and are encouraged to develop their independence, life skills and resilience.
• Support young people to achieve positive outcomes in areas including education, employment, health, relationships, finances and preparation for adulthood.
• Carry out regular quality assurance checks and audits and support the Registered Manager in developing and monitoring improvement plans.
• Ensure incidents, complaints, safeguarding concerns and significant events are reviewed and appropriate learning is embedded into practice.
• Support safer recruitment, staff induction, training and ongoing workforce development.
• Help maintain appropriate staffing levels and contribute to staff rotas and deployment.
• Build positive professional relationships with Local Authorities, social workers, commissioners, education providers, health professionals and other agencies.
• Ensure the accommodation is maintained to a safe and appropriate standard and report any maintenance, health and safety or environmental concerns.
• Support effective management of service resources and expenditure in line with organisational procedures.
• Participate in the management on-call rota where required.
• Attend management meetings, professional meetings and reviews as required.
• Travel between Starlight Support Services locations where necessary.

Requirements

Essential

• Previous experience working within Supported Accommodation, Children's Residential Care, Leaving Care or a similar service for young people.
• Previous experience in a Deputy Manager, Team Leader, Senior Support Worker or comparable supervisory role.
• Good working knowledge of Ofsted expectations and regulated services for children and young people.
• Good understanding of the Supported Accommodation Regulations and Quality Standards.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding children and young people, including responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns and managing risk.
• Experience supervising, supporting and developing staff.
• Experience completing or contributing to risk assessments, support plans, audits and quality assurance processes.
• Ability to maintain accurate, professional and confidential records.
• Ability to identify areas for improvement and support the implementation of effective action plans.
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to remain calm and make appropriate decisions when managing incidents or challenging situations.
• A commitment to promoting young people's rights, independence, safety and wellbeing.
• Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care, Children and Young People's Workforce, Residential Childcare or equivalent.
• Willingness to complete or work towards a relevant Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification, where required.
• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle.
• Willingness to travel between services where required.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rota.

Desirable

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare or an equivalent relevant management qualification.
• Previous experience supporting a service through an Ofsted inspection.
• Experience within 16–17 Supported Accommodation.
• Experience supporting service improvement following an Ofsted inspection or internal quality review.
• Experience working with young people with complex needs, trauma, exploitation risks or challenging behaviours.
• Knowledge and experience of trauma-informed and psychologically informed practice.
• Experience working alongside Local Authorities, social workers and commissioning teams.
• Experience supporting the opening or mobilisation of a new service.
• Knowledge of contextual safeguarding, missing-from-home procedures, exploitation and risk management.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is visible, organised and confident in leading practice. The successful candidate should be able to balance the operational demands of the service with the needs and experiences of the young people we support.

You should be comfortable challenging poor practice, supporting staff development, identifying safeguarding concerns and working alongside the Registered Manager to continuously improve the quality of the service.

Most importantly, you will understand that good compliance should translate into safe, consistent and meaningful support for young people, rather than simply completing paperwork.

Benefits

• Company events
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Opportunities for career progression
• Support towards relevant management qualifications

Schedule: Full-time, including flexibility according to service needs and participation in the management on-call rota.

Work Location: In person