Service Manager

Services Manager

Location: Argyll & Bute Salary: Upwards of £36,000 per annum Contract: The organisation is initially seeking an interim appointment; however, applications from candidates seeking a permanent position are equally welcomed and will be fully considered.

About the Role

We are recruiting for an experienced and motivated Services Manager to join a well-established, values-led social care provider supporting people with learning disabilities to live full, independent and meaningful lives within their local communities.

The organisation is initially seeking an experienced interim Services Manager. However, they are also very open to appointing the right candidate on a permanent basis, and applications are actively welcomed from experienced professionals seeking either an interim or long-term opportunity.

This is a key leadership position with responsibility for the overall management and delivery of service provision across the Argyll & Bute area. The successful candidate will provide strong operational and practice leadership, ensuring service delivery is appropriately resourced, compliant, person-centred and consistently delivered to a high standard.

Working closely with senior management and external stakeholders, the Services Manager will lead and support a team of Team Facilitators, ensuring effective service delivery and promoting a culture of inclusion, independence and high-quality personalised support.

Key Responsibilities

Provide overall operational and practice leadership across the designated service delivery area. Act as the Registered Manager for the relevant service area where required, ensuring compliance with Care Inspectorate and SSSC requirements. Lead, manage and support a team of Team Facilitators, providing regular supervision, guidance, performance management and development. Ensure service delivery is appropriately staffed, resourced, trained and equipped to deliver safe, effective and high-quality support. Oversee the delivery of personalised, person-centred and self-directed support, ensuring people are actively involved in decisions regarding their own lives and support. Monitor quality and performance through audits, quality assurance activity and stakeholder feedback. Identify and manage service risks, implementing appropriate action plans and escalating concerns through internal and external regulatory channels where necessary. Ensure appropriate policies, procedures, support plans, risk assessments and documentation are in place and maintained. Support Team Facilitators to develop effective and autonomous support teams. Oversee local training and development plans, ensuring mandatory and individual-specific training requirements are identified and completed. Manage staffing and resourcing requirements, including planned and emergency cover, absence management and other workforce issues. Work closely with HR and senior management to maintain positive employee relations and effective people management practices. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with families, local authorities, health professionals and other external stakeholders. Support the planning, development and continuous improvement of new and existing service provision. Oversee relevant budgets and Individual Service Funds, ensuring effective financial monitoring and appropriate use of resources. Ensure service delivery operates in line with relevant legislation, regulatory frameworks, Health and Social Care Standards, SSSC Codes of Practice and internal policies. Promote a proactive approach to positive risk-taking and risk enablement while ensuring appropriate safeguards and assessments are in place. Represent the organisation at relevant external meetings, partnership forums and professional networks. Participate in on-call responsibilities where required.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced social care leader with a strong background in managing and developing high-quality support.

You will have experience of leading teams within a social care environment and will be confident managing operational challenges, staffing requirements, quality standards and service risk.

You will also have a strong understanding of personalised support and Self-Directed Support and will be passionate about ensuring people are supported to live independently and participate fully within their communities.

Essential Requirements

Minimum SVQ Level 4 qualification or an equivalent qualification suitable for registration with the relevant regulatory body. Previous experience managing or leading within a social care setting. Experience of line managing, supporting and developing teams. Strong knowledge of quality assurance, service improvement and risk management. Understanding of Self-Directed Support and personalised, person-centred support. Knowledge of the Scottish social care regulatory framework, including Care Inspectorate requirements, Health and Social Care Standards and SSSC Codes of Practice. Experience managing complex staffing and resourcing requirements. Strong communication and relationship-building skills. The ability to manage a varied and demanding workload while prioritising effectively. A genuine commitment to inclusion, independence and improving outcomes for people receiving support.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced social care leader to take responsibility for service delivery across the Argyll & Bute area and play a key role in maintaining and developing high-quality, personalised support.

Whether you are an experienced interim manager looking for your next assignment or an established social care leader seeking a longer-term permanent opportunity, applications are welcomed from candidates interested in either route.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead and develop teams, influence quality and service improvement, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of the people supported.

Search is an equal opportunities recruiter and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age