Service Manager - Care Leavers Service (16-18)

Service Manager (Supported Accommodation 16+)

Multiple locations: Macclesfield (SK10) & Edgeley, Stockport (SK3)

Salary: £42,500 per annum
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (some flexibility may be required to meet service needs)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Sponsorship: Not available

The Services

We're recruiting an experienced Service Manager to lead two Ofsted-regulated supported accommodation services for Looked After Children aged 16-18:

Macclesfield (SK10): 2-bed service (1 young person currently in residence)
Edgeley, Stockport (SK3): 2-bed service (1 young person currently in residence)

You'll oversee quality, safeguarding, staff performance, and outcomes across both homes, with strong support from senior leadership and head office functions.

About Choices Home for Children

At Choices, we support young people to feel safe, build confidence, and move towards independence with the right guidance around them. This is a service where standards matter, safeguarding is taken seriously, and managers are backed by a strong head office team so you can focus on running a great service.

The Role

As Service Manager, you will lead a 16+ supported accommodation service and set the day-to-day culture across the provision. You'll ensure consistent practice, strong safeguarding, and clear plans that help each young person move forward.

This role suits someone who can balance care and control: warm with young people, clear with staff, and confident with partners and compliance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the day-to-day running of the services, ensuring safe, structured, outcomes-focused support
• Act as safeguarding lead in practice, managing risk, incidents, and follow-up actions with calm decision-making
• Line manage staff through supervision, coaching, support, and performance management
• Ensure support plans, risk assessments, and daily recordings are strong and meaningful, not just paperwork
• Build effective relationships with social workers, commissioners, education, health, and other professionals
• Drive quality assurance, audits, and continuous improvement to keep the service inspection-ready
• Manage rotas, staffing levels, training, and general service performance
• Maintain a clear focus on independence skills, routines, engagement, and measurable progress for each young person

What We're Looking For Essential

• Previously held Ofsted registration within the last 2 years in supported accommodation (16-18)
• Experience managing or deputising in supported accommodation, semi-independent, or a closely related children and young people service
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and confidence making decisions under pressure
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (or working towards)
• Confident leading teams, improving standards, and maintaining compliance and service reporting
• Organised, reliable, and outcomes-driven

Desirable

• Experience supporting care leavers or young people at risk of exploitation
• Experience supporting a service through inspection, audit, or quality improvement
• Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel locally

What You'll Get at Choices

• £42,500 annual salary with a stable Monday to Friday working pattern
• Strong senior leadership support
• Head office support including HR, recruitment, and compliance backing
• Company pension
• Relaxed dress code
• Blue Light Card
• Employee Welfare Programme via salary sacrifice, including retail discounts plus GP and counselling hotlines
• Quarterly welfare raffle with prizes such as holidays, spa breaks, and cinema vouchers
• Discounted or free food
• Health & wellbeing programme

Safer Recruitment

Choices Home for Children is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to complete safer recruitment checks including an enhanced DBS, right to work checks, satisfactory references, and relevant vetting.

How to Apply

Apply with your CV. If you meet the essential criteria, we will arrange a short call followed by a structured interview.

Before You Apply, Please Consider

• Do you have the right to work in the UK?
• Do you have management experience in supported accommodation or semi-independent services?
• Have you held Ofsted registration within the last 2 years for a 16-18 supported accommodation service?
• Do you hold a Level 5 qualification, or are you working towards it?
• Are you able to work Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, across Macclesfield and Stockport?

Job Details

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £42,500.00 per year

Benefits

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Health & wellbeing programme

Experience

Supported accommodation management: 3 years (preferred)

Licence/Certification

• Driving Licence (preferred)
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (preferred)

Work Authorisation

Right to work in the UK required (sponsorship not available)