We're looking for a kind, compassionate, and resilient Deputy Manager to join our Young People Service in Ealing.

£34,500.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
The Deputy Service Manager supports the Service Manager in effectively managing all operational matters within their designated services, including line management of frontline staff.

The Deputy Service Manager shares responsibility for ensuring that a holistic and cohesive approach to customer support is embedded across accommodation services. Look Ahead operates trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches, ensuring customers benefit from strengths-based support practices. The role requires an individual who embodies psychologically informed practice through their leadership style.

Together, these services support up to 12 young people at any one time, offering a welcoming, supportive environment on a spot-purchase basis.

The role of Deputy Manager will involve five 8-hour shifts, Monday to Friday.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

Support the Service Manager in driving operational activities within your service area, ensuring clear, relevant, and challenging objectives and ongoing performance tracking.
Successfully lead and motivate your team, championing and maintaining a positive local culture within the service.
Build supportive, trusting relationships with young people and create a welcoming and positive atmosphere.
Prioritise the prompt filling of voids and the reduction of arrears and bad debts.
Continuously work to improve staff competence, ensuring proactive ownership of staffing matters, swift resolution of conflicts, and effective management of issues.
Facilitate transparent and effective communication flows between management and frontline teams.
Lead on casework management, ensuring that risk assessments and support plans are regularly updated and dynamic.

About you:

Enjoys social interaction and engaging with others; actively participates in local activities to promote customer involvement and inclusion.
Able to lead and motivate staff transparently and consistently.
Exhibits warmth, friendliness, and an open approach.
Prefers working collaboratively within a team.
Calm and resilient under pressure; does not allow emotions to negatively impact judgement.
Practical, logical, and naturally well-organised.
Thrives in environments characterised by change, diversity, and dynamic challenges.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

Educated to degree level or equivalent.
Relevant qualification in business or management (e.g., CMI/NVQ Level 4 or equivalent).
Specialist knowledge related to supporting young people with mental health diagnoses.
Experience working within complex mental health environments.
Demonstrable knowledge and experience of trauma-informed practice.
Desirable:

Experience managing accommodation-based services and resources, with proven ability to deliver within budget and meet performance targets.
Experience supervising and leading staff teams providing support to young people in or leaving care.

For our full job description please visit our website
About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.