Senior Service Manager - Community and Housing Related Support

Are you a Supported Housing professional looking for an exciting new role within an organisation committed to improving lives? Are you experienced in delivering Local Authority support contracts, and driven to deliver high support services? If so, our Senior Service Manager role could be the perfect job for you…

Longhurst Group is a leading housing Group across the Midlands & East of England, committed to enhancing communities and improving the lives of both our colleagues and customers. With a mission to provide quality, safe, affordable housing that build great foundations for our customers, our Specialist Housing team are critical to ensuring our customers have the ability to live independently.

As a Senior Service Manager, focusing on our Community and Housing Related Support services at Longhurst Group, you will be responsible for overseeing the operational management of our Specialist Housing services in your area of expertise. Your role will involve leading a team of multiple Service Managers, ensuring the delivery of financially viable, high-quality services in line with best practice and the Group's vision. This role will manage services based across Birmingham, Lincolnshire and Peterborough, leading services that provide both scheme based and community-based support with a focus on independent living and mental health service provisions. Further key responsibilities are listed below:

• Manage a team of Service Managers, supporting them to achieve the quality, service outcomes, and performance standards required by the Group and our contractual obligations.
• Ensure the recruitment of high-quality colleagues by providing support and assistance to Service Managers as necessary.
• Investigate potential disciplinary issues and complaints, recommending and implementing areas of improvement and best practice as required.
• Assist in tendering for new opportunities, re-tendering for existing services, obtaining grant funding, and mobilising new contracts.
• Develop services to deliver increased social benefit to communities in line with company business plans and departmental strategy.
• Routinely review key performance indicators and legal/regulatory compliance, promptly addressing any areas of poor performance or non-compliance and escalating issues to the Head of Service as appropriate.
• Set service and related budgets in line with company requirements and regulations, closely monitoring and controlling them, and taking early remedial action on any potential issues.
• Conduct regular service audits, create and monitor relevant improvement plans with the Service Manager.

In order to be successful in application for our Senior Service Manager role, you’ll need proven experience in delivering independent living contracts, alongside previous budget management and contractual income management experience, ensuring value for money at all times.  Having a knowledge and understanding of Chartered Institute of Housing and have or be willing to work towards Level 4 Qualification is also crucial.

Our Senior Service Manager position is a hybrid position, contracted to 36.25 hours per week. To us, this means a weekly presence in the services under the remit of the role (we are open to discussion around how this is built into working weeks).

This is a hugely exiting time to join Longhurst Group – not only are we continuously striving to achieve better results for our customers, but the Social Housing sector is at a crucial point with new measures, legislations and standards coming into effect imminently. Our Senior Service Manager opportunity will help to broaden your knowledge of Housing & Assets, alongside the chance to deliver high quartile independent living services. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment that values your contributions, along with access to ongoing professional development opportunities, ensuring your skills remain at the cutting edge of the industry.

This role currently attracts a non-contractual car allowance according to our Driving at Work Policy. This is currently set at £2,600 per annum, however eligibility for the allowance and the rate of the allowance is reviewed annually and any changes will be notified to you.

What you receive from us:

• Up to 26 days annual leave (Pro rata based on contracted hours)
• Life Cover of three times your annual salary (as part of pension scheme membership)
• Membership of our Health Care Cash Plan including Employee Assistance programme and DoctorLine
• Access to a range of discounts, including Blue Light and B&Q Tradepoint Cards
• Free access to financial education service, supporting with personalised financial information on a range of topics such as mortgages, retirement planning, pensions, saving and investments, insurance and will writing
• Free Eye Tests
• Free flu vaccinations
• Investment in your personal development through our extensive learning and development opportunities.
• Professional subscription for membership fees relating to your role, paid for by us
• Family friendly, carers leave plus other paid leave
• Long Service Awards
• Carers Networking Group and resources to support Unpaid Carers

How to apply

Please click “apply” today to upload your CV detailing your employment history.

Please note, if this vacancy receives a high number of applicants, we reserve the right to close the advert and application window early.

We do not require recruitment agency support at this time - all speculative CV’s will be treated as a direct application.

Vetting Requirements

The important things - We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK. All shortlisted candidates will need to verify eligibility to work in the UK at interview. Original proof must then be provided by day one upon successful candidature).

Naturally working with our customers we need to complete pre-employment checks before you join us. This role is conditional upon receipt of two satisfactory references (one from your current employer). We also need you to tell us what you have been up to as a minimum over the past 5 years in terms of employment history. We recognise, welcome and support that everyone’s employment history is unique and can be different. This could include carer duties, travel, seeking work, education, employment, training, or volunteering.

We are committed to safeguarding, promoting the welfare of adults with care and support needs and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is subject to a DBS Check.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities’ employer, Longhurst Group is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We pride ourselves on looking after our colleagues and as part of our commitment we are an Employer for Carers and would welcome your application if you have additional unpaid caring responsibilities.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Longhurst Group.