Service Manager

Service Manager
Location: BN8 4EF East Sussex
Hours: 37 per week
Salary: Competitive
Chailey Heritage Foundation is seeking an experienced and compassionate Service Manager to lead residential services supporting children and young people with complex disabilities.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role within a specialist education and care charity, ensuring high-quality, safe and personalised care for the young people we support.
As Service Manager you will act as the Registered Manager and Safeguarding Lead for designated residential bungalows, providing strong operational leadership to colleagues while ensuring services meet the highest standards of care, safety and regulatory compliance.
About the role
You will provide operational leadership across residential services, ensuring children and young people receive safe, responsive and person-centred care. Working closely with the Head of Social Care Operations, you will lead and support colleagues to deliver excellent care, maintain regulatory standards and build a positive team culture.
Key responsibilities include:
* Providing operational leadership for residential bungalows
* Acting as Registered Manager and Safeguarding Lead for designated services - Ensuring services meet relevant regulatory standards including Ofsted and/or CQC requirements
* Leading and developing colleagues to deliver high-quality care and best practice - Ensuring safeguarding, risk management and regulatory processes are consistently followed
* Managing rotas and workforce deployment to ensure safe and effective service delivery - Promoting effective use of workforce resources and minimising unnecessary agency use
* Building strong relationships with families and multi‑agency partners
About you
* You will bring strong leadership experience in residential care services and a passion for supporting children and young people with complex disabilities.
* You will also have: - Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) or equivalent
* Knowledge of safeguarding and relevant legislation in residential care - Experience of Ofsted and/or CQC inspection frameworks
* Experience leading and developing colleagues within residential services - Strong decision‑making and problem‑solving skills
Why join Chailey Heritage Foundation?
We are a specialist charity providing education, care and transition services for children and young people with complex disabilities. Our colleagues are committed to making a meaningful difference every day, and this role offers the opportunity to lead dedicated teams while contributing to continuous improvement across our services.
Alongside a competitive salary, we provide a comprehensive rewards and benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development and career progression.
* Enhanced Annual Leave 27 days (plus bank holidays), increasing with length of service
* Healthcare Cash Plan & Wellbeing Support
* Enhanced Pension Scheme & Death In Service Benefit
* Enhanced Family Friendly leave
* Employee Assistant Program with 24/7 Doctor Line.
* Retail and Leisure discounts
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Chailey Heritage Foundation, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application