Job Title: Deputy Manager

Contract: Part time, contract, permanent]

Hours:  30 hours per week

Salary: £33,585 per annum pro rata for part time

Location: Newham Supported Living Services, London.

About Outward.

For 50 years, Outward has been providing high-quality support and care services to vulnerable people across London, predominantly in Northeast London. Established by families seeking alternatives to institutional care, we’ve grown into a respected provider of person-centred support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, and complex needs. We support over 1,000 people across nine boroughs, guided by our core values: engage, enable, and empower.

Outward is proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer. This means we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage – not just the government minimum or national living wage – to our frontline Support Workers and other eligible staff. We recognise the value of the work our teams do, and we are committed to ensuring fair pay that reflects the true cost of living. The Real Living Wage is updated annually by the Living Wage Foundation, and Outward remains committed to aligning our pay accordingly.

About the Role

We are looking for a proactive and passionate Deputy manager to join our dedicated team supporting adults with a range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism, mental health challenges, and complex support requirements. This role offers a unique opportunity to combine direct care responsibilities with service coordination and leadership duties. The role involves working across two services, one based in Beckton and the other in Forest Gate, supporting a total of six gentlemen. Responsibilities include providing person-centred support, undertaking administrative duties, working a range of shifts, and completing sleep-in duties.

As a Deputy Manager, you will play a key role in empowering the people we support to live independent and fulfilling lives. You’ll provide high-quality care and support, while also managing elements of service delivery such as support planning, key working, rota oversight, and staff guidance. You will work closely with the Team Manager and play an active role in ensuring our services are person-centred, well-managed, and aligned with Outward’s core values of engage, enable, and empower.

Your Responsibilities

A Deputy Manager supports the Team Manager in the day-to-day running of the services, ensuring that people receive high-quality, person-centred care and support in a safe and positive environment.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Support the Team Manager with the overall management of the service.

• Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to support staff.

• Act as the manager in the absence of the Team Manager.

• Promote a positive culture that values dignity, choice, independence, and inclusion.

Person-Centred Support

• Ensure support is delivered according to each person's needs, preferences, and goals.

• Promote independence, choice, and community participation.

• Review and monitor support plans and risk assessments regularly.

• Ensure service users are involved in decisions about their care and support.

Safeguarding and Health & Safety

• Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed and concerns are reported appropriately.

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of the people we support.

• Monitor health and safety practices, including medication management, fire safety, and risk management.

• Investigate and report accidents, incidents, and near misses.

Staff Management

• Participate in recruitment, induction, and training of staff.

• Conduct supervisions, competency checks, and performance reviews.

• Support staff development and identify training needs.

• Monitor staff attendance and performance.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with CQC regulations, company policies, and best practice standards.

• Complete audits and quality checks.

• Maintain accurate records and documentation.

• Support inspections and implement action plans where required.

Medication Management

• Oversee safe administration, storage, and recording of medication.

• Conduct medication audits and address any discrepancies.

• Ensure staff remain competent in medication administration.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Complete rota planning and staffing allocation.

• Maintain service user and staff records.

• Prepare reports and monitor service performance.

• Liaise with multidisciplinary professionals, families, and external agencies.

Financial Responsibilities

• Monitor service users' finances and carryout audits.

• Manage petty cash and financial records in line with policy.

• Ensure resources are used effectively and responsibly.

Requirements

Essential Criteria

• Good understanding of safeguarding and risk management in a care/support setting
• Knowledge of health and safety issues within supported housing or care environments
• Understanding of confidentiality, GDPR, and data protection principles
• Staff must have access to a smartphone capable of receiving SMS messages and installing authentication apps for secure systems access.
• Right to Work in the UK. Please note: Outward will not provide visa sponsorship.

Desirable Criteria

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent)
• Additional training in PBS, safeguarding, or housing-related legislation

How to Apply

The above is not an exhaustive list of requirements for the role.

If you think you are who we are looking for, please submit a CV and statement detailing how you feel your experiences meets the requirements of the role by referring to the Job Responsibilities and the Person Specification.

There is no specific closing date for this advert. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. It would be great to hear from you.

Outward is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects all staff to share this commitment. If the post you apply for involves working with or having access to adults at risk and/or their records, we will require a DBS for successful candidates.

Benefits

We value everything our staff do for the people we support, so we provide a great benefits package:

• 25 days Annual Leave excluding Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Comprehensive Learning & Development Programme

• Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Death in Service Benefit
• Health Assured – Employee Assistance Programme
• Eye care Vouchers
• Flu Jab Reimbursement
• Pension Scheme
• Purchase Additional Annual Leave
• Refer-a-Friend Scheme

Diversity and Safeguarding at Outward:

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Outward applies its Equal Opportunities Policy at all stages of recruitment and selection.  Shortlisting, interviewing and selection is carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age or trade union membership. 

As an employer, who aspire to become Disability Confident Committed, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. Please indicate clearly at the beginning of your supporting statement if you have a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010), and you wish to be considered for an Offer Of an Interview (OOI) Please note that the OOI is available to disabled candidates only. Regrettably, any false declaration of disability in order to secure an interview will impact on your overall application.