Area Manager

This is an excellent opportunity for an energetic and well-motivated manager to join a highly successful and values-driven national social care organisation with charitable status. As an Area Manager you will oversee the management and performance of a defined portfolio of services to achieve the highest standard of personalised and effective care and support. You will directly lead and manage a team of operational managers to achieve quality, customer satisfaction, financial and growth targets.

You will be part of Creative Support’s dynamic and mutually supportive regional leadership team and you will contribute to the achievement of Creative Support’s mission and the development and implementation of corporate strategies. You will contribute to a regional plan to enhance quality and maximise positive outcomes, whilst ensuring sustainable growth and positive reputation.

You will be a visible and supportive leader with the ability to motivate our staff to go the extra mile for the people we support. You must demonstrate values and attributes which align to our We Care Values Framework including kindness, inclusion, respect and an ability to develop trusting, collaborative relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. You must have a genuine interest in enabling the people we support to live their best lives.

You will be professional, reflective, self-aware and have high personal standards and a vision for highly performing, personalised services which you can communicate to staff and others. You will identify and deliver service improvements through implementing quality development plans and effectively managing incidents, complaints, compliments and feedback, ensuring that lessons are learned and shared.

You will need to demonstrate expertise in managing staff performance and disciplinary processes. A commitment to staff wellbeing and personal development is essential.

You will identify and project-manage opportunities for business development, including new services, re-purposed services and partnership working with commissioners. You will be an ambassador for Creative Support, representing our interests and charitable aims and purpose with a wide range of external contacts and stakeholders.

You will be responsible for quality assurance and monitoring of performance against all key performance criteria, with emphasis on compliance with all quality and regulatory standards. You will have the ability to manage contracts and negotiate contract fees with commissioners and demonstrate a commitment to business efficiency within agreed budgets.

You will need at least 2 years’ experience of managing people and social care services, including community support and supported living/residential care or homecare/extra care. At least 4 years’ experience of providing direct care and support to people with a learning disability, autism or mental health needs is essential.

You will be flexible, hard-working and responsive to changing service needs. Experience of developing and setting up new services is desirable. A good standard of literacy and numeracy is required as is the ability to compile data, operate digital systems and produce reports. An understanding of CQC regulations, care standards and inspection methodologies is desirable.

You will be expected to have a relevant professional social care or health related qualification or vocational diploma to a minimum of Level 5. We can offer you excellent training and professional development opportunities and you will be well supported by our highly motivated senior staff and Quality Team.

You will have specific responsibility for a portfolio of services in the North East, working from our office in Stockton-on- Tees. Hybrid working and working from home is not generally permitted as the post-holder is required to be a highly accessible and visible leader.

You will be required to travel and work flexibly across the region and to visit Creative Support’s Head Office in Stockport when required. The ability to drive is desirable and a lease car or monthly car allowance can be made available.

This post offers 6 weeks annual leave plus 8 bank holidays. You will be expected to work flexibly, to work hours as required based on a 37.5 hour week and to take part in our Senior On-call and Duty Manager rotas. All other conditions of service are set out in the Job Pack for this position.

About Creative Support

Creative Support is a progressive charitable organisation which provides high quality, person-centred support to people with a learning disability and/or autism, people with mental health needs and older people. We are committed to social justice and promoting independence, dignity, equality, rights and inclusion when designing and delivering services.

We are a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We embrace diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, and Disability Confident Employer. We are a ‘Mindful Employer’ and an Investor in People Silver employer of over 5,000 highly valued staff across England.

We are an Investor in People accredited employer of over 5,000 highly valued staff across England. We are committed to equality and to ensuring that all our staff can flourish and develop their careers with us. We are committed to your welfare and professional development. We ensure that all our staff can flourish and develop their careers with us through practice-based and accredited training.