Team Manager/Service Manager (Autism Outreach Service)

About Outward

For 50 years, Outward has been providing high-quality support and care services to vulnerable people across London, predominantly in North East 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.

About the Role

We are looking for a confident, compassionate and skilled Service Manager to lead our well-established Autism Outreach Service, which supports adults across seven London boroughs. This is a key management role in a highly regarded service that provides tailored support to people living at home with family or in supported living environments.

You will be supported by two Deputy Managers to lead a large team of outreach support workers and ensure the delivery of safe, effective and empowering support that reflects each person’s needs, aspirations and outcomes.

As Service Manager, you will :

• Oversee all aspects of service delivery and ensure compliance with CQC standards (aiming for Outstanding)
• Assess referrals, develop person-centred support and risk management plans, and monitor progress
• Lead and support staff to embed a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach and a culture of continuous improvement
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with families, professionals, and commissioning teams
• Ensure services are delivered flexibly, creatively, and within budget to meet agreed targets and performance indicators
• Translate national policy and best practice into effective operational delivery, including safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act
• Actively contribute to service development and support future growth across boroughs

What You’ll Bring

We are seeking someone who is enthusiastic, experienced and values-driven, with a passion for delivering high-quality, person-centred services to autistic people and those with complex needs.

This is a Care & Support operational management role where your leadership will directly shape the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and autism across seven boroughs. You’ll bring strategic oversight to a large and diverse team, supporting them to deliver truly personalised, responsive services.

You’ll play a key role in:

• Embedding a culture of high standards, positive behaviour support, and continuous improvement
• Ensuring services are not only safe and compliant but also creative, strengths-based and led by the people we support
• Driving service development and growth, working with deputy managers and senior leaders to expand our impact
• Translating policy into day-to-day practice — from safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act to outcome-focused support planning
• Building strong partnerships with families and professionals to ensure joined-up, respectful support
• Managing complex staffing and financial needs with accountability, transparency, and a person-first mindset
• This is a role for someone who can think both strategically and practically, thrives in a dynamic environment, and leads by example.

Requirements

Essential:

Experience and Qualifications

• Proven experience in delivering innovative, flexible, and person-centred support that is tailored to meet individual needs and outcomes, particularly for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs
• Minimum 3 years’ experience delivering person-centred support to people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs, including behaviours of concern
• Minimum 1 years’ experience in a service management or team leadership role within a supported living or outreach care setting
• Demonstrable experience of managing a large staff team, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and rota coordination
• Proven experience creating and reviewing support and risk management plans, particularly for individuals with complex needs or behaviours of concern
• Experience of conducting needs assessments and working collaboratively with health professionals, social workers, and family carers
• Experience in delivering the service within budget and within expected performance indicators including delivering on outcomes for the people supported
• Familiarity with CQC standards and experience delivering services rated ‘Good’ or higher
• Qualification in Positive Behaviour Support Coaching (BILD accredited), NAPPI Level 2, or a willingness to obtain these within the first 3 months of employment

Skills and Knowledge .

• Strong understanding of the principles of safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act, and person-centred planning
• Ability to lead and motivate others while embedding a culture of active support, inclusion, and continuous improvement
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to engage confidently with a wide range of stakeholders
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and respond to emergencies effectively
• Ability to support a multi-site outreach service, including flexibility to travel across boroughs as needed
• Commitment to embedding Positive Behaviour Support approaches and person-led service delivery
• Demonstrated ability to model and promote professional conduct, dignity, and respect in all aspects of service delivery

Values and Attributes

• Passion for empowering people with learning disabilities and/or autism to lead independent, fulfilling lives
• Committed to delivering high-quality, safe, and responsive care services
• Collaborative and emotionally resilient, with a calm and proactive approach to problem-solving
• Willing to work flexibly in response to service demands, including occasional evenings and weekends

Desirable

• Experience supporting service development or growth in outreach or supported living environments
• Knowledge and practical experience of managing a service budget
• Experience of co-producing services with people supported and their families
• A relevant health or social care qualification (e.g., Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care or equivalent)
• Prior involvement in developing or delivering training related to autism or PBS

Employee Benefits

Outward has a comprehensive selection of benefits including:

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• An occupational sick pay scheme
• Access to Employee Assistance Scheme
• Scheme that enables you to purchase additional annual leave
• Salary sacrifice schemes for cycling, electronic and season tickets

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expect 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 an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Services. This will be fully subsidised by Outward.

Diversity at Outward

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. Those with disabilities meeting the minimum requirements for the post will be shortlisted and reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure they are not disadvantaged during the interview process.

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

How to Apply

If you think you have the necessary skills and experience for this role please send your CV and a covering letter (preferably in one document). In your covering letter, outline your motivation for applying, how your skills align with the role, and highlight relevant achievements. In the subject line, please state clearly the role you are applying for and your name.

The closing date for all applications is Monday, 30 th June 2025, however it is only an indicative date.

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.

Please note : Outward has a number of Service Manager and Deputy Service Manager roles across a range of services in North and East London. While this advert is for a specific role within our Autism Outreach service, the overall job criteria apply across many of our services. As such, Service Managers may occasionally move between services based on organisational needs. If your experience aligns with the broader requirements of service management and complex needs support, but not necessarily every specific detail of this post, we still encourage you to apply. We will consider your application across similar roles within Outward