Head of Service - Care & Support

About Outward

For almost 50 years, Outward has been a leading provider of high-quality support and care services to people with support needs in London. We are committed to empowering the people we support to live fulfilling lives and make positive choices. At the heart of everything we do are our core values: engaging, enabling, and empowering.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Service, Care & Support to join our senior management team. This new pivotal role involves leading the operational delivery and growth of our Care & Support services, ensuring they are innovative, flexible, and of the highest quality.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Director of Care and Support to implement strategic objectives, manage stakeholder relationships, and oversee compliance with internal and external quality standards. You will also lead on organisational change, financial performance, and the development of services to meet the needs of the people we support.

If you are passionate about transforming lives of people with a leaning disability or autism and have a proven track record in managing care services, this role offers an exciting opportunity to make a real difference.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of high-quality services across Care & Support.
• Oversee budgets, ensuring sound financial performance and value for money.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with commissioners and other stakeholders.
• Develop and manage teams, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Monitor quality and compliance, addressing any issues proactively.
• Provide effective line management to Area Managers and other senior staff.
• Support organisational growth by identifying and delivering new business opportunities.

Full JD is available on request.

Requirements:

Essential (E):

• Right to work in the UK.
• Ability to commute to the Outward office (N17) five days a week, if required.

• Proven experience managing high-quality services for vulnerable people.
• Extensive knowledge of care regulations, funding mechanisms, and legal frameworks.
• Strong leadership skills, with a track record of successful change management.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including report writing.
• Demonstrable financial management skills, including budgeting and service pricing.

Desirable (D):

• Professional qualifications in care, management, or a related field.
• Post-graduate degree or diploma in a related field, such as Social Care, Leadership, or Healthcare Management​.
• Registration with a professional body in a relevant discipline (e.g., social work, healthcare).
• Experience in co-production, involving people supported and their families in designing and delivering services.
• Ability to secure grant funding or develop successful proposals for projects.
• Knowledge of trends and innovations in the care sector, including digital transformation initiatives.
• Ability to develop and execute strategies to address gaps in service provision.
• A sharp commercial focus with the ability to balance financial sustainability and quality care.

Employee 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)
• Computing Scheme
• Credit Union Scheme
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Death in Service Benefit
• Health Assured – Employee Assistance Programme
• Eye care Vouchers
• Flu Jab Reimbursement
• Long Service Awards
• Pension Scheme
• Purchase Additional Annual Leave
• Refer-a-Friend Scheme
• Retirements
• Loans (including season tickets and parking permit loans)
• Blue Light Card

How to Apply

If you are ready to take on this exciting leadership role and have the skills and experience we are looking for, please submit an application by following the link below:

Closing Date for all Applications is Monday 29th September 2025

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications, so apply early!

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 an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Services for successful candidates. This will be fully subsided by Outward.

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

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