OPS Manager Adult Social Care (Kent)
Salary: £55,000 - £62,000 pa, dependent on experience.
Location: Kent – Hybrid / On site (multi‑site) 3-4 days per week.
THE ROLE
As Operations Manager, you will:
* Provide senior operational leadership and line management to Service Managers across multiple sites.
* Act jointly as a Registered Manager for Supported Living services.
* Share responsibility and regulatory risk for safeguarding practice, risk management, and complaint oversight.
* Drive improvement through audits, business plans, appraisals and performance management.
* Work closely with a dedicated Compliance and Quality Manager with a clear separation of compliance and operational functions.
* Support inspection readiness and act as the first line operational lead during CQC inspections.
* Play a key role in service development, mobilisation, and capacity planning.
* Commit to an on‑call schedule approximately 1 in 3-4 weeks.
* Operate in a hybrid environment with travel across Kent.
This role is designed to provide proactive, well‑governed operational leadership rather than being a fire‑fighting role.
ABOUT YOU
* Experienced, confident leader with significant senior management experience in adult social care.
* Existing or former Registered Manager (Supported Living or equivalent).
* Strong working knowledge of the Care Act, safeguarding, MCA/DoLS and CQC frameworks.
* Comfortable managing multisite services.
* At scale, can balance operational grip with values‑led, person‑centred leadership.
* Sound judgement and knows when to raise risk appropriately.
WHY JOIN KAT
* Opportunity to shape a newly strengthened operational structure.
* Clear executive support with delegated authority and trust.
* Strong values‑led organisation focused on quality and inclusion.
* Real influence over culture, systems, and outcomes.
* Collaborative senior team with specialist compliance and support functions.
WHAT WE OFFER
* Competitive salary and benefits package.
* Opportunities for professional growth and development.
* A supportive and collaborative work environment.
* The chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the people we support and the community.
* Paid DBS Check.
* 33 days holiday.
* Company sick pay after 12 months service.
* Death in service benefits.
* Long service and contribution recognition awards.
* Pension after 3 months.
* Employee assistance programme with counselling services.
* Significant retail and leisure discount scheme that could save staff an average of £1,000 pa.
* Discounted gym membership.
* Financial well‑being scheme (loans and savings).
* Refer a friend scheme via Care Friends app.
ABOUT THE TRUST
Supporting over 80 people in Medway and across Kent, The Kent Autistic Trust provides a wide range of services designed to meet diverse needs of those with autism, learning disabilities and related difficulties. We provide residential homes, supported living accommodation, day resource services and outreach services. Ensuring the voices of those we support are actively listened to, our care and support is consistently of high quality, with CQC rating all our services good and many outstanding.
OUR VALUES AND COMMITMENT
KAT is committed to providing high quality supports designed around individual abilities, needs and choices. KAT promotes independence and inclusion within communities and believes everyone can make their own individual contribution. KAT seeks to work in partnership with all relevant parties, especially with the individuals themselves.
We are not accepting applications from agencies for this role.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found or due to a high volume of applications.
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