Assistant Care Manager - Term Time / 52 Week positions available
We are looking for a dedicated and experienced individual to lead a team of Care Support Workers, ensuring a safe, effective, responsive, and person-centred service for our students. This key leadership role focuses on delivering high-quality care and promoting the development and independence of young people with complex needs.
You will supervise and support staff through appraisals, observations, training, and inductions, and contribute to their professional development. You will write and review person-centred care plans and risk assessments, liaise with colleagues across the college, and help ensure students EHCP targets are met. The role includes supporting recruitment and retention, assessing prospective students, managing medication, and delivering training in areas such as moving and handling.
Youll also play a key role in quality assurance through audits and action plans, support compliance with CQC and legislation, deputise for Care Managers, take part in the on‑call rota, and liaise with the Clinical team to meet students complex care needs. Upholding safeguarding and health & safety standards is essential, including incident reporting and staff debriefing. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about outstanding care and leading a committed team in a supportive, student‑focused environment.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking a compassionate, motivated, and flexible individual with a genuine commitment to supporting young people with complex needs. The ideal candidate will have a good standard of literacy and numeracy, and be willing to assist with personal care while promoting student independence and development. They must be able to stay calm under pressure, particularly when managing challenging behaviours, and demonstrate knowledge of learning disabilities and the importance of dignity and respect in care. A flexible approach to working hours is essential, along with a commitment to ongoing training and personal development including the completion of the Skills for Care Induction Award within 12 weeks if no formal care qualifications are held.
The role also requires the physical ability to support students with mobility needs, including the safe use of wheelchairs and hoisting equipment (training provided). In addition, you must be able to carry out clinical interventions such as administering medication and delivering gastronomy feeds, following appropriate training and competency assessments. Most importantly, candidates must have an enthusiastic, respectful, and professional approach to supporting our student group.
About us
Henshaws Society for Blind People aims to employ a diverse workforce and is committed to equality of employment and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.
Henshaws is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults. It is a criminal offence for people barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with that particular group e.g. vulnerable adults, children or both. An Enhanced DBS with barring and reference checks will be sought from the successful candidate.
Henshaws reserves the right to check social media accounts of all successful applicants.
Registered Charity No: 221888
Job responsibilities
* Leadand support a dedicated team of Care Workers, providing regular supervision,feedback, and encouragement to help them grow and succeed.
* Championperson-centred care by writing and reviewing individualised plans and riskassessments that reflect each service users goals, preferences, and strengths.
* Promoteempowerment and independence, supporting students to achieve their EHCPoutcomes through positive engagement and meaningful daily experiences.
* Inspirecontinuous learning and improvement within the team, ensuring staff have thetraining, tools, and confidence to deliver outstanding care.
* Maintainrobust safeguarding practices, leading by example and promoting wellbeing forboth service users and colleagues.
* Contributeto the safe and competent administration of medication and support complex careneeds in line with organisational and CQC standards.
* Collaboratewith clinical, education, therapies and other stakeholders to provide holisticsupport and a joined-up approach to service user development.
* Drivequality and compliance by completing audits, action plans, and contributing tocontinuous service improvement.
* Contributeto EHCP reviews, gathering feedback from service users and staff to celebrateachievements and identify next steps.
* Maintainaccurate, respectful records that reflect progress and ensure transparentpractice.
* Leadby example in safeguarding and wellbeing, promoting a culture of care andvigilance for both students and colleagues.
* Provideinformed recommendations to care managers for policy implementation whererequired.
* Addressand correct poor practice promptly, reporting actions taken during regularreviews.
* Ensurehealth and safety compliance through high standards of administration andhousekeeping.
* Workin accordance with Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) standards and apply theprinciples of the Mental Capacity Act in all decision-making
* Deputisefor the Care Manager when required, contributing to leadership decisions andparticipating in the on-call rota.
* Takeon additional responsibilities as needed to ensure the safe and effectiverunning of the service.
* Encourageambition and aspiration, helping service users and staff believe in what'spossible and achieve their personal best.
Line Management Responsibilities
* Deliveroutstanding leadership and management of the section; ensuring the provision ofa first class service to both internal and external customers and serviceusers.
* Ensurethe team maintain high standards of performance and behaviour, takingappropriate action to address any areas of concern in line with employment policies,with support from HR where applicable.
* Demonstratea commitment to Henshaws strategic vision, values and objectives and ensurethis culture is embedded within the team.Encouraging accountability, an open mindset and a collaborative approachacross the charity.
* Carryout regular 121s, team meetings and annual appraisals with your teaminterlinking departmental and individual goals throughout the process
* Ensureall new starters receive an effective induction and your team. Support learningand development within your team and ensure mandatory/statutory and rolespecific training for all team members is in date.
* Toprovide operational Health and Safety leadership across all areas of the teamand wider organization - take action to prevent accidents, injuries and workrelated illness.
* Ensureall accidents/incidents and safeguarding concerns are recorded and managed inline with Henshaws policies and procedures.
* Deliverand demonstrate high standards of safeguarding to ensure mitigation of risk andquality of care is provided by all team members.
The postholder must comply with the Health & Safety requirements of the Society, operate within the employee code of conduct and respect confidentiality at all times.
Person Specification
Experience
* The ability to keep calm under pressure when dealing with challenging behaviours
* Enthusiastic, respectful and sensitive attitude to our client group
* Knowledge of different learning disabilities
* Knowledge of care work and what this will involve including understanding dignity and respect
* Commitment to furthering students independence
* Ability to promote the student group in a positive and professional
* manner
* Awareness and respect of students rights
* Awareness of equal opportunities issues relating to this area of work
* Knowledge and experience of health and safety issues relating to this area of work
Qualifications
* NVQ 2/Diploma in Health and Social Care and commitment to work towards Level 3 within 18 months of employment
* Good standard of literacy and numeracy
* Previous experience of working in the care sector and providing personal care
* Recent experience of working with young adults
* Previous experience of working with people with learning disabilities
General and Specialist Knowledge
* At Henshaws, we are guided by our core values: ARE: Ambition - continuously striving to do more and do better Respect - acting with integrity, valuing each individual and their voice Empowerment - enabling others to thrive and take control of their lives
* All employees are expected to uphold and promote these values in their daily work, interactions, and decision-making, contributing to a positive and inclusive culture across the charity.
* To fully support our students you must be able to push a wheelchair around college and in the community and assist the student into and out of the wheelchair if required after having training
* Willingness to assist students with any personal care requirements as needed
* Willingness to support students in a way that promotes their independence and development
* To fully support our students you must be able to take lead role in moving and handling needs and the use of hoisting equipment.
* Flexible approach to working hours and ability to work the hours which meet the establishments need.
* Commitment to undertaking any training & personal development required which may take place in college holidays
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£15.12 an hourwith an additional £1.50 per hour supplement for weekend working
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