HORIZONS- Senior Service Manager We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Senior Service Manager to provide strong operational leadership across our residential children’s homes. This is a key role supporting our House Managers to deliver consistent, high-quality care and ensure the best possible outcomes for the children and young people we support.
The Senior Service Manager (SSM) provides strategic leadership, operational management, Service Development, Supervision and Support and Referrals management across Horizons’ seven residential children’s care homes in Edinburgh and the Lothians. They ensure all homes deliver safe, nurturing, trauma-informed, and child-centred care consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (2018), the Children’s Homes (Scotland) Regulations 2013, The Promise (Scotland), and the GIRFEC framework. Provide professional leadership and management oversight to all Registered Managers and Assistant Managers.
Lead service development ensures homes are trauma-informed and attachment-aware.
Represent Horizons at inspection feedback meetings and external partnership events.
Regulatory Compliance & Quality Assurance
Conduct monthly internal audits of Care Plans, RAMPs and implement service improvement actions.
Safeguarding & Child Protection
Lead safeguarding culture across all homes in line with Scottish Child Protection Procedures.
Oversee child protection concerns, significant incidents, and notifications to the Care Inspectorate.
Act as a Designated Child Protection Lead when required.
Conduct monthly supervision of Managers and Assistant Managers
In collaboration with the Head of Care, conduct probation reviews and Annual Appraisals of ASM and HM
Undertake regular training in area of expertise
Oversee learning and development plans and training compliance
Placement & Referrals Management
Maintain effective relationships with Local Authorities, Health Boards, Police, Local Community and the Care Inspectorate.
Lead on service reviews, contract compliance, and placement negotiations
Develop extensive Links with Service Users, monitor PCS, Scotland Excel and other frameworks
Incident, crisis & risk management
Together with the Senior Service Manager, act as senior point for serious incidents, major safeguarding issues and critical incidents; Maintain and review organisational risk register and ensure mitigation plans are in place.
Ensure high quality record keeping and case files in line with data protection standards and Regulatory Bodies’ expectations.
Produce regular reports for Directors covering performance, incidents, safeguarding, staffing and finances.
Maintain constructive relationships with local authorities, social work teams, health services, education, courts, regulatory bodies and other statutory partners.
Engage with parents/kinship networks and promote contact and family-focused practice where appropriate.
Rights, participation & outcomes for Young people
Promote rights-based, person-centred practice: ensure young people’s views inform service design and day-to-day running.
Oversee participation structures (young person forums, feedback mechanisms) and ensure complaints are handled fairly and lessons learned are applied.
Attend Weekly Senior Management Meeting
Oversee House Rotas to ensure safe cover, efficient use of staff and redeployment as required
Conduct regular visits to each home (Once a week each home on average).
Monitor performance through internal dashboards and quality indicators.
Liaise with HR and Lead investigations into complaints and practice concerns.
Provide input into policies, care model design, and business planning.
Desirable Qualities
The ideal candidate will have extensive work experience in Residential Childcare preferably in Scotland; and have managed several children residential care homes. A sound knowledge and practical understanding of trauma-informed practice, together with Child Protection and Safeguarding will be a pre-requisite. Candidates must also have good interpersonal, leadership and management skills to provide guidance and support to House Managers and Assistant Managers.
The Senior Service Manager ensures that Horizons Residential Care continues to provide high-quality, child-centred, relationship-based care in line with Scotland’s national agenda for children in care. Essential qualifications include SVQ Level 4 Children and Young People and SCQF Level 10 Leadership and Management qualification (CSLM) and/or degree in Social Work, with at least 5 years in residential childcare, CSLM and a minimum 5 years experience at management level. And a full UK driving License.
Basic Pay in the range of £50,000–£55,000 including PRP Bonus up to £5,000
Mileage allowance for inter-site travel
Employer pension contribution.
Professional CPD Training.
Enhanced Sick Pay after completion of probation
Performance-related annual bonus
Enhanced Annual Leave after completion of probation
Line Management of 6 Registered Managers
Compliance to Care Inspectorate Regulatory Framework, Local Authority Commissioners & Multi-Agency partners
Enabling development for young people and staff.