Operations Manager - North-west Care Leavers Service
Location: Based at Heywood, Rochdale with Hybrid / remote working at organisation sites
Salary Start: £50,378 rising through annual increments to £53,974
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Application Deadline: Monday 1st September at 5pm
Interview Date: Friday 12th Sept 2025
Stepping Stone Projects is an established and growing charity providing quality homes and services to help prevent homelessness and transform lives across the North West.
Our support services are aimed at helping our customers develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to maintain a stable home and a structured lifestyle before assisting them in the process of securing or retaining permanent independent accommodation.
Stepping Stone Projects is expanding its successful Northwest Care Leavers service and is seeking a dynamic Operations Manager to lead and grow our provision for young people in and leaving care.
You'll build the service over time to oversee the support of approximately 100 young people across grouped and dispersed accommodation, ensuring trauma-informed care and high-quality support. Once capacity is reached you will manage a team of approximately 20 colleagues, including two Assistant Managers, and take lead responsibility for Ofsted regulation as the Registered Manager.
This role is 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday with some flexibility based on the needs of our services.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and develop supported housing services for care leavers
* Ensure compliance with Ofsted and internal quality standards
* Manage and mentor staff across two teams
* Collaborate with local authorities and external partners
* Embed trauma-informed practices throughout the service
* Drive strategic planning and service improvement
What We're Looking For
* Ability to plan and think strategically and prioritise effectively to achieve standards, targets, and operational business objectives
* Experience at a supervisory/management level in housing, housing-related support, or related work supporting vulnerable clients at risk of homelessness.
* Ability to lead, motivate, and manage a staff team
* Ability to take a customer and colleague-oriented approach
* Ability to operate effectively as part of a senior management team
* Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload to meet strict deadlines.
* Willingness to complete QCF Level 5 (fully funded by SSP if not already held) within 2 years of taking up post
Benefits
* Full funding for QCF Level 5 qualification
* Supportive and inclusive working environment
* Opportunities for professional development and progression
* Meaningful work with real social impact
* Company Pension Scheme
* EV Salary Sacrifice and Cycle Scheme
* Company Health Plan
* Annual Pay Review
This post is subject to safer recruitment processes, this includes the requirement for an enhanced DBS check being undertaken before taking up the post.
If you would like any further information on the role please contact -
If you believe that you can bring something special to this role, then apply now by sending your CV by 5pm on Monday 1st September to - (though please note due to the fast-moving nature of the current job market we reserve the right to close the position earlier).
We want you to be yourself at Stepping Stone Projects we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Stepping Stone Projects a special and great place to work.
We are a disability confident employer and we will provide reasonable support to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. If you need any support to allow you to make an application then please contact -
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £50,378.00-£53,974.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Flexitime
* Life insurance
* On-site parking
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Heywood OL10 1NG