Job Purpose
To provide effective leadership and management of a Supported Living service registered with CIW, ensuring:
* People are supported to live as independently as possible in their own homes.
* Care and support is person-centred, strengths-based and outcome-focused.
* Full compliance with Welsh legislation, CIW regulations and guidance at all times.
The Registered Manager is accountable for the day-to-day management of the Supported Living service, the quality and safety of care and support, and the performance of the staff team.
Key Responsibilities
1. Governance, Regulation & Compliance
* Act as the Registered Manager with CIW for the Supported Living service, maintaining fitness to practice and current registration.
* Ensure the service operates in line with:
* Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016
* Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017
* Relevant CIW guidance and any commissioning requirements.
* Prepare for and lead CIW inspections, ensuring any non-compliance or recommendations are addressed quickly and effectively.
* Ensure all required notifications, annual returns and reports are completed accurately and submitted within required timescales.
* Keep all policies and procedures up to date and ensure they are embedded in day-to-day practice.
2. Leadership & Management
* Provide visible leadership across all Supported Living packages/houses, modelling professional, person-centred practice.
* Line-manage deputies/senior support workers, including supervision, appraisal and performance management.
* Lead team meetings and briefings to ensure clear communication, consistency and follow-through on actions.
* Promote a positive, open and learning culture where staff feel safe to raise concerns and are encouraged to improve practice.
3. Quality Assurance & Service Improvement
* Implement a robust quality assurance system appropriate to Supported Living (audits, spot checks, visits to houses, care plan reviews, observation of practice).
* Monitor and respond to key indicators such as incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints, medication errors, staff turnover and outcomes achieved.
* Develop and deliver service improvement plans with clear timescales and measurable outcomes.
* Ensure accurate, secure and contemporaneous record-keeping in both paper and electronic systems.
4. People We Support
* Ensure each person has up-to-date:
* Needs assessment
* Person-centred care and support plan
* Risk assessments relevant to Supported Living (e.g. community access, finances, lone time, tenancy sustainment, positive risk-taking).
* Promote independence, choice, control and tenancy rights – recognising that people are living in their own homes, not a traditional care home.
* Involve people, families and advocates (where appropriate) in planning, reviews and service development.
* Ensure complaints and concerns are taken seriously, investigated properly and used to drive learning.
5. Safeguarding & Risk Management
* Take the lead for safeguarding within the service, ensuring all concerns are reported and managed in line with local safeguarding procedures.
* Promote a strong safeguarding culture: staff are confident to report, challenge and escalate concerns.
* Oversee risk management across all Supported Living locations, including:
* Environmental risk
* Lone working arrangements
* Positive behaviour support (where applicable)
* Health and safety, fire safety and infection prevention and control.
6. Workforce Planning, Recruitment & Training
* Ensure safe staffing levels and skill mix across all Supported Living settings, reflecting people’s assessed needs, commissioned hours and individual risks.
* Lead safer recruitment (DBS, references, work history checks) and ensure staff are suitable and competent for Supported Living work.
* Ensure all staff receive:
* Thorough induction to the organisation, the role and the specific houses/people they support.
* Mandatory training and any specialist training required (e.g. autism, PBS, epilepsy, mental health, communication approaches).
* Maintain accurate records of training, supervision, appraisal and registration (e.g. Social Care Wales).
7. Stakeholder & Partnership Working
* Build and maintain strong relationships with:
* People using the service and their families
* Local authority commissioning and care management teams
* Health professionals (GPs, community nurses, psychology, etc.)
* Housing providers / landlords linked to the tenancies.
* Attend reviews, MDT meetings and case conferences as required.
* Represent the service professionally, promoting its values and maintaining a positive reputation.
8. Business & Operational Management
* Contribute to and manage the budget for the Supported Living service, ensuring financial sustainability and value for money.
* Oversee rota planning and deployment of hours to match commissioned packages and individual support needs, including sleep-in/waking nights where applicable.
* Support safe, well-planned growth of the Supported Living service (e.g. new packages, transitions from residential or hospital settings) while maintaining compliance and capacity.