Care Manager

The Care Manager supports the Registered Manager in the day\-to\-day leadership and management of the service, deputising fully in their absence and sharing responsibility for ensuring that care is delivered safely, effectively, and in line with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, the CQC Fundamental Standards, and all relevant legislation.

This role is established as a direct pathway to CQC Registered Manager registration. We recognise that strong leadership talent exists well beyond the UK care sector, and that the skills required to succeed as a Registered Manager (sound judgement, accountability, people leadership, and the ability to operate within a regulated framework) are transferable from many other sectors and countries. Candidates do not need to already hold the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care, nor prior exposure to CQC or another UK regulator, provided they can demonstrate strong leadership capability and a genuine, realistic ability to complete the Level 5 Diploma and build UK regulatory knowledge within an agreed timeframe. This role is structured to provide the hands\-on management experience, regulatory exposure, and evidenced competence needed to support a successful CQC application over time.

Key Responsibilities

Deputising and Operational Leadership

• Support the Registered Manager in the effective deployment of staff and resources to meet service user needs, including oversight of rotas and scheduling produced by the Care Coordinator(s).


• Share responsibility for the on\-call system, providing management cover and escalation support, including leading on\-call cover in the Registered Manager's absence once fully inducted.


• Monitor and contribute to key performance indicators for the service, supporting corrective action where standards are not met.


• Support the Registered Manager in managing the service within agreed budgets and contributing to business planning.

• Build working knowledge of CQC registration requirements, the Fundamental Standards, and the five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well\-led, through structured induction and ongoing mentoring.


• Support the Registered Manager in preparing statutory notifications to CQC and develop a clear understanding of when and how these are required.


• Take an increasingly active role in preparing for and supporting CQC inspections as regulatory knowledge develops, including contributing to the Provider Information Return (PIR) and supporting evidence.


• Support compliance with Local Authority contract conditions relating to workforce, training, and quality standards.


• Keep up to date with changes in legislation, regulation, and best practice relevant to the Registered Manager role, with support from the Company's Risk \& Compliance function.

• Contribute to, and progressively lead, audits, spot checks, and quality monitoring activity, building direct experience of the governance processes expected of a Registered Manager.


• Support the Registered Manager in ensuring care plans, risk assessments, and daily records are accurate, person\-centred, and reviewed in line with policy and need.


• Act as a safeguarding lead alongside the Registered Manager, ensuring concerns are identified, reported, and acted upon appropriately, and building direct experience of safeguarding decision\-making under UK legislation.


• Support the investigation of incidents, accidents, and complaints, including root cause analysis and learning, in preparation for taking full ownership of this responsibility as Registered Manager.


• Contribute to business continuity and contingency planning for the service.

• Support recruitment, induction, and safe recruitment practices, including DBS checks, references, and right\-to\-work checks.


• Support the supervision, appraisal, and performance management of staff, gaining direct people\-management experience relevant to the Registered Manager role.


• Contribute to staff training compliance monitoring and identify development needs across the team.


• Support a positive, inclusive workplace culture, contributing to staff retention and wellbeing, and bringing fresh perspectives and leadership approaches from your own professional background.

• Build relationships with service users, families, and external professionals (social workers, GPs, district nurses), deputising for the Registered Manager at meetings and reviews as required, once inducted.


• Represent the service at multi\-disciplinary meetings and best interest meetings alongside, or on behalf of, the Registered Manager.


• Support engagement with commissioners and Local Authority contacts, building the stakeholder relationships expected of a Registered Manager.

• Work with the Registered Manager, Nominated Individual, and HR/Compliance team to build a structured portfolio of evidence for the CQC Registered Manager application.


• Take an active, visible role in governance activity (audits, notifications, safeguarding, incident review) to evidence competence at the Fit Person interview.


• Undertake the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent) and any additional training, mentoring, or shadowing identified as needed to support a successful application, in line with the timetable agreed with the Company.


• Maintain open communication with the Company regarding progress towards readiness for the CQC application and interview.

We recognise that candidates joining from outside the UK care sector, or from outside the UK altogether, bring valuable leadership experience but may need structured support to build UK\-specific regulatory knowledge. The Company is committed to providing:

• A structured induction covering the Health and Social Care Act 2008, CQC Fundamental Standards, safeguarding legislation, and the Mental Capacity Act 2005\.


• Enrolment on, and support to complete, the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent) within an agreed timeframe (typically 12–18 months from appointment, where not already held).


• A structured mentoring relationship with the Registered Manager and/or Nominated Individual, including shadowing of audits, inspections, safeguarding meetings, and notifications.


• Regular progress reviews against an agreed development plan, with milestones tracked towards CQC application readiness.


• Access to relevant external training (e.g. safeguarding, medicines management, CQC inspection preparation) as needed.

Essential

• Demonstrable leadership experience in a management, supervisory, or senior operational role – in any sector, industry, or country. This may include, but is not limited to, health and social care, hospitality, education, healthcare administration, the armed forces, NGOs, or other regulated or people\-focused environments.


• Evidence of ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams, and to take ownership of operational outcomes.


• A genuine, realistic ability and willingness to complete the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent) within an agreed timeframe following appointment, where not already held.


• Ability to quickly learn and apply new regulatory and legislative frameworks, with strong attention to detail and record\-keeping discipline.


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.


• Strong judgement and the ability to make sound decisions calmly, including under pressure or out of hours.


• High level of personal integrity and professional accountability.


• Right to work in the UK, or eligibility to be sponsored under the Company's Home Office Skilled Worker sponsor licence (SOC 1232\).


• Satisfactory enhanced DBS check (or overseas equivalent police clearance, where applicable) and ability to meet CQC 'fit person' requirements.


• Willingness to obtain a full UK driving licence within an agreed period, where not already held, if the role requires travel between locations.

• Prior experience in health and social care, in the UK or overseas.


• Prior exposure to a regulatory or inspection framework in any sector or jurisdiction (health, care, education, aviation, financial services, or similar).


• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent) already held.


• Experience managing culturally diverse, multi\-site, or remote/distributed teams.


• Previous experience deputising for, or acting up as, a senior manager.

• Registered Manager (line manager)


• Nominated Individual / Director / Operations Manager


• Care Coordinator(s) and all care delivery staff


• Human Resources, Training, and Risk \& Compliance teams


• Service Users and their families/representatives


• CQC and other regulatory bodies (in a supporting capacity, developing over time)


• Local authorities, NHS/ICB commissioners, and safeguarding partnerships

The Care Manager is expected to model the leadership behaviours required of a future Registered Manager, and to lead by example against CQC's key questions — is the service Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well\-led? The post holder is expected to:

• Champion dignity, respect, and person\-centred, outcomes\-focused care.


• Demonstrate accountability and sound judgement appropriate to a senior regulated role.


• Act with integrity and transparency, including in raising concerns where necessary.


• Proactively seek out learning and development opportunities, particularly in building UK regulatory knowledge, in preparation for CQC registration.


• Support a culture of continuous improvement across th

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