Registered Manager – Community Mental Health, Autism & LD Services

About the role
Unicare Complex Care Specialist Ltd is recruiting a CQC Registered Manager to lead our Sussex Community Service — a domiciliary and outreach service supporting adults with mental health needs, autism, and learning disabilities to live well in their own homes across Sussex.
This is a CQC Registered Manager position. The successful candidate will be named on the CQC registration and will hold full operational, regulatory, and clinical governance accountability for the service, reporting to the Responsible Individual.
This is not a residential or supported living manager role. You will be managing community-based packages — variable hours, dispersed service users, person-centred outcomes — which requires a different operational mindset to a building-based service.
What you'll be doing
Holding CQC registration for the Sussex Community Service and ensuring full compliance with the Fundamental Standards (Regulations 9–20A)
Leading a dispersed community workforce of support workers, mental health support workers, and team leads operating across Sussex
Managing referrals, assessments, and package set-up with Sussex commissioners, ICBs, and continuing healthcare teams
Owning safeguarding, incident management, medication oversight, and quality assurance for all community packages
Developing and applying PBS (Positive Behaviour Support) approaches in partnership with our in-house CPN/PBS Specialist
Working alongside families, advocates, social workers, CMHTs, and community LD teams
Driving service growth — new referrals, capacity planning, commissioner relationships, fee review submissions
Preparing the service for and leading on CQC inspection
What we're looking for
Essential
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care (or equivalent) — held or actively working towards
Minimum 2 years' management experience in adult social care
Proven experience supporting adults with  mental health needs, autism, and/or learning disabilities  in  community / supported living / domiciliary  settings (not residential care home only)
Working knowledge of CQC Fundamental Standards, MCA 2005, Care Act 2014, and the LD/autism statutory guidance
Understanding of PBS principles and trauma-informed practice
Confident managing safeguarding, incidents, and complaints under Reg 13 / LADO / Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board procedures
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (community service — non-negotiable)
Eligible to work in the UK (Unicare cannot sponsor for this role)
Desirable
Existing CQC Registered Manager status (or previous registration)
Oliver McGowan Tier 2 trained

Experience with Sussex commissioners (West Sussex CC, East Sussex CC, Brighton & Hove CC, NHS Sussex ICB)
PBS Coach / PBS Practitioner qualification
Experience setting up new community packages from referral to delivery
What we offer
£40,000 – £45,000 per annum Dependant on experience
28 days' annual leave including bank holidays, rising with service
Pension scheme
Funded Level 5 completion if working towards
Funded CPD:
Oliver McGowan Tier 2, PBS, MCA/DoLS, safeguarding lead
Mileage at HMRC rate
Clear progression — Unicare is scaling its community offer across Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and South London
Direct working relationship with two founder-CEOs and an in-house clinical team (CPN/PBS Specialist)

How to apply

Apply with your CV. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 5 working days. Two-stage interview: competency interview with the CEO, followed by a scenario-based panel including our Responsible Individual.
Unicare is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.