Service Manager

We are looking for a Service Manager to cover our supported living services in Sunderland. You’ll oversee supported living services with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. You'll have the support of our dedicated Area Manager and Regional Director, while still having the freedom to lead with your own style—focusing on achieving the best outcomes for the people we support and for your staff teams.

We’re looking for an experienced, passionate manager who:

• Leads with positivity, compassion, and confidence.
• Inspires their team to deliver outstanding, person-centred support.
• Drives quality, safety, and continuous improvement across all services.

Every day, you’ll make a difference — ensuring the people we support live with independence, dignity, and purpose in their own homes.

In this role, you will:

• Support, inspire, and develop your team of support workers and team leaders to deliver outstanding care and support within this supported living flat scheme.
• You will oversee the delivery of high-quality care and support for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, challenging behaviours, and physical disabilities, each with their own unique and complex needs.
• Drive service improvements and quality standards
• Build strong relationships with your team, families, and communities

You’ll lead with purpose, inspire your teams, and deliver the highest standards of care while shaping the future of services.

• A minimum Level 3 qualification in Health & Social Care with Level 5 being desirable (or working towards it)
• Strong experience in operational and people management
• A valid UK driver’s licence and willingness to travel locally
• A genuine passion for quality care — and the ability to lead by example

We’re looking for individuals who embody empathy, courage, honesty, equality, and passion. If that sounds like you, we’d love to welcome you to the team.

Lifeways is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist support for people with learning disabilities, autism, brain injuries, mental health conditions, and complex care needs.

When you join Lifeways, you step into a leadership role in a company that values and invests in its people. Our shared values guide everything we do:
Caring – Honest – One Team – Innovative – Courageous – Equal

You’ll get:

• Enjoy financial wellbeing tools with Stream — real-time pay tracking, savings features, and instant access to earned pay when you need it.
• Leadership development programmes & progression pathways
• A supportive, inclusive workplace culture
• Matched contribution company pension scheme
• Wellbeing resources and mental health support
• Reward and Recognition Schemes
• Discounts on shopping, tech, travel, and more through CHOICE Rewards

We are on a bold journey to become the Care Provider of Choice — and this is an exciting time to join us.

We listen closely to our team members through surveys and forums and act on their ideas, continuously improving how we support both our people and the individuals in our care.

As a leader, you’ll have the authority, resources, and support to shape your team’s culture and the quality of care they deliver. We invest in your growth through leadership development and promote a workplace where wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion are more than just words — they’re lived values. Discover why this matters in our newest video:

At Lifeways, you’re not just anyone.

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