Service Manager – Specialist Supported Living (Bespoke Single‑Occupancy Service)

Location: East Sussex (Eastbourne / Polegate, with consideration for Bexhill / Hastings)
Salary: £43,000–£45,000 per annum (DOE)
Job Type: Full‑time, Permanent | On‑site
Posted by: Pivotal People Care (recruiting on behalf of our client)

About the Opportunity

Are you an experienced Service Manager who leads with calm, compassion and clarity? This is a rare chance to build and shape a brand‑new supported living service around one person’s needs — the provider will source a property specifically for the individual and tailor the home environment, routines and staffing model to give them the best possible quality of life. You’ll be fully supported by senior leaders and the wider team to set the service up properly — without cutting corners.

You’ll oversee support for a young adult with autism (with features of demand avoidance), a moderate learning disability, and periods of dysregulated behaviour. There is no formal mental‑health diagnosis; previous concerns (e.g., possible explosive mood disorder, possible experiences of hearing voices) are unconfirmed. Your leadership will focus on consistency, structure and a calm environment that reduces anxiety and supports regulation.

About the Provider

A warm, values‑led organisation with services across East and West Sussex and Southampton, known for doing things properly and growing sustainably. The culture is person‑centred, practical and supportive rather than corporate — with thoughtful leadership, reflective practice and genuine partnership working at its core.

What You’ll Do

• Open and establish a bespoke single‑occupancy service from the ground up
• Recruit, induct and develop a dedicated team aligned to the person’s needs and values
• Maintain a supernumerary leadership focus while being willing to step in on the rota when needed
• Embed clear, consistent routines that support regulation and reduce demand‑related stress
• Lead positive risk management and de‑escalation; ensure any authorised physical intervention is a last resort and in line with the person’s plan
• Champion safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act practice and defensible decision‑making
• Drive quality, compliance and continuous improvement (policies, audits, incident learning, outcomes tracking)
• Build effective relationships with families, clinicians, local authorities and wider stakeholders
• Oversee staff supervision, coaching and reflective practice to maintain a calm, confident team
• Manage resources, rota planning and documentation to ensure safe, person‑centred delivery every day

Who You Are

• Experienced leader in specialist learning disability/autism settings, confident supporting demand avoidance and dysregulated behaviour
• Skilled in de‑escalation, co‑regulation and trauma‑informed, person‑led approaches
• Comfortable working where authorised physical interventions may occasionally be required (always as a last resort and within an approved plan)
• Strong working knowledge of safeguarding, MCA/Best Interests, and incident/risk processes
• Resilient, steady and unflappable — able to lead teams through dynamic, emotionally charged situations
• Ideally already a Service Manager; we will consider a strong Deputy Manager (3+ years in comparable settings) ready to step into full accountability
• Naturally warm, values‑driven and partnership‑oriented (not overly corporate)
• Able to work fully on‑site in East Sussex

Service Model & Rota

• No sleep‑ins initially — the service will run with two waking night staff
• Daytime staffing will be kept under review; levels will be adjusted based on how well the person settles and clinical/operational assessment over time
• You will be primarily supernumerary, with flexibility to support the rota when operationally required

What’s on Offer

• £43,000–£45,000 per annum (depending on experience)
• The professional trust and support to build the service properly from day one
• A chance to shape a bespoke environment around one person’s needs — not fit a person into a pre‑built service
• A values‑led culture with thoughtful leadership, reflective practice and pragmatic teamwork
• The opportunity to create long‑term, meaningful outcomes for the person you support

Location

The role is based on‑site in East Sussex, ideally within reach of Eastbourne / Polegate; we welcome applications from those based in Bexhill or Hastings with a reliable commute.

How to Apply

If you’re an experienced Service Manager — or a confident Deputy Manager ready for the step up — and you want to build a service the right way, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply with your CV or get in touch for a confidential conversation.

Pivotal People Care is recruiting on behalf of our client. All enquiries are handled in confidence. We believe in person‑centred, values‑led recruitment and welcome applications from experienced leaders across specialist learning disability and autism services.