Service Manager - Supported living (Learning Disabilities) 

Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (Commutable from Polegate, Bexhill, and Hastings) BN20, UK

Salary: £43,000 – £45,000 per annum

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Start date: March 2026

About the Role

Are you an experienced Service Manager who leads with calm, compassion, and clarity? This is a unique opportunity to build and shape a brand-new, bespoke supported living service tailored to a single individual's needs.

The provider will source a property specifically for this individual, allowing you to design the home environment, routines, and staffing model from the ground up. You will oversee support for a young adult with autism (PDA features) and moderate learning disabilities, focusing on creating a structured, low-arousal environment to support regulation.

Key Responsibilities

• Service Commissioning: Open and establish a bespoke single-occupancy service from day one.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, induct, and develop a dedicated support team; manage staff supervisions and reflective practice.
• Clinical Oversight: Embed consistent routines that reduce demand-related stress and lead positive risk management (including de-escalation).
• Compliance & Quality: Drive CQC standards, safeguarding, and Mental Capacity Act (MCA) best practices.
• Stakeholder Management: Build strong partnerships with families, clinicians, and local authorities.

Requirements

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Experience: Proven leadership in specialist learning disability or autism settings.
• Skills: Expertise in de-escalation, co-regulation, and trauma-informed care.
• Knowledge: Deep understanding of MCA, Best Interests, and safeguarding processes.
• Background: Ideally currently a Service Manager or a Deputy Manager (3+ years experience) ready for a step up.
• Location: Must be able to work fully on-site in the Eastbourne / East Sussex area.

Service Model & Benefits

• Salary: £43,000 – £45,000 (DOE).
• Supernumerary Focus: Primarily supernumerary role with flexibility to support the rota when required.
• Rota: Initial model includes two waking night staff (no sleep-ins initially).
• Culture: A values-led, non-corporate organisation that prioritizes reflective practice and sustainable growth.

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.