Care Support Scotland

We are a charity with decades of experience supporting people across Scotland, providing those who need us with support that ranges from Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity, Youth and Adult Homelessness and Older People services. Guided by our values of Respect and Compassion, we empower both the people we support and our colleagues to Thrive every day.

Why work with us?

At Care Support Scotland caring isn’t just a job — it’s who we are. Join our dedicated team and help transform lives while growing your own career.

• Pension contributions matched up to 6%

• Financial Flexibility – Access your wages as you earn them with our Earned Wage Access benefit.

• Employee Assistance Programme through HSF

• Contribution to HSF Health Plan – supporting your everyday health needs

• Generous annual leave – 33 days including public holidays, increasing with service

• Supportive absence policies to help when you need time off

• Death in Benefit Cover – 2x annual salary

• Support with funded qualifications

• Career development and progression opportunities

About the Role

We are delighted to offer this 3-year fixed-term post, made possible thanks to National Lottery Fairer Life Chances fund.

Due to the personal nature of the role, this post is restricted to female applicants in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1, which permits an occupational requirement for specific genders in such circumstances.

• We are seeking a Community Connector to join our new Women’s Homelessness Service in Midlothian. This is an exciting opportunity to support women who have experienced homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

• Working alongside support workers, the Community Connector will focus on helping women to build recovery capital – their personal resilience, social networks, and community connections. The role brings additional capacity for group work, community engagement, and peer-led activities, complementing the direct support already provided by the team.

• You will support women to set goals, explore their strengths and aspirations, and access opportunities that promote wellbeing, recovery, and inclusion. By co-designing groups and activities, and linking women into local services, volunteering, and community resources, you will play a key part in reducing isolation and repeat homelessness.

Who we are looking for?

• Experience of supporting people facing disadvantage or exclusion.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to build trust, deliver 1:1 support, and facilitate group sessions.

• Understanding of the impact of homelessness and multiple disadvantage on women.

• Compassionate, resilient, and committed to inclusion and empowerment.

• A driver with access to a car is essential for this role.

What You will Do

• Provide 1:1 relational support, using tools such as Outcome Star (Home Star) to set and review goals.

• Facilitate co-designed group activities that promote wellbeing, creativity, and peer support.

• Support women experiencing multiple disadvantage to strengthen their recovery capital.

• Build connections with local partners (e.g. Women’s Aid, recovery networks, community groups) to expand opportunities for women.

• Advocate alongside women to ensure their voices are heard and rights are respected.

• Work in a trauma-informed, gender-responsive, and strengths-based way.

(Experience in women’s services, homelessness, or recovery is desirable but not essential. Lived experience is valued.)

Care Support Scotland

We are a charity with decades of experience supporting people across Scotland, providing those who need us with support that ranges from Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity, Youth and Adult Homelessness and Older People services. Guided by our values of Respect and Compassion, we empower both the people we support and our colleagues to Thrive every day

Why Work With Us?

At Care Support Scotland caring isn’t just a job — it’s who we are. Join our dedicated team and help transform lives while growing your own career.

• Pension contributions matched up to 6%
• Financial Flexibility – Access your wages as you earn them with our Earned Wage Access benefit.
• Employee Assistance Programme through HSF
• Contribution to HSF Health Plan – supporting your everyday health needs
• Generous annual leave – 33 days including public holidays, increasing with service
• Supportive absence policies to help when you need time off
• Death in Benefit Cover – 2x annual salary
• Support with funded qualifications
• Career development and progression opportunities

Terms of Contract: Full time

Location: Inverkeithing (with flexibility as required)

Reports to: Head of Service

Registration: This post is required to be registered with the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as the Manager of the Service

Role Purpose

The Registered Manager is responsible for the overall quality, compliance, leadership and sustainability of one designated service.

Combining strong social care practice knowledge with values-based leadership, the postholder will ensure the service delivers personalised, high-quality, safe and effective support in line with the Health and Social Care Standards, Care Inspectorate requirements and Care Support Scotland values.

The Registered Manager holds full accountability for Care Inspectorate registration, service quality, staffing, budget management and continuous improvement for their service, working closely with the Service Manager while maintaining a strong operational presence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Service Leadership & Quality

• Act as the Registered Manager with the Care Inspectorate, ensuring full compliance with registration conditions and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the service to consistently meet or exceed the Health and Social Care Standards and Care Inspectorate Quality Framework.
• Ensure the delivery of personalised, rights-based, outcome-focused support, aligned to individual support plans and assessed needs.
• Lead and embed a culture of continuous improvement, learning from feedback, audits, incidents and inspections.
• Develop, implement and monitor service improvement plans, including responding to Care Inspectorate requirements, recommendations and quality assurance findings.
• Ensure all risk assessments, protocols and support plans are robust, current and consistently applied.

2. Care Inspectorate & Governance

• Maintain effective professional relationships with the Care Inspectorate, including inspection preparation, engagement during inspections and follow-up activity.
• Ensure accurate, timely and high-quality information is provided to regulators and commissioners.
• Ensure statutory notifications, reporting and governance requirements are met in full.
• Contribute to internal quality assurance processes, audits and assurance reporting as required.

3. Staff Leadership & Workforce Management

• Provide visible, values-led leadership to the service staff team.
• Be accountable for recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal, attendance management and performance management within the service, in partnership with People & Culture.
• Ensure staff are appropriately trained, competent and supported to deliver safe, high-quality care.
• Promote reflective practice, wellbeing, professional development and trauma-informed approaches.
• Manage staffing rotas and deployment to ensure safe, effective and financially sustainable service delivery.

4. Service Management & Financial Responsibility

• Hold responsibility for the financial performance and sustainability of the service, within agreed budgets.
• Monitor service activity, income and expenditure, working closely with Finance to ensure accurate invoicing, cost control and value for money.
• Ensure all support delivery is accurately recorded, monitored and reported.
• Identify and address emerging risks to service viability, quality or capacity.
• Contribute to annual budget setting and service planning with the Service Manager.

5. Participation, Partnership & Integration

• Promote meaningful involvement of people supported in shaping, reviewing and evaluating the service.
• Support access to advocacy and ensure people’s rights, choices and communication needs are respected.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with families, carers, advocates, landlords and partner agencies
• Work collaboratively with statutory, voluntary and community partners to support positive outcomes and integrated working.

6. Contribution to Wider Organisation

• Work constructively with other Registered Managers, Team Leaders and Service Managers to promote consistency and shared learning across Care Support Scotland.
• Participate in management meetings, development activity and organisational initiatives as required.
• Deputise within agreed parameters when required.
• Participate in the on-call rota.

Self-Management & Professional Practice

• Maintain SSSC registration and undertake Continuous Professional Development, evidencing learning in line with regulatory requirements.
• Practice values-based decision-making aligned to Care Support Scotland values: Respect, Compassion and Thrive.
• Comply with all organisational policies, procedures, health and safety requirements and codes of practice.
• Take responsibility for personal effectiveness, resilience and professional conduct.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed as the role evolves.

Person Specification

This specification is intentionally positioned between Team Leader and Service Manager:

• Single-service accountability
• Regulated manager status
• No portfolio / organisational development remit

Essential Qualifications

• A relevant practice qualification at SCQF level 9 or above, recognised by the SSSC, suitable for registration as a Manager of a Housing Support / Adult Social Care Service.
• A relevant management qualification at SCQF level 9 or above, recognised by the SSSC (or commitment to achieve within an agreed timeframe).
• Must meet Care Inspectorate and SSSC requirements to register as a Manager.

Desirable Qualifications

• Management or leadership qualification at SCQF level 10 or above.
• Qualification or accreditation in Trauma-Informed Practice, Positive Behaviour Support, or equivalent.

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• Demonstrable experience working in an adult social care setting at a senior operational level.
• Experience of leading a single service or defined operational area, with accountability for quality and outcomes.
• Clear understanding of Care Inspectorate inspection processes, Quality Frameworks and improvement planning.
• Experience of developing, implementing and monitoring service improvement plans.
• Proven experience of staff leadership, including supervision, appraisal, performance management and workforce planning.
• Experience of budget monitoring and cost control within a service environment.
• •Strong written and digital skills, with the ability to produce confident reports, care records and regulatory documentation.
• Commitment to values-based leadership, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable Knowledge & Experience

• Previous experience as a Registered Manager or Team Leader.
• Experience of leading services through Care Inspectorate inspections.
• Experience of partnership working with local authorities, landlords or community partners.
• Experience of mentoring or developing aspiring managers or senior staff.