Service Manager

South Ayrshire£38,896 per yearFull-timeClosing 23rd September 2026
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About the role

It does not matter whether your route into leadership has been through housing, social care, homelessness, youth support or community services, if you care about young people having a safe, supportive place to call home, and you know how to lead a team with compassion, clarity and purpose, this could be the next move for you.

Supported Accommodation South Ayrshire helps reduce repeat homelessness by providing high-quality housing support in Ayr. As Service Manager, you will lead the delivery of a safe, person-centred and strengths-based service for young people experiencing homelessness, including those moving from temporary accommodation into permanent or longer-term suitable housing.

You will report to the Locality Manager and lead a team that includes a Senior Support Worker and Support Workers. You will create the conditions for colleagues to do their best work, while ensuring the people we support are treated with unconditional positive regard and receive support that reflects their individual needs, strengths and aspirations.

Right There has spent 200 years standing alongside people in Scotland. Last year, we supported almost 4,000 people to stay in their homes and stay connected to the people they love. We provide tailored support for people living with the effects of homelessness, poverty, addiction or family breakdown, meeting people where they are with no judgement and walking alongside them at the right time.

What you’ll do

  • Lead with care and confidence. You will support, coach and guide your team through regular supervision, appraisals, reflective practice and day-to-day leadership.
  • Keep people at the centre. You will make sure support planning is person-centred, psychologically informed and focused on each person’s strengths, safety and aspirations.
  • Deliver a high-quality service. You will oversee programme delivery, contractual requirements, quality assurance, performance information and local authority reporting.
  • Build strong partnerships. You will work with local authority colleagues, social work, housing services, commissioners, community partners and other agencies to support positive outcomes.
  • Manage resources well. You will help set and manage budgets, use data to inform decisions and make sure the service works within agreed financial parameters.
  • Support growth and improvement. You will contribute to annual business planning, policy development, new initiatives and continuous learning across the service.
  • Promote a safe and inclusive culture. You will help create an environment where colleagues and the people we support feel respected, heard and safe.

What you’ll bring

You may already be managing a housing, social care or support service, or you may be ready for a broader leadership role where your judgement, organisation and values-led practice can make a real difference. We are interested in the experience you bring, the way you work with people and your commitment to learning.

  • You hold, or meet the minimum requirement to hold, SVQ 3 in Social Services and Health Care at SCQF Level 7 or HNC in Social Services, enabling registration as a manager with the Care Inspectorate.
  • You hold, or are willing to work towards, the required leadership and management qualification at SCQF Level 9 or 10.
  • You have experience of leading, coaching, supervising or developing people.
  • You understand housing support, social care, homelessness or related community-based services.
  • You can plan, prioritise and make thoughtful decisions, including when situations are complex or urgent.
  • You communicate clearly and respectfully, in writing and in person.
  • You can build positive working relationships with colleagues, partners, commissioners and the people we support.
  • You are confident using information, reports and data to support decision-making and service improvement.
  • You are able to travel within the agreed geographical area and respond flexibly when the service needs it.

You do not need to have followed one fixed route into this role. Experience in third sector, housing, social care, support services, youth work, community services, partnership working, service planning or people management could all be relevant. If this role excites you but you do not meet every point, we still encourage you to apply.

Our offer

  • Full-time, permanent 
  • Salary up to £38,896 per annum.
  • Core place of work: 42 Chalmers Road, Ayr, KA7 2JQ.
  • 35 hours per week worked Monday to Friday, flexibly between 9.00am and 5.00pm depending on service needs, with a one-hour unpaid break.
  • Annual leave of 210 hours, equivalent to 6 weeks, rising to 280 hours, equivalent to 8 weeks, after year one. This includes public holidays.
  • People’s Pension, subject to eligibility.
  • Flexible working around programme needs.
  • Access to wellbeing support, learning and development, funded qualifications where appropriate, Cycle to Work, Health Shield, Blue Light Card and other employee benefits.

 

If this sounds like the kind of role where your leadership, values and commitment to safe, supportive homes could make a real difference, we would love to hear from you. Please tell us about your experience, what matters to you about this work and how you would help create a service where young people and colleagues feel respected, supported and able to thrive.

Applications will be considered as they are received, we encourage you to apply early as the ad might close earlier than the advertised date.