Services Manager

MERTON MENCAP
Services Manager
Job Description

Title:

Services Manager

Responsible to:

Chief Executive

Hours:

Salary:

25 hours per week

£32,000pa - £35,000pa (full time equivalent) depending on experience

Duration:

1 year initial contract, continuation subject to funding

Place of Work:

Based at the Merton Mencap office, Morden, plus some home-working

Job Purpose

Manage the charity’s services for young people and/or adults with learning disabilities and autism

Main responsibilities

Care planning & risk assessment

Obtain information about the care needs of service users (eg from parents/carers) and form
high-quality care plans, updating them as required

Form risk assessments of services and activities

Ensure staff understand and follow care plans and risk assessments

Oversee service users’ goals and aspirations are identified, monitored and reviewed with them

Staff management

Recruit, induct, train and provide day-to-day management for team leaders and deputies,
supporting them to manage their teams

Equip staff with the knowledge, skills and resources to deliver services

Oversee adequate staffing levels, eg organise staff rotas, managing sickness absence and annual
leave, cover services where necessary to ensure services are not cancelled

Resolve any staffing problems as they arise, promoting a harmonious and engaged working
environment

Conduct quarterly supervision and annual appraisal to team leaders and deputies (and support
them to do so for their staff)

Services Manager – Feb 2026

Service management

Contribute to the charity’s safeguarding practice, ensuring safeguarding is central to service
delivery

Plan services in advance and manage communications

Oversee activities are organised and delivered in line with service requirements, eg liaise with
providers, make bookings for activities

Conduct internal audits to ensure policies and procedures are followed

Promote the charity’s services and ensure services provide for the target number of users

Monitor service delivery and take any remedial actions if necessary, eg review session records,
oversee monitoring records are up-to-date

Contribute to meetings with funders and other key stakeholders, eg provide progress reports on
service delivery, create networks with social workers and other local service providers

Ensure incidents are reported and managed, and remedial actions taken

Contribute to evaluating impact of services

Cover sessions in the event of emergency

Finance

Ensure services are delivered within budget

Communicate budgets to team leaders and other staff

Ensure petty cash is managed in line with internal procedures

Contribute to financial review meetings with finance team

General

Contribute to strong inter-departmental working with colleagues, eg keep updated with the charity’s
services and refer service users for other services

Contribute content for the charity’s ebulletins, newsletters and social media

Organise and attend team meetings with service staff; contribute to monthly team meetings with
the senior staff, providing updates on topical matters

Cultivate good relationships with partner organisations

Deputise for CEO, when required, at meetings and forums

Services Manager – Feb 2026

Work within Merton Mencap’s standards, policies and procedures and code of conduct, in
particular policies and procedures which relate to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults,
health and safety practice, equal opportunities and confidentiality

Undertake necessary training to keep up to date with current issues and good practice relating to
working with people with a learning disability, in particular training associated with safeguarding
and health and safety

Contribute to supporting the charity’s wider activities, e.g. community fundraising events,
staff socials

Be willing to work outside normal hours and to be contacted out of hours, as necessary

Undertake any other duties consistent with the post

Services Manager – Feb 2026

MERTON MENCAP
Services Manager
Person Specification

Essential

Enthusiastic and self-motivated, with a flexible and adaptable approach

Experience of delivering and managing social care services

Knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with a learning disability
/ autism and their family carers
A minimum of two years management experience

Qualified to Level 3 or equivalent or willingness to obtain this qualification

Knowledge of data protection and client confidentiality

Experience of maintaining effective service performance including in the areas
of health and safety, risk assessment, service monitoring and managing
budgets

Experience of contributing to meetings at a senior level and developing good
relationships

Experience of recruiting, inducting, supervising and appraising staff, and the
ability to lead a team

Evidence by
Interview
References
Application
form

Interview
Application
form

Certificates
Application
form

Interview

References

Excellent communication skills (written and oral), demonstrating the ability to
present information clearly and deliver formal presentations to senior parties

Ability to communicate and consult sensitively and effectively with people with
learning disability /autism and their family carers

Experienced in the use of Microsoft packages, including Word, Excel, Access
and Outlook

Interview

Interview
exercise

An awareness of and commitment to safeguarding and to keeping children and
vulnerable adults safe

Interview

A commitment to excellent health and safety practice

A commitment to equal opportunities

Highly organised

Services Manager – Feb 2026

Application form
Interview

Desirable

Safeguarding training

Health and safety training

Manual handling training

Equal opportunities training

First aid certificate

Marketing and publicity experience

Services Manager – Feb 2026