Service Manager – Mental Health | Southampton
Are you an experienced Service Manager or Deputy Manager who is ready to take the next step in your career?

We’re looking for an ambitious and passionate leader to join us as Service Manager at The Valley, a specialist mental health supported living service in Southampton.

The Valley is a high-quality development of 11 self-contained apartments, providing accommodation and 24-hour support for people with complex mental health needs. You’ll lead a dedicated on-site team of Recovery Support Workers, ensuring the people we support receive person-centred, recovery-focused support that enables them to live as independently as possible.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Service Manager to take ownership of a specialist service, drive high standards, develop a strong team and make a genuine difference to people’s lives.

We will also consider an ambitious Deputy Manager who is ready to progress into a Service Manager role. If you’re looking for your next career move and want to develop your leadership skills within a supportive care provider, we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll have the support of a dedicated Area Manager, giving you the autonomy to lead in your own style while having the guidance and support you need to succeed.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and lead a service where your work can make a real difference, this could be the opportunity for you.

We’re looking for a leader who:

• Leads with positivity, compassion, and confidence
• Inspires teams to deliver outstanding, person-centred support
• Champions quality, safety, and continuous improvement
• Understands the challenges faced by individuals with mental health diagnoses moving from institutional environments into independent community living, and is committed to providing personalised, recovery-focused support that empowers them to thrive in their own tenancy.

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference every day — enabling the people we support to live independently, with dignity, purpose, and fulfilment in their own homes.

In this role, you will:

• Lead, inspire, and develop a team of support workers and team leaders to deliver high-quality, recovery-focused support within a supported living flat scheme.
• Oversee the delivery of person-centred support for individuals with mental health diagnoses, including those transitioning from institutional or inpatient settings into their own tenancies, ensuring support plans promote independence, stability, and wellbeing.
• Ensure tailored packages of care are implemented effectively, enabling individuals to live independently in the community while receiving the right level of structured support to aid their recovery journey.
• Drive continuous service improvement and uphold high standards of quality, safety, and positive risk management.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with your team, external mental health professionals, families, and community partners to ensure joined-up, holistic support.

You’ll lead with purpose, inspire your teams, and deliver the highest standards of care while shaping the future of services.

What You’ll Bring

• A minimum Level 3 qualification in Health & Social Care (or equivalent), with Level 5 desirable or a willingness to work towards it.
• Strong experience in operational and people management within mental health or supported living services, with a clear understanding of recovery-focused practice and positive risk management.
• Knowledge of supporting individuals with mental health diagnoses, including those transitioning from inpatient or institutional settings into independent community living.
• A valid UK driver’s licence and willingness to travel locally to support community-based services.
• A genuine passion for delivering high-quality, person-centred mental health support — and the ability to lead by example, fostering a culture of empowerment, independence, and wellbeing.

We’re looking for individuals who embody empathy, courage, honesty, equality, and passion. If that sounds like you, we’d love to welcome you to the team.

Why Join Lifeways?
When you join Lifeways, you step into a leadership role in a company that values and invests in its people. Our shared values guide everything we do:
Caring – Honest – One Team – Innovative – Courageous – Equal

You’ll get:

• Enjoy financial wellbeing tools with Stream — real-time pay tracking, savings features, and instant access to earned pay when you need it.
• Leadership development programmes & progression pathways
• A supportive, inclusive workplace culture
• Matched contribution company pension scheme
• Wellbeing resources and mental health support
• Reward and Recognition Schemes
• Discounts on shopping, tech, travel, and more through CHOICE Rewards

At Lifeways, you’re not just anyone. You’re a leader who can make a difference every single day.

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