Care service manager
Make sure people in need are cared for with dignity, respect and compassion.
Also known as: registered care home manager, care home manager
About the job
What it's like
You would be responsible for the overall management of a care service. This could be a care home, a daycare for adults or a service that provides care to people in their own homes.
You’d make sure that your colleagues feel supported and happy as this will help them to provide the best care. You would register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and follow the Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers.
Depending on the service you work with, you might provide support to:
older people
people experiencing mental health problems
people with learning disabilities
children, young people and families in their own homes
people who are at the end of their life
people with physical disabilities
As the registered manager, you’d make sure that the service is of good quality and meets National Care Standards. The standards ensure people are cared for with dignity, respect and compassion.
You would:
have overall responsibility for the health and safety of people using the service and the staff providing the support
be responsible for promoting the rights of people using the service, and safeguarding them against harm
be involved in the selection and recruitment of staff. You’d also be responsible for managing and developing your team, arranging training and providing regular supervision
get to know the people using the service well. You would need a good understanding of their illness, disability or support needs so your team can offer the right care
provide information, advice and support to people using the service, their families and carers
develop good working relationships with carers, families, health professionals and other agencies
create opportunities for people using the service to contribute to the local community and access local services
You will also need business and organisational skills to ensure the care service is run effectively and with available resources. You would:
be responsible for budgets
monitor business performance
raise funds
negotiate contracts
develop policies and practices to help meet the National Care Standards
Explore more information about this job
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- delegating
- managing resources
- social conscience
- respecting
- empathising
- written communication
- verbal communication
- supporting
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Business Management
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Care
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Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You would have a degree (SCQF Level 9) in social work, nursing, occupational therapy or another related discipline.
You could also have relevant work-based experience or qualifications.
It’s possible to progress into this role with an SVQ in Social Services and Healthcare (SCQF Level 7). Once you’re in the role, your employer would support you to complete an SVQ in Social Services and Healthcare (SCQF Level 9).
You would also need to work towards an SVQ in Care Services Leadership and Management (SCQF Level 10) regardless of your qualification route.
Training in counselling
A driving licence is useful and may be required for some roles
You would register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and have approved membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
Experience in the care sector is important for this role. You might have experience as a support worker or supervisor. Or you might come from a background in social work, nursing or another related profession.
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