The Role of a social care Deputy Manager

by Sabrina Brown, Deputy Manager at Heath Farm

What does a social care Deputy Manager do at Lifeways?

A Deputy Manager within social care at Lifeways plays a crucial, hands-on role in ensuring high-quality, person-centred care for people with learning disabilities and autism. In my service, I focus a lot on tailoring training for team members to meet the specific needs of the people we support, rather than relying solely on general training.

Onboarding and operational responsibilities

I run coaching sessions, team meetings, and practical workshops to ensure team members feel confident, capable and able to deliver better outcomes for the people we support. I’m heavily involved in team member welfare too - checking in through quizzes, feedback sessions, and one-to-one support to keep morale high.

Induction is another big part of my job; I make sure new starters shadow experienced team members and get to know the people we support properly. On top of that, I handle important paperwork, including rotas, KPIs, and compliance with commissioned hours.

Supporting and developing the team

I support the Registered Manager with investigations, absence management, and team member adjustments where needed. Encouraging team member development is big for me, helping people step up through medication training, apprenticeships, and leadership opportunities.

Ultimately, my role is about making sure everyone, from support workers to team leaders, feels supported, skilled, and ready to deliver the best outcomes for the people we support. As a social care Deputy Manager, I play a key role in creating stable, well-led services where people feel safe, supported and empowered to live meaningful lives.

Deputy Manager and team member talking outside

What experience or background do you need to become a Deputy Manager at Lifeways?

For anyone wanting to step into a Deputy Manager role in a supported living or residential setting, having solid frontline experience in the relevant care setting is essential. For me, working directly with people with autism and learning disabilities was vital because it gave me a practical understanding of their daily support needs.

Supervisory experience is equally important. I managed a team as a Team Leader for about two and a half years before becoming a Deputy Manager, which helped me learn how to balance frontline work with leadership responsibilities.

Key skills and qualities for social care Deputy Manager success

Strong communication skills and IT skills are also a must these days since so much is digital now. Being able to work well in a team is key too. You can’t be effective in a senior role if you can’t collaborate and involve others in decision-making.

I’ve seen people from other industries come in during tough times like COVID and thrive because they had people skills and could adapt quickly. So, while care experience is ideal, good people skills, adaptability, and the ability to lead and motivate others can make someone a great fit.

To summarise, to excel in a social care Deputy Manager role at Lifeways, you’ll ideally demonstrate the following traits:

Solid frontline experience in a similar role/care setting
Supervisory experience
The ability to balance frontline work and leadership responsibilities
Strong communication skills
Good IT skills in order to use digital systems effectively
The ability to work as a team, as well as lead one
Good people skills and adaptability
A willingness to learn and grow

What leadership qualities help someone thrive in the Deputy Manager social care role?

Adaptability is the biggest leadership quality I’ve learned to value in this role. Every team member is different - what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. I’ve learned to adjust my approach, whether that means giving some team members more coaching or giving others more responsibility to help them grow.

Being approachable is crucial too. I keep my office door open so team members feel comfortable popping in for a chat or to raise concerns. Building trust really helps prevent issues from escalating.

What makes a good Deputy Manager within social care?

Resilience is an important quality. Things don’t always go smoothly in care. A good Deputy Manager stays calm, looks at what could be done better, and brings the team back together positively. Collaborative working is vital - I make a point of involving frontline team members and the people we support in decisions.

That way, plans are realistic, and everyone is on the same page.

Lastly, I think passion for developing people matters. I push my team to progress through extra training, apprenticeships, and step-up roles. Supporting others in developing their leadership careers helps create a stronger service overall.

A deputy manager and service manager talking

How does being a social care Deputy Manager prepare you for career progression?

Being a Deputy Manager in supported living or residential care is fantastic preparation for stepping up to become a Registered Manager or even higher. In my role, I'm trusted to run the whole service when my Registered Manager is away, so I gain first-hand experience of what the top job involves.

I’ve also supported other services that didn’t have a manager at the time, which pushed me to take on new challenges and develop my confidence. The company encourages this growth; my manager involves me in her projects, inspections, and bigger decisions, so I’m always learning.

Training and development opportunities

There’s great training too - the leadership and management training has been brilliant for giving me new tools and ideas. The apprenticeship pathway, like the Level 5 in Leadership for Adult Care, is really valuable and works alongside your day-to-day job, so you get theory and practice together.

We have a supportive network across services, and even the Executive Leadership Team is approachable if I need advice.

Overall, I feel trusted and supported, and every day in this role builds my skills for the next step. It’s a role where you genuinely grow as a leader and get ready to handle more responsibility in the future.

Sabrina Brown, Deputy Manager

Maddi's journey to deputy manager

How to become a social care Deputy Manager at Lifeways

If you’re looking for a Deputy Manager role within adult social care, please explore our available roles. We have many exciting opportunities across the country. You might also like to read our blog to find out more about what a career in supported living is like.

If you have any questions about becoming a residential and supported living deputy manager in one of our many Lifeways locations, please feel free to get in touch. And for those still unsure of exactly what path to take, explore what role you could play at Lifeways. Whatever stage in your career journey you’re at, there’s a role where you can make a real, meaningful difference at Lifeways.

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