Assistant Manager – Support Services

Happy Days supports and empowers people who are homeless or in crisis to live independent and purposeful lives. We operate a range of innovative, trauma-informed services designed to address homelessness, addiction, poverty, and health inequality across Calderdale.

Our services include the Complex Lives Drop-In, Winter Shelter, Residential Support Service, Harm Reduction projects, Jubilee House, and Supported Accommodation.

Role Purpose

The Assistant Manager plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, trauma-informed, and person-centred support across Happy Days' support services with a focus on Winter Shelter and Jubilee House and line management responsibility for the Complex Lives Coordinators within these services. The post holder ensures staff are supported, accountable, and effectively coordinated to deliver safe, compassionate, and outcome-focused care.

Working closely with the Head of Support Services, the Head of Housing, and the Complex Lives Service Coordinator, the Assistant Manager will:

• Deputise for the Head of Support Services as required.
• Lead the day-to-day operational management of key services.
• Contribute to service development, staff development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all activities align with safeguarding, trauma informed and harm reduction initiatives.
• Manage services supporting individuals facing multiple disadvantages in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment where no two days are the same.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Service Delivery

• Lead the day-to-day management of Winter Shelter and Jubilee House services, ensuring high standards of support and care.
• Oversee workload allocation, supervision, and professional development of Complex Lives Coordinators.
• Deputise for the Head of Support Services, providing operational leadership across all support services when required.
• Ensure services operate in line with trauma-informed, harm reduction, and psychologically informed approaches.
• Maintain a visible on-site presence to support staff, residents, and volunteers which requires working evening and weekends.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Provide regular supervision, coaching, and performance management for Complex Lives Coordinators.
• Identify training needs, facilitate development opportunities, and promote reflective practice.
• Support staff wellbeing, resilience, and engagement, fostering a positive workplace culture.

Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Actively support safeguarding processes, incident management, and risk mitigation within Winter Shelter and Jubilee House.
• Ensure all staff are confident in safeguarding responsibilities and statutory reporting.
• Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to manage risk and promote resident safety.

Service Improvement & Reporting

• Support the Head of Support Services in delivering strategic priorities and operational goals.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, including case recording, data collection, and outcome measurement.
• Promote co-production and resident engagement to inform service delivery and improvements.
• Identify opportunities for service development and innovation, making recommendations for enhancements.

Partnership & Community Engagement

• Maintain strong working relationships with housing, health, and community partners.
• Represent services positively within internal and external forums where appropriate.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Proven experience supervising staff in homelessness, supported housing, or complex needs services.
• Experience working with individuals facing multiple disadvantages, including homelessness, addiction, mental health, and poverty.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-pressure, fast-changing environment where no two days are the same.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed, harm reduction, and psychologically informed approaches.
• Excellent leadership, organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, across multiple sites.
• Experience in managing safeguarding, risk assessment, and incident management.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle insured for business use.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: Up to £30,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Health & wellbeing programme

Experience:

• Management: 3 years (required)
• Working with individuals facing multiple disadvantages.: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: ASMAN1125