Service Manager (Access and DAT)

Adults and Health Directorate | London Borough of Newham

Service Manager – Access and Discharge (Adult Social Care)

Grade: SMR B (£67,194 -£82,809) 

Full Time | Permanent

Closing date: 13th September 2026

Internal and External

At Newham, people are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud of our diverse communities and ambitious in our commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred services that support residents to live independently, safely and with dignity. We are now seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to join us as Service Manager – Access and Discharge within Adult Social Care.

This is a pivotal role, leading the operational delivery of access and discharge services and ensuring that adults with social care needs, alongside their families and carers, receive timely, effective and integrated support. Working as part of a senior leadership team, you will shape and drive services that are responsive, inclusive and outcomes-focused, reflecting both local priorities and the wider national agenda for health and social care.

About the role

As Service Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the performance, quality and development of the Access and Discharge service. You will lead a sizeable and multidisciplinary workforce, providing strong professional leadership to Team Managers and their teams, while ensuring services operate to consistently high standards of practice, safeguarding and governance.

You will work to strengthen and embed integrated and preventative pathways with health partners, Public Health, neighbourhood teams, the voluntary and community sector and other stakeholders, supporting effective access to services, promoting preventative approaches and enabling safe and timely hospital discharge. Alongside this, you will manage significant resources, including a budget of approximately £10 million, ensuring financial sustainability while maintaining a clear focus on quality and outcomes.

The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on operational leadership. You will help shape and deliver service change, transformation and continuous improvement activity that promotes inclusion, prevention, integration and improved resident outcomes.

About you

You will be an experienced leader within adult social care, bringing a strong understanding of statutory responsibilities, safeguarding and the wider legislative framework. You will have a proven track record of leading large teams in complex and fast-paced environments, developing managers and fostering high-performing, accountable services.

You will be confident working in partnership across organisational boundaries, particularly with health colleagues, and able to influence and collaborate to deliver genuinely integrated care. Your experience will include managing significant budgets and balancing demand, risk and quality to achieve sustainable service delivery.

Just as importantly, you will be committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring services reflect and respond to the communities we serve. You will be comfortable leading change, driving innovation and continuous improvement while maintaining a strong focus on quality and outcomes.

Above all, you will share our values of Honesty, Equality, Ambition, Respect and Trust, and be motivated by making a real difference to the lives of Newham residents.

Why join Newham?

Newham is one of London’s most dynamic and diverse boroughs, with big ambitions for its residents and services. You’ll be part of a forward-thinking organisation that encourages innovation, supports professional development and values strong, visible leadership.

This is a role where you can have genuine impact—shaping services, influencing systems and improving outcomes for people across the borough.

One thought is whether to add something about prevention - such as knowledge / experience in preventative interventions that can improve health and reduce reliance on care services, and / or something about working in partnership with public health and VCS? 

Partly thinking about our plans re the front door. 

For further details or an informal discussion, please contact George Kouridis, Interim Assistant Director Older People and Disability Service on 0203 373 4826 or George.Kouridis@newham.gov.uk.

Please find the JD here

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.