Referral, Assessment and Operational Development Manager

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Referral, Assessment and Operational Development Manager located at our Head Office in Islington.

£40,000.00 per annum, workin g 35 hours per week .

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

The Referral, Assessment and Operational Development Manager is a senior operational role within the Mental Health and Complex Needs Directorate, responsible for leading the end-to-end coordination of referrals, assessments, placements, tenancies, and transitions across the portfolio.

What you'll do:

• Receive, monitor, and respond promptly to referrals from commissioners, brokerage

teams, and direct contacts.

• Coordinate and quality-assure person-centred assessments

• Complete and submit needs assessments, including costings and support package

requirements.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with commissioners, brokerage teams, care managers, and housing partners.

• Support compliance with Ofsted regulations across assessment and placement reviews.
• Develop and embed best-practice tools and processes aligned with regulatory requirementS

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

• Highly customer-focused, championing customer rights, choice, dignity,

independence, and positive outcomes.

• Empathetic and values-led, able to balance compassion with professional boundaries.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Significant operational experience within Young People's and/or Mental Health services, including supported living, residential, or health and social care environments.

Desirable:

• Strong understanding of how local authorities, councils, and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) commission, procure, and agree services, including pathways and decision-making processes.

About us:

We reserve the right to close this ad vert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the ad vertised closed date.