Deputy Manager – Day Centre

We are looking for people who bring a range of skills to the organisation to help us meet our mission.

​HARP is South Essex’s leading homelessness charity and every year we work with around 1,000 local people to help them overcome or avoid homelessness.​

It is an exciting time to be joining HARP. The organisation has undergone significant change and growth over the past twelve months and we have ambitious plans for the future which will continue to transform lives.

Ref: DPDC001

Applicants for this role must be available for interview 22st May 2026

We’re looking for a Deputy Manager to lead the day-to-day running of our Day Centre, creating a safe, welcoming space where people experiencing homelessness can access support, connection, and practical help. This is a key operational leadership role, working closely with the Service Manager and Outreach team to ensure people receive consistent, joined-up support. You’ll oversee the Day Centre environment, lead staff through complex situations, and make sure services are delivered safely, effectively, and with dignity.

What you’ll be doing

· Leading the daily operation of the Day Centre, ensuring it is safe, inclusive, and well run

· Supporting visitors to access services, advice, and onward pathways

· Managing staff, volunteers, and on-shift decision-making

· Leading responses to incidents, safeguarding concerns, and complex situations

· Overseeing health and safety, building management, and cleanliness

· Managing donations, stock, and resources within the service

· Monitoring service activity, quality, and performance

· Working with partners and the local community to strengthen the Day Centre offer

· Deputising for the Service Manager and supporting outreach services when needed

About you

You’ll have experience working in homelessness or similar services and be confident managing a busy, people-facing environment. You’ll be calm under pressure, able to lead through challenging situations, and committed to creating a space where people feel safe and respected.

You’ll also bring:

· Experience of working with people facing homelessness or rough sleeping, particularly where people have multiple or complex needs

· Experience of leading or supervising a team within a Day Centre, drop-in, or similar building-based service

· Experience of managing safeguarding concerns, incidents, and complex situations

· Experience of overseeing health and safety or operational compliance within a service environment

· Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to manage a busy and high-footfall setting

Where is the role?

If successful, you’ll be part of HARP’s Day Centre services, working in a fast-paced, frontline environment supporting people experiencing homelessness. The Day Centre supports people who are sleeping rough, providing a safe, welcoming space and access to wider services and accommodation.

At HARP, we are committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that equity is essential to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic background, or other characteristics, have access to equal opportunities for employment, advancement, and success.

We are dedicated to ensuring that our hiring, promotion, and compensation practices are fair, transparent, and free from bias. We actively seek to identify and eliminate barriers to employment and professional growth for underrepresented groups, and we embrace diverse perspectives as a source of strength, innovation, and growth.
Our commitment to equity means that we provide ongoing training and support to ensure that all employees can thrive in their roles and contribute meaningfully to our mission. We continually assess our policies, programs, and culture to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our staff and fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and accountability.

By embedding equity in our workplace, we aim to create a culture where differences are not just respected but celebrated, and where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We believe that when everyone has an equal chance to succeed, we all benefit.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please fill out the application form below. You’ll need to confirm your right to work, fill out your contact details, attach your CV and Covering letter and fill our a short equality, diversity and inclusion questionnaire. You can save and resume your application at any time.