Deputy Manager – Direct Access

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.

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Applicants for this role must be available for interview 20th May 2026

We’re looking for a Deputy Manager to help lead our Direct Access Accommodation Services, supporting people experiencing homelessness to move towards recovery, stability, and independence.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll work closely with the Service Manager to run a safe, supportive and high-quality service. You’ll support and guide frontline staff, oversee day-to-day operations, and make sure residents receive personalised, trauma-informed support. You’ll also step in to lead the service when the Manager is away, taking responsibility for staff, service delivery, and relationships with partners.

What you’ll be doing

· Leading and supporting a team to deliver compassionate, strengths-based support

· Overseeing case management, risk assessment, and support planning

· Managing complex situations and ensuring residents are safe and well supported

· Supporting staff development through supervision, coaching and reflective practice

· Working with partners to achieve the best outcomes for residents

· Monitoring service performance and helping drive improvements

· Ensuring properties are safe, well managed, and ready for new residents

About you

You’ll bring experience from supported housing or homelessness services and feel confident leading a team in a busy environment. You’ll be calm under pressure, able to make sound decisions, and committed to treating people with dignity and respect.

You’ll also have:

· Experience supporting people with multiple and complex needs

· Strong leadership and communication skills

· A good understanding of trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches

· The ability to manage risk, safeguarding, and challenging situations

· Confidence working with partners and representing the service

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.