Most people would agree cookies make life better. For us, they help us make our site and marketing better. But if you don't like cookies, that's cool too. Find out more in our
Cookie Policy.
Explore our vision: Incredible, effortless recruitment
£35k-£50k
Typical base salary
12 wks
Replacement guarantee
Relevant setting experience
Match their background to your service and client group.
Care values and leadership
They set the tone. Screen for values and people leadership.
Compliance grip
Confirm their understanding of the relevant regulations and quality standards.
How to run the hire
1. Define the service
Be clear on the client group, model and whether it's a registered role.
2. Check the essentials
Confirm relevant experience, qualifications and compliance knowledge.
3. Use a values interview
Assess care values, leadership and judgement.
4. Include a scenario
A safeguarding or staffing scenario reveals their approach.
5. Reference thoroughly
Confirm quality, conduct and safeguarding record.
Fees typically run 15-20% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.
Nothing is due until your hire starts, and candidates are compliance-checked.
Usually 5-9 weeks.
The client group and whether it's a CQC-registered role are the main variables.
A Service Manager leads a care service - overseeing care quality, staff, compliance and the wellbeing of the people supported.
The exact scope varies by provider and client group, so it's worth defining precisely.
Providers use it for different services and client groups - supported living, day services, complex care and more.
We scope the real remit and client group so the shortlist fits.
Try: Tell me about a service you improved.
How do you handle a safeguarding concern?
How do you support and develop your team? and How do you keep the service compliant?
Yes, across supported living, complex care, day services and specialist provision.
We match the client group and model to the candidate's experience.
Tell us about your role and a specialist social care recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.
{"@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [{"@type": "Article", "headline": "How to Hire a Service Manager in the UK (2026)", "description": "How to hire a Service Manager in social care. Salary, time to hire and what to look for.", "datePublished": "2026-07-13", "dateModified": "2026-07-13", "author": {"@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Hughes", "jobTitle": "Head of Social Care Recruitment", "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhughes2/", "worksFor": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Coburg Banks"}}, "publisher": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Coburg Banks", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645cf1f1ad8cd97335eefcd6/67e52adb28b5bfce304c13dd_CB%20Sales%20Logo.svg"}}, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.coburgbanks.co.uk/hiring/service-manager"}, {"@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question", "name": "How much does it cost to hire a Service Manager?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Fees typically run 15-20% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront. Nothing is due until your hire starts, and candidates are compliance-checked."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "How long does it take to hire a Service Manager?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually 5-9 weeks. The client group and whether it's a CQC-registered role are the main variables."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What does a Service Manager do?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "A Service Manager leads a care service - overseeing care quality, staff, compliance and the wellbeing of the people supported. The exact scope varies by provider and client group, so it's worth defining precisely."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why does the Service Manager title vary so much?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Providers use it for different services and client groups - supported living, day services, complex care and more. We scope the real remit and client group so the shortlist fits."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What should I ask a Service Manager at interview?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Try: Tell me about a service you improved. How do you handle a safeguarding concern? How do you support and develop your team? and How do you keep the service compliant?"}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Do you recruit Service Managers across care settings?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, across supported living, complex care, day services and specialist provision. We match the client group and model to the candidate's experience."}}]}, {"@type": "ItemList", "name": "What to look for in a Service Manager", "itemListElement": [{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Relevant setting experience"}, {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Care values and leadership"}, {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Compliance grip"}]}, {"@type": "ProfessionalService", "name": "Coburg Banks Health & Social Care Recruitment", "url": "https://www.coburgbanks.co.uk/health-social-care-recruitment-agencies", "telephone": "+441213622300", "foundingDate": "2002", "areaServed": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United Kingdom"}, "serviceType": "Health & Social Care Recruitment", "sameAs": ["https://www.linkedin.com/company/coburgbanks/", "https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/coburgbanks.co.uk", "https://www.facebook.com/CoburgBanksJobs/"]}]}
