Centre Manager – Primrose Lodge

Location: Primrose Lodge, Guildford, Surrey
Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 per annum DOE
Hours: 40 hours per week
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

About Primrose Lodge

Primrose Lodge has been supporting individuals battling alcohol and drug dependence since 2017. For over eight years, our addiction treatment clinic in Surrey has offered a safe, structured and compassionate setting where clients can focus entirely on recovery, whether they are taking their first steps through detox or building resilience against relapse.

At Primrose Lodge, clients are supported by a qualified and friendly team who understand how difficult it can feel to face substance misuse and addiction. We offer a blend of evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including the 12-Step programme, one-to-one sessions, CBT, DBT, group work, workshops and relapse prevention support.

Every treatment plan begins with medical support for safe, supervised detox, followed by a personalised programme of therapy, group sessions, workshops and wellbeing activities. We recognise that no two recovery journeys are the same, which is why our approach is person-centred, compassionate and tailored to individual need.

Primrose Lodge is more than a treatment centre; it is a caring community that believes in every client's ability to heal and move towards a healthier, substance-free life.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Centre Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of Primrose Lodge.

As Centre Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the effective, safe and compliant running of the centre, providing strong leadership to the team and maintaining high standards of care, quality, compliance and operational performance.

This is a key leadership role within the centre and wider UKAT network. You will be expected to create a positive, accountable and supportive culture for both staff and clients, ensuring that Primrose Lodge continues to deliver high-quality, person-centred addiction treatment in a safe and therapeutic environment.

Key Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing the day-to-day operations of Primrose Lodge.
• Ensuring the centre operates safely, effectively and in line with regulatory, compliance and quality standards.
• Providing strong leadership, guidance and support to the multidisciplinary team.
• Promoting a positive, professional and accountable working culture.
• Ensuring clients receive high-quality, compassionate and person-centred care.
• Supporting staff induction, development, supervision, performance and retention.
• Overseeing centre compliance, audits, risk management and governance processes.
• Ensuring policies, procedures and safeguarding standards are understood and followed.
• Monitoring occupancy, staffing levels, service quality and operational performance.
• Working closely with senior leadership and central support teams.
• Supporting continuous improvement across the centre.
• Ensuring the centre environment remains safe, welcoming and therapeutic for clients, staff and visitors.
• Managing incidents, complaints and concerns appropriately and professionally.
Maintaining effective communication across departments and with external stakeholders where required.

About You

We are looking for someone who can lead with confidence, compassion and accountability. You will be able to balance operational demands with a strong focus on quality, compliance, client care and team development.

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate others, manage competing priorities and respond flexibly to the needs of a busy residential treatment setting.

The successful candidate will:

• Have the ability to embrace new ways of working.
• Manage their own time effectively and meet deadlines.
• Work well as part of a team and share ideas, knowledge and experience.
• Be able to work on their own initiative.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Be confident managing challenging behaviour.
• Be flexible and responsive to the demands of the role.
Be committed to continuous professional development.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• A Health and Social Care Management qualification at QCF Level 5 or equivalent.
• Experience overseeing the operations of a centre, service or similar regulated environment.
• Experience within substance misuse, mental health, residential care, therapeutic services or a similar setting.
• Experience developing and delivering therapeutic interventions, including group work and one-to-one interventions within a substance misuse or related environment.
• Strong people management experience, including performance management, supervision and staff development.
• The ability to manage delegated financial budgets.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Outlook and other relevant systems.
• A clear understanding of compliance, safeguarding, quality assurance and regulatory requirements.
The ability to lead a diverse team of employees, bank workers and volunteers.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience within addiction treatment, detox, rehabilitation or recovery services.
• Knowledge of CQC requirements and regulated healthcare or care environments.
• Experience managing audits, inspections and compliance frameworks.
• Relevant management, health and social care, nursing, therapy or leadership qualification.
Experience working within a private healthcare, residential treatment or therapeutic setting.

What We Offer

• Salary of £45,000 – £50,000 per annum DOE.
• Full-time, permanent position.
• Opportunity to lead a well-established addiction treatment centre.
• Support from UKAT's wider senior leadership and central teams.
• A rewarding role where you can make a meaningful difference to clients, staff and service outcomes.
• A supportive and values-led working environment.
Ongoing development and progression opportunities.

Why Join UKAT?

At UKAT, our work changes lives. We are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate treatment to individuals and families affected by addiction and related conditions.

As Centre Manager, you will play a vital role in shaping the culture, quality and success of Primrose Lodge. You will be supported by a wider network of experienced professionals and senior leaders, while having the autonomy to lead your centre and make a meaningful impact every day.

Primrose Lodge is part of UKAT's trusted network of addiction treatment centres. Across our services, we are committed to providing safe, compassionate and effective treatment for individuals affected by addiction and associated mental health needs.

Our work is guided by our values of Understanding, Kindness, Accountability and Teamwork, and we are passionate about helping people take meaningful steps towards long-term recovery.

Apply Now

If you are an experienced health and social care leader who is passionate about recovery, quality care and service excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV, outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the role of Centre Manager at Primrose Lodge.