About Visionary

Visionary is a membership organisation for local independent charities that support blind and partially sighted people across the UK. These independent local charities provide practical on the ground services for local people with sight loss. Bringing together a wealth of experience and expertise in the sector, Visionary acts as the collective voice for local organisations. We encourage and support the development and improvement of local charities and their services for blind and partially sighted people in three main ways:

To Connect:

•Bringing the network of local organisations together;

•Promoting joint working and the sharing and learning from best practices opportunities and challenges;

•Providing shared purchasing benefits for members using the collective scale of local organisations.

To Influence:

•Consulting Visionary members on issues that affect them and representing them on the national stage;

•Promoting our members diverse interests and lobbying for change.

To Develop:

•Offering direct support to Visionary members, providing advice, learning opportunities, guidance and funding to facilitate the development of new local organisations and services from existing local organisations.

‘Together we are stronger’

Visionary – Development Manager

(Development and Innovation team)

Job Title:Development Manager(Development and Innovation team)

Responsible to:Head of Member Services

Responsible for: Development Co-ordinator

Location:Home based although it is a requirement of employment that

the post-holder be prepared to work at any additional or different location

as may be necessary. The role requires regular travel to London and

national travel with the occasional overnight stay.

Salary:£36,000 - £38,000 depending on experience

Hours:Full time - 36 hours per week

Contract:Permanent

Function:Working as part of the Development & Innovation team within

Member Services. This will involve developing Visionary member

services alongside other Development Managers with specific

responsibility for leading on:

Development of the Quality Framework and service delivery guidelines with members including maintaining an overview and understanding of services provided by members across the UK;

Delivery of service development support, training and projects with members; and

Management and monitoring of the Development & Innovation fund, linking to delivery of Regional and Member Infrastructure development initiatives as appropriate.

Main Duties

  • To lead the development of the Quality Framework and guidelines for the service delivery areas below. This will involve development of working groups and engagement mechanisms with members who wish to be involved in each of the areas and development of a range of support tools which will potentially include ‘How To’ guides, helpline support, training, workshops and pilot programmes:

Advice and Support

  • Information and Guidance
  • Eye Clinic Support Services
  • Emotional Support

Living with Sight Loss

  • Technology and Communications
  • Rehabilitation
  • Mobility and Orientation
  • Peer Support and Befriending
  • Social and Leisure
  • Other Daily Living

Employment, Volunteering and Training

Children and Young People

  • Education support
  • Family support
  • To ensure that Visionary develops and maintains an overview of services provided by members and is able to develop ways of working with partners to effectively sign post blind and partially sighted people to high quality services in their local areas.
  • To ensure that strong relationships with members and other relevant partner organisations are established so that work developed is on a consistent cross-sector basis.
  • To provide support and guidance to members in the development of their front line services to and with blind and partially sighted people.
  • To work with the Head of Member Services to manage and monitor the Development & Innovation Fund; managing the application process and ensuring that recipients of support complete monitoring reports to share the impact that the support and funding has achieved.
  • To ensure that all Visionary activity and delivery is line with the ‘Seeing it My Way’ outcomes and encourage member organisations to operate in line with them. Carry out regular reviews and suggest recommendations in order to increase the number of services operating in this way.
  • To ensure that all activities are delivered in accordance with the organisation’s policies and plans in relation to Equalities, Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Green Policy and Human Resources.
  • To develop an appropriate monitoring system, including relevant KPIs, to ensure that all areas of work operate and deliver in line with the agreed project plans and budgets.
  • To present regular progress reports to the Head of Member Services and the CEO.
  • To work cooperatively in conjunction with other Visionary staff/departments to implement the organisation’s business plan including working with staff from Thomas Pocklington Trust and other partners as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for any grant funded projects within areas of responsibility and ensure that they perform in line with the funding and contractual requirements.
  • For direct line reports to be responsible for performance management i.e. undertaking induction, probation reviews, one to one meetings and appraisals, setting objectives and monitoring work performance.
  • To represent the organisation effectively with external organisations, to prepare and present reports to external bodies and to participate as needed in national and local forums for voluntary sector involvement.
  • To work as an effective member of the Visionary Team, contributing to all aspects of service development.
  • To assist the Head of Member Services in any other aspect of Visionary’s services and projects as may reasonably be required taking account of the nature and scope of the duties of this position. The staff team will be structured to enable team members to work across different working groups depending on experience and skillset even if their primary assignment is not to that area.

Special Requirements

The post will involve lone working and some working out of normal office hours. A willingness to work in an environment with Guide Dogs is essential. Regular travel to London (Euston) is required for team meetings and national travel to visit member organisations and attend regional events is also required.

General

It is a requirement of all staff that they:

  • Work to support of the values of the charity. These promote respect of service users recognising their skills and entitlement to choice, dignity and independence.
  • Work positively in support of the principles outlined in the organisation’s Equality and Diversity Policy.
  • Assist in maintaining a safe working environment by attending training in basic and specialist health and safety as necessary, both on appointment and as changes in duties and the law require and to follow the requirements of the Visionary Health and Safety at Work policy and any local codes of safe working practices.
  • Comply with the requirement of the charity’s human resource policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Education

Desirable:

  • Degree or equivalent level qualification
  • Relevant management qualification
  • Prince 2 Project Management Qualification

Skills

Essential:

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage own workload, work independently and achieve results without close supervision in relation to a varied portfolio
  • An ability to influence diverse groups of people
  • An ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of agencies

Experience

Essential:

  • Experience of developing, implementing and co-ordinating new

projects and services in the voluntary/public sector

  • Experience of monitoring, reporting and deadline management
  • Experience of managing staff and volunteers
  • Experience of working as a member of a management team

Desirable:

  • Experience of developing and/or implementing Quality Frameworks and guidelines
  • Experience of setting and managing budgets
  • Experience of working in the sight loss sector

Attributes

Essential:

  • Must be able to develop and sustain effective professional relationships with internal and external contacts
  • Must possess high standard of integrity
  • A commitment to work in accordance with the principles of equality and diversity
  • A flexible approach and willingness to learn and develop

How to Apply

Complete an ‘Application and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form’ and email it to .

(Please ensure you include the job title in the email subject heading)

Download application form here

Closing Date: 28 January 2018 5pm

Interview Date:8 February 2018

We actively seek applications from all backgrounds including disabled/visually impaired individuals and people who have lived experience of sight loss. We also guarantee all disabled applicants that reach the minimum appointment criteria an interview. We are happy to accept applications from all suitably qualified persons who have the appropriate skills and talent regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.