Dementia Advocacy Service (DAS) Manager

Registered Charity No: 1125679

Company Registration No: 6599429

Dementia Advocacy Service (DAS) Manager

Job Description

Based at:Taunton Salisbury or Bath – (with some flexibility ofhome working and a requirement to travel throughout Wilts, BaNES and Somerset)

Responsible to:Director of Operations

Responsible for:DAS Team

Hours:Part time – 22.5 hours per week

Salary:Starting at £25,203 pro rata

Annual Leave:Starting at 25 days per year plus Bank Holidays

Benefits:Pension contribution 1% after 3 months and 6% after 6 months and on satisfactory completion of probationary period

Main Purpose

The DAS Manager will take lead responsibility for: the development, delivery and promotion of the Dementia Advocacy Services provided by Swan.

The DAS Manager will provide line management to the DAS Lead advocate, DAS Volunteer coordinator and DAS administrator, and support the team to provide mentoring and support to volunteer advocates working within the specialist DAS team. Theywill also provide support to other Swan staff and volunteers in relation to their work with clients with memory loss or dementia.

The DAS Manager will support the Director of Operations and work with the other managers to develop a quality, equitable and accessible independent advocacy service throughout the allocated area.

The post is subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

The post holder will be required to undertake the 301 Introduction to advocacy unit in Independent Advocacy (City & Guilds) and undertake any other training relevant to the role, including all organisational statutory training.

1. Management

1. Provideline managementsupport and supervision to individual staff within the DAS team.
2. Co-ordinate the client specific services, raising the profile of individual needs and identifying gaps in services.
3. Support the Director of Operations in the recruitment, induction and training of DAS staff.
4. Organise and facilitate DAS team meetings.
5. Provide written reports and service delivery information to the Big Lottery Fund, Director of Operations,CEOand Board of Trustees as required
6. Work within, and manage, a dedicated budget.
7. With other managers, deputise for the Director of Operations in his/her absence.

1. Development

1. Develop a project plan which clearly identifies key milestones and enables performance to be monitored and measured.
2. Support lead advocate to develop a ‘Living Well Plan’ model which is flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of clients.
3. Develop networks and relationships with key stakeholders to ensure the active promotion and effective delivery of the DAS.
4. Liaise with service users and key stakeholders to develop specific strategies to meet the identified needs and gaps in independent advocacy service provision
5. Encourage and enable clients to become involved in all aspects of the planning and development of the DAS as far as they are able to
6. Gather and share information that will provide for the effective scoping and mapping of future advocacy provision.
7. Provide the Directors and the CEO with information which can be used for the promotion of the organisation and to deliver key messages regarding the experiences of our clients.

1. Service Delivery

1. Ensure the delivery of a high quality, responsive DAS which achieves the specific objectives set out in the project plan.
2. Ensure collection of relevant information which can be used to alert health and social care services about what is, and what is not working well, thus contributing directly to the planning and development of future service provision
3. Oversee the delivery of services and projects in line with Big Lottery Fund requirements.

1. Organisational/Personal Responsibilities

1. To adhere to and work within the guidelines set out in all the company policies and procedures.
2. To contribute to the ongoing planning & development of the organisation.
3. To obtain the Independent Advocacy Qualification unit 301 and participate in ongoing training to keep up to date with services, procedures, guidelines and legislation.
4. To take individual responsibility within the organisation for all relevant health and safety matters, and general organisational needs and issues.
5. To participate in regular team meetings and supervision.
6. The above describes the normal duties envisaged from the role of the DAS manager. It is necessary however for all employees to be flexible in this respect, and all employees may, from time to time, be required by the employer to cover other reasonable duties within the day to day running of the organisation. Employees may also request to undertake other duties and responsibilities as part of their personal development within Swan.

Person Specification

• Minimum 2 years experience of staff management and or organisational management.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement.
• Experience of project management.
• Experience of budget management.

• Experience of providing Independent advocacy support
• Experience of delivering or managing independent advocacy services
• Experience of working in the voluntary sector
• Experience of providing support to or working with people experiencing memory loss or with a diagnosis of dementia

• Effective communicator, both verbal and written
• Ability to adapt communication methods to meet the needs of clients
• Organisational & Planning Skills
• Ability and enthusiasm to motivate staff
• Effective interpersonal skills including ability to negotiate
• Ability to manage time and resources cost-effectively
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels internally and externally
• Ability to cope with the demands of a varying and diverse workload
• Computer literate and experience in using Microsoft Office applications – in particular Outlook and Word
• Report writing skills
• Ability to establish and maintain external networks across varying levels

• Statistical data/trends analysis

• Educated to level 3 i.e. A level

• Certificate in Independent Advocacy
• Management qualification

• A commitment to our belief that everyone has the right to be heard, have choice and control and to be safe from violence and abuse
• Good organisational ability
• Have a flexible approach to work
• The ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Professional but friendly approach
• Self Motivated

• Knowledge of the principles of independent Advocacy
• An understanding and knowledge of statutory and voluntary organisations
• Knowledge of issues relating to memory loss or dementia

• Knowledge of the geography and communities in which we work

• Willingness to contribute to the ongoing development of the charity
• Willingness to undertake the Independent Advocacy Qualification
• Willing to travel extensively throughout service areas
• A full drivers licence and use of a car
• Willingness occasionally to work outside of normal working hours (time off in lieu is given)

Nov 16