JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Project Manager
Location: Hertford, with some travel (own car essential)
NB. Rented accommodation is available in Hertford if needed
Salary: £30,000per annum
Duration: 12 months
Contract: Fixed Term
Charity: Transitions Residential Therapeutic Communities
Hours: 40 hours per week, but we are willing to discuss flexible working arrangements, including a job share.Hours worked will generally between the hours of 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday, but with occasional evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.
Accountability:The role is accountable to the Chief Executive (line manager).
Mission:
Transitions Residential Therapeutic Communities is about journeying with young people to support them, in adolescence, making the transition to a life free from addictive behaviours through spiritual transformation, personal development and growth, discovering their purpose and experiencing fun and freedom.
Background to role:
Currently there are no residential services specifically for under-18s with substance misuse problems in England. Transitions RTC are establishing an innovative Residential Therapeutic Community (RTC) model to help young people aged 16-25 with drug/alcohol problems and addictive behaviour, who need intensive support to gain recovery. Our first RTC is a 1 year pilot project for lower risk young people who will attend a centre for their programme and be accommodated on an individual basis with host families. It will be single sex initially, after which point it is hoped to establish further RTC’s in other locations.
We are seeking someone with a vision to play a key full time role in the organisationas the Project Manager for the duration of the pilot project.
The person will work closely with the Chief Executive to ensure the pilot is ready to receive young people in June. In the lead up to receiving the first residents, their primary area of responsibility is concerned with implementing the policies and procedures to satisfy Care Quality Commission regulations, legal requirements and good practise guidance in accordance with setting up and operating Transitions RTC’s pilot project, which is situated in family homes. They will also be responsible for ensuring the implementation of evaluation procedures to demonstrate the outcomes of the pilot.
On opening, the Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running and operationof the project. Their role will involveaspects of programme delivery including one-to-one key-working and group work. They will also be ‘on call’ to deal with emergencies outside of regular working hours, shared with the Chief Executive.
It is a Genuine Occupational Requirement within the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 that the Project Manager is a practising Christian, because of the outworking of the Christian ethos of the charity - their role will involve taking part in team prayer meetings and other spiritual activities of a Christian nature on a regular basis.
Transitions aims and corresponding objectives:
Residential
Offering a house/accommodation and a home – each individual will be accommodated with a host family.
Therapeutic
Developing and delivering an emotional/psychological/physical/spiritual programme incorporating some of the leading innovative psychological approaches to treatment, some of which will be delivered on site and some by external providers. This is to enable holistic transformation and growth of the individual.
Community-focussed
Building a sense of community at Transitions RTC across the team (host families, professional workers and volunteers), and residents. Promotingreintegration in society through opportunities to participate in and reconnect with the church and wider community including partner providers, and where possible and appropriate involving eachresident’s family.
Encouraging residents to take their place in the wider world.
Appropriate for 16-21 year olds but including up to age 25
Ensuring Transitions RTC is relevant and delivered in a manner appropriate for young people in transition to adulthood. Taking into considerationall relevant professional, legal and social requirements.
Serving young people from the home-counties and London.
Establishing referral networks with churches, organisations and services including those located and working across Hertfordshire, West Essex and London, as well as relevant national organisations working across this geographical area.
A progressive, responsive and abstinence-based programme
Offering the equivalent of adult primary and secondary stage rehabilitation. Transitions will not be offering a detox as part of the pilot – if detox is necessary then it will need to be completed first.
Seeking to provide appropriate ‘move-on’ support,which includes exploring the potential for reintegration with the family unit as well as ongoing links with Transitions.
Learning to enjoy life without depending on substances and certain behaviours, which is achieved primarily through abstinence.
Accommodating young people of both genders
Providing a programme where residents of both genders will participate in community life. Our pilot project will be for residents of the same sex.
A spiritual Christian response
Developing our spiritual intelligence, facilitating an ongoing encounter with God and experience of his presence is core to the work of Transitions. Ensuring this approach runs throughout Transitions RTC, including the lives of staff, volunteers and residents.
Main duties andresponsibilities:(see areas of responsibility over the page for more detail)
- Management and governance
- Spiritual development
- Programme development and capacity for delivery
- Networking and partnerships
- Promotion and communication
- Finance and fundraising
- Regulation, legal requirements and good practice
- Team development and training
- Assessment, evaluation and monitoring
Required skills:
Essential
- Self-disciplined and committed person who takes the initiative.
- Excellent organisation, coordination and project management skills.
- Ability / creativity to synthesize meeting regulatory requirements with other competing needs.
- Prioritise and meet deadlines.
- Attention to detail.
- Ability to problem solve.
- Excellent negotiating and communication skills.
- Understanding of addiction and young people’s needs.
- IT skills.
- Car driver, with own car and full driving license.
Desirable
- Track record of working with 16-25 year olds with drug/alcohol problems and addictive behaviour.
Qualifications:
Essential
-NVQ Level 4 or equivalent (eg.HNC or Certificate of higher education), or above.
Desirable
-Relevant professional qualification in psychotherapy/counselling, social work, mental health eg. psychiatric nursing or similar.
Previous experience:
Essential
-Project management.
-Work with 16-25 year olds with drug/alcohol problems and associated addictive behaviour – or work with young people or young adults, and also work with people with drug/alcohol problems andassociated addictive behaviour.
Desirable
-Management of a residential project.
-Work in the charity sector.
-Work within the field of mental health.
NB. A candidate with personal experience/a history of substance or behavioural addictions (or abuse/problematic use) will need to have been in stable recovery for a minimum of 2 years, not including any time in treatment. Those without personal experience/a history of these issues will demonstrate a moderate approach to drinking alcohol (or abstain) and be abstinent from any illegal/legal recreational drugs, and will be required to model a healthy lifestyle.
Areas of responsibility:
Management and governance
-Effectively and accurately communicate project information in a timely manner to the Chief Executive (line manager).
-Effectively and accurately communicate project information in a timely manner to the trustees as necessary.
-Liaise with the Chief Executive and trustees as necessary and appropriate regarding key decisions.
-Line Manage all staff (except Therapeutic Director), including undertaking reviews and performance appraisal as necessary.
-Supervise part-time project worker and volunteers.
-Lead weekly team meetings as necessary.
-Attend trustees meetings as and when required.
Spiritual development
-Maintain own personal Christian spiritual life.
-Participate in prayer meetings as required.
-Lead regular spiritual Christian reflections/devotionals.
Programme development and capacity for delivery
-In conjunction with the Chief Executive and trustees, participate in the recruitment process for any extra staff necessary to run Transitions RTC.
-Implement weekly/monthly programme, ensuring adequate staffing to cover holidays or sickness.
-Liaise regularly with host families regarding their guest, and work to quickly and satisfactorily resolve any issues arising between parties.
-Develop, coordinate and deliver a significant proportion of the programme including a life skills programme, daily spiritual devotionals, one-to-one key-working and coaching (vocational and employment skills).
-Undertake comprehensive assessments for residents as required.
-Maintain partnerships with external providers delivering specific elements and source new providers where necessary.
-Maintain partnerships with voluntary work placement providers and source new ones where necessary.
-Develop and maintain partnerships with move on accommodation providers.
-Coordinate residents’ graduation and first annual celebration event.
-Regularly transport residents from their homes to programme venues/activities and back.
-If needed drive and accompany residents to appointments.
Networking and partnerships
-Attend the ISAAC regional meeting for the South East - International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition also known as CDAS (Christian Drug and Alcohol Services).
-Attend any other necessary meetings as agreed with line manager.
Promotion and communication
-Positively promote the work of Transitions in all interactions with outside parties.
-Positively promote the unique contribution of Transitions RTC in addressing the transitional needs of adolescents with drug/alcohol and addictive behaviour.
-Contribute articles to the termly newsletter and any electronic media.
Finance and fundraising
-Assist the Chief Executive with tendering or spot purchasing for service provision, by helping with applications and/or ensuring Transitions meets the requirements necessary to submit a viable application.
-Apply for tendering services or spot purchasing as agreed with the Chief Executive.
-Ensure relevant residents benefits are claimed and paid to hosts in a timely manner for rent and board.
-Ensure an appropriate legally acceptable procedure is in place for sufficiently managing resident’s money.
-Manage budget for the pilot including staff expenses, resident’s allowances, leisure activities, educational opportunities, training etc.
-Ensure payroll is administered appropriately eg. for staff overtime.
-Submit expense claims on a monthly basis, agreed in advance with line manager.
-Participate in fundraising events and initiatives as required.
Regulation, legal requirements and good practice
-Ensure all relevant requirements for CQC regulation are satisfied.
-Ensure policies, proceduresand guidelines are appropriate to the unique nature of this project ie. residential provision for young people with drug/alcohol problems and addiction, delivered with host families in a family house environment.
-Ensure ongoing compliance and implementation of policies and procedures, including but not limited to; fire risk assessment, accident and incident reporting, first aid equipment and training, storage of hazardous substances etc.
-Manage risk for clients, especially on initial intake.
Team development and training
-Attend any relevant training agreed with your line manager.
-Attend monthly house meals on Sunday lunch times from 1-3pm, if requested.
-Arrange and undertake personal CPD as agreed with line manager.
-Recruit new staff where necessary with support from the Chief Executive and Trustees.
-Ensure staff are undertaking ongoing CPD and appropriately trained for their role.
-Arrange volunteers training days.
Assessment, evaluation and monitoring
-Implement Transitions chosen method for evaluating and assessing impact, in conjunction with the Chief Executive, throughout the programme.
-Ensure record keeping is sufficient for evaluation purposes.
-Coordinate ongoing monitoring of graduates/former residents.