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26 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS7 1AB
Tel: 0113 244 0606 Option 1 Fax: 0113 244 0178 Email:
Project Manager
Person Specification and
Application Details
- The Situation
Advonet is currently a consortium of three independent advocacy providers who provide free, independent and confidential advocacy services to people in Leeds. Its members are:
- Advocacy Support
- Leeds Advocacy
- Advocacy for Mental Health and Dementia
Advonet also subcontracts to Age UK Leeds, Leeds Black Elders Association, Cloverleaf and Articulate Advocacy (a company run by Leeds Advocacy). Leeds Independent Health Complaints Advocacy is run by Advonet. Each organisation has a different working model.
The Boards of the three member organisations within Advonet have now decided that they wish to merge and are seeking a skilled person/team to assist them in managing this project. The Board of Advonet comprises Board members from the three member organisations.
To this point the consortium members have worked well together and there is active positive support for the merger from all three organisations. This includes support at Board level and across senior and middle managers.
Staff within each of the organisations are aware of the merger and are also supportive of it.
We have an established relationship with a firm of solicitors who are providing the legal and financial due diligence support.
- Timescales and logistics
Deadline
The merger deadline is March 2015.
Budget
We have committed a maximum budget of up to £20kfor this project
Relationships
The project manager will work with the Advonet working group which comprises the 3 Chief Executives from the member organisations along with a Board member from each organisation and the Coordinator within Advonet itself.
They will also be expected to work constructively with the middle managers from each organisation.
The successful applicant will also need to be able to liaise with service users who play an active role within the management and governance of some of the organisations.
The successful applicant will need to work closely with our solicitors who have access to a range of tools to support the process including TUPE arrangements.
The organisations
Leeds Advocacy
Employs approximately 40 staff and 80 volunteers.
The board is 6 strong including 1 service user, and has a management committee of 15 which includes 10 service users.
Advocacy for Mental Health and Dementia (A4MHD)
Employs 14 staff and 6 volunteers.
The board is 6 strongwith 50% of the board members identifying as having lived the experience of mental distress.
Advocacy Support
Employs 5 staff and 16 volunteers currently.
The board is 4 strong
Advonet
Employs 10 staff. The board is 6 strong
- The Task
We are looking for an “honest broker” who has a successful track record in managing merger projects within the third sector.
We require the project manager to liaise with the working group by providing regular options reports which enable the boards of the 3 member organisations to make all necessary decisions.
The outcomes
We anticipate that the outcomes achieved by the successful applicant will be:
- A successful merger achieved by March 2015 provided that this meets all legal, fiduciary and other due diligence requirements
- Clear governance arrangements in place
- Appropriate and meaningful recommendations regarding Service User involvement
- Suitable recommendations made regarding an appropriate staffing structure going forward including pay scales, future recruitment etc.
- Clear and workable guidance to be given regarding potential improvements to operational activities
- A clear workable plan for ensuring that the merger is established and embedded 3 months after the actual merger date.
- The Role Requirements
Capability / Overview / Essential or Desirable?
Track Record / Must have a proven track record in getting organisations to successful merged status within agreed timeframes / Essential
Honest Broker / Able to maintain an independent and objective perspective whilst liaising closely with each of the member organisations and Advonet itself / Essential
Communication / Must have good communication skills including:
- Verbal – able to use appropriate questioning and listening skills
- Verbal – able to present information verbally both formally and informally
- Written – able to present findings and recommendations in a professional, clear and objective way
- Able to communicate professionally and effectively with a range of individuals and groups including service users
Essential
Essential
Essential
Relationship Management / Ability to develop rapport quickly and show sensitivity when working with individuals and groups
Ability to manage the agendas and needs of different groups including where there are conflicting priorities
Ability to provide challenge in an appropriate and effective way
Ability to work with external organisations including our solicitors and funders where relevant / Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Data Management / Ability to collect, assimilate, interrogate and interpret data from a range of sources / Essential
Knowledge/
Experience / Project management knowledge, skills and experience
Merger knowledge, skills and experience including legal and financial, TUPE etc.
Good experience of the charity and voluntary sector
Understanding of advocacy values and practice and a commitment to integrating them into the new merged organisation / Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
- Additional Requirements
Additional requirements / Essential or Desirable?
References / We will require contact details for 2 organisations for whom you have carried out similar projects
We will only contact them if you are invited to present / Essential
Insurance / We will require evidence that you have Professional Indemnity insurance to a value of at least £1million
We require Public Liability Insurance to a value of at least £5 million / Negotiable
Negotiable
- The process
Application
Selected organisations/individuals invited to submit a written proposal (see section 7 below)
Fact finding
Potential applicants will have the opportunity to contact by telephone Philip Bramson (0113 236 5900), Derek Sankar (0113 380 5629) or Paul Seccombe (0113 244 0606 option 3) for further information or clarification to enable them to submit a proposal.
Submission closing date
All proposals must be received by 10am Monday, 21stJuly 2014
Review
All applications will be reviewed and a shortlist created by Tuesday, 22 July. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a presentation event
Presentation
Shortlisted applicants will be required to discuss their proposal with the 7 members of the working group on Thursday, 31 July.
Selection
All shortlisted applicants will be informed of the result of their application by Friday, 1 August with a view to starting work the following week.
- What we require
As part of the selection process we require a written proposal by 10am Monday 21 July 2014. This document should indicate the approach you would recommend including:
- Timeline and key milestones with outcomes and outputs
- An overview of the type of activities which are likely to occur within the process
- How the outcomes specified within 3 above will be achieved
- Your capability and capacity to deliver the project
- How you will maintain the momentum of the project and ensure that it remains on target including any necessary contingency planning
- How you will ensure that the project is fully embedded 3 months after your involvement ends
- Brief examples of your experience in carrying out similar projects
- A summary of how you meet the role requirements
- Any additional outcomes or areas which you believe need to be part of the project
- Any particular additional value which you believe we will gain from working with you/your organisation on this
- Your overall charge for delivering your proposal to include all costs such as travel and administration etc
- Any payment arrangements/schedules
Please submit your application in writing via email to:
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