THE KINGWOOD TRUST
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post: Director of Services
Location Head Office
Accountable to: Chief Executive
Line management responsibilities: Area Managers
Senior administrative staff
Job Purpose:
To provide leadership, operational direction and management for all services provided to the people we support so that:
· People we support are empowered to the lives they aspire to in their own homes.
· Support is provided within national regulatory standards and support staff work to the code of conduct for social care workers.
· Staff are well motivated and supported by the organisation
· Services we provide are of a consistently high quality and continue to develop in line with best practice
· Long term successful relationships with the people we support, families, commissioners and partners are developed and maintained
To develop support staff, systems, policies and practice that ensure the potential and aspirations of people supported and staff are understood, acted upon and delivered and that we meet or exceed standards set by external regulation and commissioning agencies.
To contribute to the delivery of financial and growth targets by delivering those set for current services within the Business Plan.
To contribute to planning, leading and project managing change and new service developments such that the organisation consistently realises its mission and delivers growth and best practice.
Principal Accountabilities
Regarding Management / Organisation
1. To set and monitor performance standards for services, identify and report on areas of under and exceptional performance and work with Area Managers to agree and implement plans for improving performance and service quality.
2. To lead on the implementation of policy, procedure and practice alongside the people we support and in consultation with staff, team leaders to ensure services are person centred and are delivered effectively and consistently.
3. To take the lead role in developing new services.
4. To take overall responsibility for health and safety within the services, ensuring employees are aware of their responsibilities and proactively promoting a safe working environment.
5. To ensure that Area Managers are sufficiently skilled to undertake effective risk assessment and risk management in the service\s.
6. To be responsible for workforce planning and development, with the HR and training leads, in order to maximise continuity and retention, minimise vacancy rates and ensure a continuing supply of competent permanent and temporary staff.
7. To lead on recruitment and retention for the service, alongside the Area Managers and HR team ensuring involvement of the people we support in the process.
8. To ensure effective and regular communication between the management team and wider staff group.
9. To work with the Chief Executive and Fundraising Manger to identify areas of work which can be effectively fundraised against and to support the preparation and submission of bids for voluntary funds.
Regarding each person supported:
1. To take the lead role in managing referrals to the organisation and developing, organising and deploying resources to meet the needs of the people referred.
2. To lead and supervise the Area Management team so that they can provide support that focuses on individuals so that they reach their full potential.
3. To ensure that services are firmly focused on the needs and aspirations of the individual; that knowledge and understanding of autism or other relevant conditions is robust and used proactively to develop appropriate support strategies that improve and develop life experiences
4. To work directly with the Area Managers and people with complex needs, where necessary, to act as a positive role model and lead the support team in delivering approaches to working with people with varying degrees of autistic spectrum disorder, learning disability and or mental health needs.
5. To ensure each person receives support that maximises their independence and enables them to live in a positive, safe, friendly and supportive environment.
6. To build up and maintain positive professional links with others involved in an individual’s life including family, friends, other professionals, housing providers, other organisations and by working collaboratively to ensure a co-ordinated person centred approach is taken to meeting each person’s needs and aspirations.
7. To ensure people are empowered sufficiently to be involved in the running of their homes.
8. To provide support and advice to Area Managers and Team Leaders in producing person centred plans backed up by a process of continuous action planning that demonstrate individuals needs and aspirations are being addressed and met.
9. To ensure detailed assessments are in place for people new to the services and that those already in place are regularly and thoroughly reviewed in consultation with the person, their circle of support and the staff team.
10. To ensure guidelines for individualised support are developed and maintained for each person so that everyone is well supported when anxious or worried and their safety and the safety of others is maximised.
11. To ensure people’s primary health care needs are met.
12. To ensure individuals aspirations regarding community presence are understood and action plans are in place to achieve them.
13. To build up positive relationships with each person supported so that they are included in delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the support they receive.
14. To support team members to plan, prepare, implement and review guidelines for individualised support so that everyone is well supported when anxious or worried and their safety and the safety of others is maximised.
15. To ensure a wide range of approaches and best practice are developed and used within the service as a means to support and enable people to live a healthy life in the way they choose (e.g. Makaton, behavioural techniques, TEACCH, PECS, intensive interaction, sensory integration, multi media profiling, medication, diet, social stories).
16. To work with the senior team to develop forums and systems through which direct feedback and input is obtained from people supported on service development and organisational decision making.
Regarding Staff:
1. To champion the interests of people supported by maintaining the service focus on clear person centred leadership and direction.
2. To attend all meetings relevant to your role (e.g. staff, Manager, review meetings).
3. To enable staff to achieve their full potential through effective recruitment, training, staff development, annual appraisal, leadership and ongoing performance management.
4. Through positive leadership and inclusive decision making to promote good working relationships within the staff team encouraging them through difficulties and acknowledging their contribution to the service, organisation and people’s lives.
5. To deliver structured, recorded and constructive supervision to members of the team monthly and variable for occasional and agency staff dependent on the number of hours they work.
6. To ensure all new staff are fully inducted and that guidelines are in place to ensure staff are familiar with and work to organisational and legal practices, policies, procedures and systems.
7. To ensure that all staff in the service meet national requirements with regards to training.
8. To lead on operational disciplinary and grievance matters as they arise, in accordance with the policy framework.
Regarding finances and administration:
1. To work with the Finance Manager and Area managers to agree and set budgets for each service that are realistic, achievable and affordable.
2. To manage, oversee and negotiate contracts, contract variations and contract monitoring with commissioners as appropriate, ensuring contract income is maximised.
3. To be responsible for and to manage the overall service budget.
4. To recommend, plan and implement remedial action (including efficiently filling voids) where necessary to ensure services are provided within budget.
5. To ensure that people supported have control over their own finances, consistent with their skills.
6. To ensure that Area Managers and staff are aware of and comply with all financial and administrative procedures.
7. To ensure effective and participative management and administration of people’s homes by working with them to either coordinate all repairs and maintenance or by notifying these to the relevant housing provider.
Regarding self development
1. To contribute to the continual development of the organisation by embracing change and constructively challenging the organisation to change.
2. To develop effective self-management, with the assistance of the Chief Executive
3. To attend and participate in all training and development as identified to develop one’s skills and abilities and as required by the legislation.
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