Head of Services

Hours: 37 hours per

Contract: Permanent

This post is open to Women only:  Occupational Requirement (Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1) applies to this post.

My Sisters Place is a specialist domestic abuse service based in Middlesbrough. We provide a range of responsive, trauma informed services supporting women to live safe and free from abuse including; one to one support through Independent Advocacy and Domestic Abuse Support Workers,  Counselling and therapeutic services, Sanctuary Scheme,  Route 2 men’s perpetrator programme and early intervention  approaches through our Charity Shop/Hub and Ask Me Ambassador scheme.

We are members of the national umbrella organisation, Women’s Aid Federation England and accredited to both Women’s Aid and Safe Lives Leading Lights Quality standards. Our therapeutic service and Route 2 project hold BACP and Respect accreditation.

My Sisters Place has a track record of innovation and shared learning, with 17 years; experience of delivering responsive services from our One Stop Shop in Middlesbrough. Over the last 2 years My Sisters Place has been through a period of transition with a change in leadership and is now embarking on setting the strategic direction of the organisation.

We are looking for a Head of Services with a passion for the voluntary sector, in depth understanding of domestic abuse, best practice in current models and drive to explore and deliver new opportunities and projects at managerial level. We are looking for a self-starter, with the ability to manage a portfolio of projects to a high standard, harnessing our core values of;

• Independence
• Challenging inequality
• Needs led, strengths based approaches
• Educating and empowering women
• Trauma informed approaches

The Head of Services will provide operational leadership across the charity’s services/projects, ensuring that project and service leads are supported in the management of their duties and ensuring there is effective reporting and performance management monitoring across all projects.

Purpose of the role:

The Head of Services will provide operational leadership across the charity’s services/projects, ensuring that project and service leads are supported in the management of their duties and ensuring there is effective reporting and performance management monitoring across all projects.

Specific responsibilities: 

1. Provide high quality leadership, people management and oversight of the Charity’s staff team
2. Contribute to the preparation, development and implementation of strategic and operational plans providing supportive strategic and operational leadership.
3. Ensure compliance across the organisation with regulations, external contracts and internal policies
4. Enhance the reach and reputation of the charity as a best practice provider and leader in this field.
5. Implement systems that deliver high quality reports and inform the current and future development of services.
6. Support the development of the staff team to promote learning and personal development, increasing opporuitnites for growth within the organisation.
7. Assist the Chief Officer in implementing systems and policies that promote a culture of learning and accountability at all levels throughout the organisation
8. Provide reports to the Chief Officer and Board on the progress and development across projects, identifying key challenges, successes and themes.
9. Ensure that the service Safeguarding policies and procedures are robust, ensuring all staff are complaint and appropriate actions / steps taken to address instances of non-compliance. 

Duties of the post:

1. Deputise for the Chief Officer in meetings (internal and external) and the media with due regard to the public image of the organisation.
2. Work collaboratively with commissioners and other funders representing the Charity, reporting on outcomes and ensuring contract compliance.
3. Identify and create opportunities for partnership working and collaboration and promote positive working relationships with partners.
4. Identify, support and deliver on opportunities for innovation, growth and expansion which both meet the needs of service users and support the long term sustainability of the charity.
5. Support and assist the Chief Officer to provide leadership and management of HR issues relating to all staff.
6. Undertake effective line management and training of managerial staff promoting a well-supported and highly skilled workforce with clear succession plans.
7. Ensuring personal development reviews are implemented throughout the staff teams and that practice is safe and effective in all areas of delivery.
8. Develop implement and manage appropriate administrative systems and procedures across projects and conduct regular reviews across teams to find improvements.
9. Lead the effective management and review of operational policies ensuring compliance with quality standards and best practice.
10. Develop and oversee systems that ensure the compliance with all applicable codes, in addition to the charity’s legal and statutory requirements.
11. Conduct / identify research opportunities through the evaluation of service trends and practice that can be shared within and outside the organisation.
12. Create a working environment in which diversity and equality of opportunity is promoted.
13. Oversee the development and presentation of training to be delivered externally.
14. Ensure that health and safety policies and procedures are in place and adhered to across the organisation.

Professional development:

1. Read relevant publications.
2. Maintain awareness of local and national policy and practice that impacts on the work of My Sisters Place.
3. Remain up to date and compliant with all organisational policies and procedures and professional codes of conduct in order to uphold standards of best practice.
4. Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with line manager.
5. Prepare for and attend audit and other relevant meetings
6. Identify and develop initiatives to improve the service.
7. Prepare reports and provide data as required.
8. Undertake appropriate training as identified by self and line manager.

Administration:

1. Use IT for statistical recording, record keeping and document production.
2. Maintain reference material and local information systems.
3. Ensure that all work confirms to the administrative policies and procedures and in line with any specific requests of funders.
4. Contribute to the development of policy and practice including data management and service improvement plans.

Other duties and responsibilities:

My Sister’s Place is committed to continuous organisation and employee development. All staff members are required to participate fully in all initiatives, which facilitate continuous improvement in Service Quality Performance including employee performance.

General responsibilities include:

1. Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service or the Job Description.
2. Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
3. Promote and support volunteer involvement and contribution to effective safe service delivery.
4. Represent and promote My Sister Place at multi agency meetings event and in delivery of training and awareness raising.
5. Undertake all work with a view to continuous improvement in service quality and with due regards to the public image of the organisation.
6. Participate fully as a member of the staff team, attending meetings, sharing information and maintaining and sharing local and national policy and practice that impacts on the work of My Sisters Place and covering other posts during staff sickness as necessary.
7. Take responsibility for meeting targets and deadlines according to agreed work plans and ensure utilise personal strategies for effective time management.
8. Undertake all work with reference to My Sisters Place policies, procedures and values.
9. Contribute to maintaining of a working environment in which diversity is respected and equality of opportunity promoted. 
10. Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of equal rights both in relation to employment issues and service delivery, and adhere to the polices of the organisation in the performance of their duties.
11. Submit and present reports to the Chief Officer/Board as required.
12. Undertake any other duties as set down by the Line Manager

The above duties and responsibilities cannot totally encompass or define all of the tasks that may be required of the post holder. The outlined duty may therefore vary from time to time, without materially changing either the character or level of responsibilities. These factors are reflected in the post grade.

How to apply: Please complete the application form available on our website, paying close attention to the job description and person specification and send to: recruitment@mysistersplace.co.uk

Closing Date: Midnight Friday 7th August 2020

Interview Dates: All applications will be reviewed and assessed; all shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.  The two-stage interview process will take place on the 20th and 21st August 2020

If you would like an informal conversation about the role please contact Michelle O’Rourke  michelle.orourke@mysistersplace.co.uk to arrange a call

We value diversity and promote equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

We do not accept CV’s or applications from recruitment agencies.

 

Contact

Michelle O'Rourke
01642 241864
recruitment@mysistersplace.co.uk

Apply now

The closing date for this job is 7 August 2020 - 12:00am.