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Director of Services

We are seeking an experienced Director of Services to work as part of the Senior Management Team to provide strategic leadership and direction for the organisation and deputise for the CEO as required.

You will be responsible for the Charity’s client-facing, free at point of access, service delivery operations, including Information, Advice and Advocacy, and Hospital and Community support services.

Position: Director of Services

Location: Hayes, London

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Hours: Full-time - 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: Flexible Working, Hybrid Working, Compressed hours available, Job share considered/Part-time hours considered, Training and development, 5% pension contribution, Health plan with employee assistance and 24 hour support, 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) rising to 30 days, London Living Wage employer

Closing date: Midday, Monday 12th May 2025

About the role: 

As Director of Services, you will be responsible for a wide range of services including Hospital services (A&E support, discharge and falls prevention), community services (activity groups, befriending, clubs), information and advice services (including benefits, housing, carers and statutory advocacy).

You will be responsible for ensuring all contracts and grants deliver to targets and provide services of the highest possible quality standards with demonstrable impact measures and feedback systems.

You will be a key member of our Senior Management Team (SMT), helping to develop and deliver on our new 5-year strategy, and contributing towards the annual business planning and budgeting processes.

Alongside our CEO you will be responsible for managing our external partnerships and third sector consortia. You will help to ensure we influence the priorities of our three local authorities and play a key role in the NHS transformation agenda across Northwest London. You will be based in a positive, creative and ambitious organisation, supported by a skilled SMT and responsible for a team of experienced managers.

Your key responsibilities will include: 

• Provide strategic leadership, direction and development of all Age UK HHB Services, contributing to organisational strategy and the annual business planning process.

• To work with the leadership team to identify and resource development opportunities, and to ensure our activity is providing optimum impact to improve the lives of older people in the borough

• Line Manage and develop Head of Services, Service Managers and other staff as appropriate, including setting targets and monitoring performance by ensuring that regular supervisions and appraisals are carried out, and tackling any performance issues in line with policies and procedures.

• Ensure Age UK HHB staff and volunteers are provided with up-to-date information sources, including any changes in national and local policy. To ensure services achieve external and internal quality frameworks and best practice guidance and to drive efficient working practices.

• Develop and oversee systems for feedback from service users to ensure the work, ethos and culture of Age UK HHB are informed by older people.

• To ensure quality data is captured for all service delivery allowing us to measure reach and impact for effective performance management, overseeing the provision of monitoring reports and dashboards for funders and board

• To work with the CEO, Managers and Trustees to develop annual budgets and to ensure services and projects are delivered to budget.

• Work closely with external partners and commissioning/funding agencies to ensure that Age UK HHB delivers the range of services that are required and/or contracted, on time and on budget.

About you: 

To be successful in the role you will need to be able to operate effectively in challenging times and a constantly changing working environment. Experience in successful leadership, managing people, organisational change and improving business processes to support the charity’s strategy will be essential to this role. 

Essential skills and experience include: 

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent, or substantial successful senior management experience. 

• Proven experience as an inspirational and successful leader of teams of staff and volunteers.

• Substantial experience in effective management of time, tasks and projects.

• Demonstrable experience of working within and/or influencing change in health and social care services.

• Experience in designing, planning, leading and mobilising new or remodelled services from concept through to business as usual.

• Knowledge of the voluntary sector and its ways of working with knowledge and understanding of user involvement and empowerment.

• Knowledge and understanding of local health and social care structures.

• Excellent written and verbal presentation skills.

If you feel you have the necessary skills apply today!

The charity is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. 

About the organisation:

Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent provides a wide range of services for around 15,000 older people across the three boroughs of North West London. We employ 100 staff and are supported by 180 volunteers. Our turnover is in the region of £3.5 million.

Other roles you may have experience with could include Deputy Service Manager, Service Coordinator, Head of Services, Service Lead, Social Care, Social Care Services, Health and Social Care, Programme Manager, Service Delivery Manager, Registered Manager, Registered Service Manager, Service Manager, Services Manager.

Job description

Job Purpose

To manage and develop the home from hospital settle service in the hospitals that you are responsible for, to support timely and successful patient discharges from hospital and prevent re-admissions.  You will work in collaboration with hospital teams and community teams to lead and manage your team to support the smooth transition from hospital to home for service users.  The service works with people for time limited support (usually up to 6 weeks) to adjust and settle back in their homes, and to prevent readmission into hospital. 

Key Tasks

• Work in partnership with the hospitals and other health and social care professionals to coordinate safe and timely discharges for referred clients.  This involves attending meetings with hospital personnel including Discharge Co-ordinators and Ward Managers to discuss discharges and plan who and how individuals will be supported as appropriate. 
• Manage a team working across two hospitals and ensuring the service is available between the contracted hours.
• Work collaboratively with other agencies providing support services.
• Conduct initial assessments of people referred to the services as necessary.
• Plan and develop person centred interventions to provide short term support for people after hospital discharge.
• Work with GPs as appropriate in identifying and supporting patients to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Work with people with a range of needs, dealing with issues ranging from social isolation and keeping people engaged in their community, to preventing unnecessary admission to hospital.
• Support the hospitals with delayed transfer of care (DTOC).
• Coordinate and monitor the caseload of referrals allocated to team members to ensure a fair and manageable distribution of work.
• Rota planning to ensure staff flexibility and availability, enabling planned rosters that best suit both hospital and patient needs.
• Develop your team which includes; supervision, appraisal, planning of continued professional development opportunities and training needs.
• Conduct regular management audits to ensure a consistent way of working and identify development and training needs in the team or individual.
• Develop and deliver a flexible service that can respond to peaks and troughs in demand.
• Ensure the service is meeting key performance indicators, and identify any concerns e.g. demand for the service exceeding the levels in the contract and taking proactive action to address this.
• Monitor performance of the services against KPIs and produce reports to demonstrate performance.
• Deliver front-line services when needed, e.g. sickness or staff shortages.  This is by exception rather than you regularly doing support work.
• Manage the budget, sign-off expenses, and ensure the project is delivered to budget, liaising with the Finance Department as necessary.
• Support the directorate with generating funding e.g. being actively involved in consultation of possible projects, providing activity data, opportunity spotting, and/or supporting the production of tenders.
• On a rota basis, provide weekend on call cover for the services you manage, and other hospital settle services provided by AUKEL.

Administration

• Lead on contract reporting, this includes quarterly, annual and ad hoc reports as necessary.
• Carry out annual customer service surveys.
• Enable the impact of the service to be assessed and inform the improvement of other local services by keeping electronic records of all referrals and interventions, and producing reports on activity and outcomes, in accordance with KPIs.
• Meet and produce reports as required by the Head of Service.
• Ensure patient records are regularly updated through AUKEL database, and support staff to complete their administration via training etc.
• Work with the Communications team and the Head of Service, market and promote the service.
• Build and circulate a resource pack for the wider AUKEL team to generate referrals between services delivered by the charity.

Quality

• Be familiar with and implement AUKEL policies and procedures.
• Ensure the service is delivered in accordance with Care Quality Commission principles.
• Ensure a cycle of continuous improvement by taking a “lessons learnt” review approach.
• Ensure that the requirements of the contract specification for the services are met.
• Ensure integration with other AUKEL projects, and service users are referred/sign-posted to appropriate support services available to them.
• Respond to safeguarding or other concerns and take appropriate reporting and management action.
• Lead on recruitment of staff for your team, and support others at AUKEL.

 Liaison

• Represent AUKEL and participate in appropriate external meetings and events and remain aware of local, regional and national issues affecting AUKEL clients.
• Develop external relationships with stakeholders, and build positive connections with health and social care partners
• Attend contract management meetings with commissioners alongside the Head of Hospital and Home Services.

 General

• Meet regularly with line manager for support, supervision and appraisal.
• Attend team and staff meetings, (and other meetings) as required.
• Complete any training required to fulfil the post.
• Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with AUKEL’s policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, Safeguarding, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidelines.
• Other duties which are consistent and commensurate with the responsibilities of the post and the needs and development of the Hospital Home and Settle Service.

 Functional Links

• The Home and Settle Manager is line managed by the Head of Hospital and Home Services
• The Home and Settle Manager line manages:
• Project Officers
• Discharge and Settle Workers
• Volunteers
• Close working is required with Age UK East London Finance Team
• Close working with Information, Advice, Advocacy & Befriending Services
• Close working with Handyperson services
• Close working with Age UK East London Community Services
• Close working with other take home and settle services across east London

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience of people management including line management and team leadership.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience of delivering services within a health or care setting at a level reflecting the responsibilities of the post.
• Of project recording and reporting to funders.
• Of leading service development and improvement and managing the change process.

Desirable

• Experience of working with older people
• Experience of working within a hospital discharge setting.
• NVQ Level 2 Health & Social Care or Care Certificate

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential

• Understanding of the impact of discrimination and disadvantage on the lives of people and ability to work in a trauma-informed manner. 
• Understanding of NHS hospital discharge procedures.
• Understanding and commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and their carers. 
• Understand of and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and dignity

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of NHS England legislation regarding Avoiding Unplanned Admission Care Plans.
• Knowledge of project financial budgeting
• Knowledge of CQC fundamental standards
• Understanding of impact on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 & Liberty Protection Safeguards 2020 within the hospital setting

Skills/Attributes

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• Intermediate IT skills
• Data analysis skills

Desirable

• Ability to speak one or more community languages

Additional Requirements

• This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
• Flexibility in working hours to meet organisational needs
• The post holder will work with standard Office365 server-based computer system
• Occasional weekend and evening working may be required

Employment Details

Location

The post holder will be based between the Homerton and the Royal London Hospitals.

Contract type

This contracted post is for 35 hours per week. We welcome application for flexible working including reduced hours and other flexible working arrangements.

Location

The post holder will be mostly based within the Hospitals they oversee.

Background to the role

We have teams embedded in four hospitals across East London where they are recognised for the warm, responsive and kind person-centred service they provide for patients. They work in close partnership with ward managers, discharge teams and social workers to ensure the safe and timely discharge of patients, connecting them back to their local communities and ensuring that their chances of a sustained and speedy recovery are maximised. Our model has proven success in reducing re-admissions.

Over the past 12 months we have worked to reorganise how our Home and Settle team works.  We have done this to reduce the pressure on individual staff members, increase the extent to which the teams work together and improve the consistency and sustainability of the services. The Discharge and Settle Worker role is key to this new model of delivery. 

The postholder will be working in the community and in patients homes to help them settle back into life and to connect with the support and services that will help them avoid another hospital visit as far as possible. Maintaining good relationships with the rest of Age UK East London’s Home and Settle team and will ensure the smooth running of the service and the best possible outcomes for patients.

This is an exciting time to join us as we build on our past learning and successes and increase the extent to which we integrate our services. Fast paced and with no two days the same, this work suits self-motivated team players who enjoy highly rewarding work that makes a difference to people and communities.

Job description

Job Purpose

The home and settle service works collaboratively with hospitals to support people when they are discharged from hospital to return home. You will provide temporary practical and emotional support to service users within their home and make sure they understand the care and treatment choices available to them. The service is time limited, usually up to 6 weeks, to adjust and settle back in their homes. 

Key Tasks

• Assess the needs of service users in hospital before discharge, and in their homes, and understand what barriers and enablers there might be to moving home.
• Aid the discharge process and improve patient experience through tasks such as key cutting and co-ordinating with colleagues for the setup of the home environment. 
• Provide (and/or arrange) the practical and emotional support needed to enable service users to move home and/or remain safely at home. 
• Be vigilant and make referrals/signpost for additional needs that our wider team, or partners can support. E.g. for benefit checks, energy advice, carers support, befriending.  
• Help maximise service user independence by adopting an enabling approach. 
• Develop a listening and caring relationship with the service user and their families/carers. 
• Provide domestic practical support within the home e.g. light cleaning, washing, ironing (service user clothing only) etc. 
• Prepare and service drinks and simple meals with or for the service user customer ensuring nutritional needs are met in accordance with individual support plan. 
• Accompany service user outside the home e.g. hospital/GP appointments etc. 
• Support customers with other tasks e.g. making telephone calls on their behalf, reading and responding to correspondence, completing simple forms (training will be provided) as directed by the customer etc. 
• Ensure services provided by AUKEL in the community are safe and person centred. 
• Report safeguarding concerns, in accordance with AUKEL safeguarding procedures. 
• Work within AUKEL’s expectations of professional boundaries and confidentiality. 
• Provide cover in the case of sickness and annual leave periods of colleagues. 
• Support service user reviews, ensuring all visiting information is uploaded on to AUKEL’s organisational case management system. 
• Meet with volunteers to provide support and guidance. 
• Work with a range of professionals including: 
• Supporting health and social care professionals with patient discharge 
• Liaising with the Hospital health and social care professionals to facilitate smooth supported discharge. 

Administration

• Input all records, reviews, and visiting information to service user’s case notes in a timely manner to maintain up-to-date and accurate records on AUKEL’s case management system (currently Charity Log/Call-round App). 
• Report all “no access” failed visits, or changes in service users’ condition or circumstances in accordance with AUKEL’s policies and procedures. 
• Ensure service user comment sheets are completed.
• Support the return of Customer Comment sheets and general feedback in respect of your own service users. 

 Quality

• Ensure services provided in the community are delivered in line with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) principles. 
• Deliver all work in line with AUKEL quality mark standards. 
• Commit to undertaking the Care Certificate, if not already held or in possession of NVQ level 2. 
• Complete essential training as required by AUKEL to provide safe services. 

 Liaison

• Work in collaboration with other agencies providing support within the customer's home. 
• Work under the direction of the service manager and project officers. 
• Represent AUKEL and participate in appropriate external meetings and events to remain aware of local, regional, and national issues affecting quality and compliance issues affecting care and home support services. 

 General

• Meet regularly with your line manager for support, supervision, and appraisal. 
• Attend team and staff meetings, (and other meetings) as required. 
• Undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be required from time to time for the continued smooth running of AUKEL. 
• Complete any training which is required to fulfil the role. 
• Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with AUKEL policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities, Mental Capacity, Deprivation of Liberty, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults etc. 
• Work within AUKEL’s expectations of professional boundaries and confidentiality 

 Functional Links

• The post holder report to the Manager. 
• Close working with NHS health & social care professionals. 
• Close working with external partner agencies e.g. Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering, and Age UK Waltham Forest. 
• Close working with AUKEL internal departments e.g. information and advice, advocacy, Take Home & Settle services, and volunteering department etc. 

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of one-to-one work with vulnerable service users, including those with multiple issues and needs either through paid or unpaid position. 

Desirable

• Care Certificate or CQF Diploma NVQ Level 2, or equivalent, in Health & Social Care. 
• Experience of working collaboratively with external partners. 

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential 

• Understanding and commitment to empowering individuals to reach their full potential. 
• Understanding the principles of confidentiality in practice. 
• Understanding of safeguarding and when to raise a concern. 
• Understanding of stigma and discrimination, and the impact this has on people’s lives. 

Desirable

• Knowledge of local services available to adults and their carers
• Understanding of hospital discharge procedures. 

Skills/Attributes

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Good English verbal and written communication skills 
• Good planning and organisational skills. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team 
• Ability to prioritise and manage time and resources in a competent manner 
• IT skills to the level of being able to use Word, email, internet, mobile phone apps and logging information on AUKEL’s CRM
• Can demonstrate AUKEL values (accountable, kind, flexible, inclusive, collaborative) in the way the service is delivered. 

Desirable

• Ability to speak community languages e.g. Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Turkish etc. 
• Able to use Charity Log (CRM used by AUKEL).  Training will be provided as necessary.
• Ability to drive with use of own vehicle (mileage and essential car users will be paid). 

Additional Requirements

• This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) 
• Flexibility in working hours to meet organisational needs.
• The role is required travel across East London

Employment Details

Hours available

We have different roles available between 16 and 35 per week.

Location

The post holders will be mostly based

• Either within the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney including the Royal London and Homerton Hospitals
• Or within the London boroughs of Newham and Waltham Forest including the Newham and Whipps Cross Hospitals

We are looking for an experienced, visionary and strategic Director of Community Services to lead and develop our Advice and Support Services and our Engagement and Development Programmes. You will have a passion for, and a demonstrable track record of, building strong, resilient, and inclusive communities as well as developing and motivating a team of staff and volunteers. You will be a supportive, compassionate, enthusiastic, and experienced leader and manager of Community led and quality-led Community services.

An effective change manager, you will be passionate about making a real difference to the Irish and wider communities across London. This is a great opportunity to join the leadership team of the London Irish Centre (LIC) as it embarks upon a significant turning point in its 70-year history, helping the charity deliver its ambitious organisational strategy to empower and enrich even more lives through Irish Community and Culture.

About You

• You have demonstrable experience of leading and managing community services in the independent or public sector for a minimum of ten years.
• You are a professional, enthusiastic leader who can bring your sector experience to benefit this critical role and the wider organisation.
• You are an inspirational leader, bringing a team and others with you and leading by example.
• You have a proven track record in successfully leading a team, across multiple service delivery areas, and in implementing change.
• You are well-organised, able to manage several competing requirements with the ability to prioritise your work effectively to meet tight deadlines.
• You demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal and are comfortable working with people across a wide portfolio, with various levels of experience and socio-economic backgrounds.

Key areas of responsibility

 Workforce

• Maintain a positive culture within the Centre in line with the London Irish Centre values and expectations.
• Overall responsibility for management, development, motivation, support and appraisal of the community services teams, and other team members when agreed with the line manager.
• Maintain and implement effective policies and processes for managing staff and volunteers, including recruitment and retention, induction, training and appraisals. 
• Ensure adequate and appropriately skilled staffing of the community services team.
• Monitor performance against budgets, targets and Key Performance Indicators.
• Ensure best practice and quality assured delivery of Community Services and Programmes.

Financial 

• Overall responsibility for management and reporting of community services budget. 
• Overall responsibility for management and monitoring of all community services` grants. 
• Responsibility for ensuring services are managed within delegated budget.
• Operating within financial governance arrangements at London Irish Centre.

Income generation

• Ensure relationships with all supporters and donors are managed and developed effectively, including trusts, individuals, major donors and corporate partners. 
• Identify suitable new grant and trust funds and lead on applications.
• Lead on monitoring, reporting and submissions for current grant and trust funds in accordance with funders` requirements.

Impact and Innovation 

• Overall responsibility for the service`s impact management in line with the London Irish Centre’s theory of change. 
• Lead on identification and adoption of innovative technology to improve the processes and impact on community services.
• Overall responsibility for communicating the outcomes and impact of the community services and programmes.
• Strategic Development.
• Work with the CEO, other management and the Board of Trustees to set and achieve the charity`s strategic objectives. 
• Ensure Community Services resources are effectively targeted. 
• Lead in implementing a strategic plan for Community Services and support team leaders to deliver against performance targets. 
• Develop and foster positive relationships with external stakeholders. 
• Engage with existing and new partners to ensure the charity meets the increasing needs of those who use our community services.

This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Director of Community Services. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed as required.

In our application pack we have included a job description and person specification to support your candidature. The details in the job description and person specification should be addressed in a maximum one-page cover letter. The cover letter should include your current job title, salary and position within banding where relevant. Click apply, upload your CV and cover letter to the portal on our website link.

 Please note that all roles at the London Irish Centre are subject to enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks as part of our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable individuals.

 The deadline for applications is Wednesday 30th April 9:00 a.m.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we will be actively interviewing. We reserve the right to close applications before the stated deadline. Interviews will begin with an initial online screening, followed by in-person interviews at the Centre, likely during the week commencing May 5th.

Age UK Westminster is delighted to offer a new role within our successful Information and Advice Team, with a focus on supporting Westminster residents from Global Majorities, gaining skills and knowledge to develop your career in I&A.

The successful applicant will benefit from working within an experienced and friendly team. Full training, including completion of Level 3 Information and Advice certification, will be provided. If you are fluent in one of the following languages, Arabic, Somali or Bengali, and would like to  work with us to enable our team to better support non-English speaking Westminster older residents to access our Information and advice service, this could be the role for you.

This is a real opportunity to build a career in Information and Advice. Join us to make a real difference to the older residents of Westminster.

Closing Date: 30th April