Centre 70 Advice And Counselling Jobs
Community Leader (Director) - L'Arche London
ABOUT THE ROLE
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week (occasional evenings and weekends)
Salary: 57,000-60,000 per annum (including London weighting)
Place of work: L'Arche London Community Office, West Norwood, SE27
Some travel and overnight stays will be required within the UK
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: Sunday 29 September, 11:59pm
As well as joining a friendly Community, where you will be well supervised and supported, and benefit from L’Arche’s mentorship programme, these are some other benefits you get by working for us:
- Paid sick pay, up to a maximum of 7wks (depending on length of service)
- Enhanced Maternity, Adoption/Surrogacy, and Paternity Pay (depending on length of service, details available on request)
- Interest free loans and salary advances available
- Free eye tests and a contribution towards the cost of glasses if you need them for work
- Free DBS / PVG checks
- Free SSSC registration
- Free Blue Light Card
- Professional membership fees paid if they are directly relevant to your role
- Free Employee Assistance Programme available to everyone
- Up to 5 days paid compassionate leave
- Up to 6 days paid (pro rata) for time off for emergency dependents leave
- Carer and Childminder costs available in some circumstances to facilitate attendance at residential meetings
- Paid mileage costs at HMRC rate
- Working from Home Allowance for those in office-based roles but for whom no office is provided
- Specialist bereavement counselling for employees and their family members
- Free Life Assurance up to 4 times gross annual salary
- Access to the Bike to Work scheme
- Joining shared meals since cooking and having a meal together is what we are all about
Main purpose of the role:
The Community Leader (Director) leads the Community in living the mission of L’Arche in our community life, by providing outstanding, person-centred and financially sustainable care and support services, by support for shared community and spirituality, and by engagement with the wider community around us.
Are you a leader who can:
- Inspire and lead a diverse and talented community of over 100 individuals with and without learning disabilities - people we support, employees, volunteers, long-term friends and members.
- Oversee and develop £2.5 million worth of registered care, supported living, and day services, ensuring compliance with CQC requirements, alignment with the L’Arche vision and values, and maintaining financial sustainability.
- Lead a team of 70 employees through strategic direction, effective processes and service delivery, and emotionally intelligent, collaborative, forward-thinking people management.
- Represent L’Arche London externally in fundraising efforts, outreach to build local partnerships, and participation in L’Arche UK leadership and governance forums.
- Embody and advocate for the L’Arche ethos of cultivating deep, long-term, and mutually transformative relationships between individuals with and without learning disabilities.
- The L’Arche London Community includes nine supported living services, one registered care home, and two day workshops, serving 34 individuals—all located within a mile of West Norwood Station.
The Role
- Lead a community that intentionally responds to the needs, choices and context of our members, and is faithful to the L’Arche UK Vision and Values, and Mission statement, and to a co-created Community Mandate and plan.
- Maintain and enhance high-quality, person-centred care, support, and housing for people with learning disabilities, both at home and in our day services. .
- Ensure the Community’s financial sustainability through robust financial planning and management.
- Foster a culture that maximises the voice and power for people with learning disabilities, and builds listening and collaboration between Community members with and without learning disabilities (including through an active Community Support Group, Community Council, Community Gatherings, listening circles, and other forums).
- Lead and manage a diverse, committed, and engaged leadership team to achieve objectives, set a positive culture, and support the personal and professional growth of our leaders.
- Cultivate an open, creative, and inclusive spiritual life, inviting everyone in the Community to deepen their collective growth. Support and encourage events that build community belonging.
- Model, advocate for, and embrace the L’Arche ethos of deep, long-term, and mutually transforming relationships between people with and without learning disabilities.
- Be a visible representative of L’Arche locally, developing relationships with community houses, surrounding neighbourhoods, local authorities, professional organisations, schools, faith communities, and L’Arche worldwide.
- Contribute to the national work programmes of L’Arche UK, and collaborate with Community Leaders of other L’Arche Communities, to share skills, best practice and resources.
About you:
- Senior leadership experience in support to adults with learning disabilities (or transferable skills and experience in a closely-related field).
- Experience leading and managing an organisation to deliver results, and to change in response to risks and opportunities.
- Experience leading and developing diverse teams to flourish, individually and together.
- Good financial planning skills and experience successfully managing a substantial budget.
- Evidence of the ability to think strategically, and work collaboratively to turn strategies into deliverable and measurable plans.
- Passionate about person-centred support, authentic relationships, and full opportunities for people with disabilities.
- Enthusiastic about the values, and mission of L’Arche, with the wisdom to combine our different needs, voices and priorities into an inclusive, dynamic, and nurturing community.
- Collaborative and resilient leader, skilled in setting culture and direction, coaching people, addressing under-performance, and adapting to various people and styles.
- Emotionally intelligent, with compassion, self-awareness, courage, integrity, and humility and a readiness to be present and visible to people across the Community.
- A good listener, able to reflect and lead others in reflective practice, receptive to mentorship and seeking help.
- Organised and capable of prioritising, delegating, and working autonomously.
- Able to listen to the whole community, and foster free speech, innovation, creativity, collaboration and consensus.
- Effective communicator, adept at adapting to diverse groups and individuals, including those with learning disabilities.
- Committed to build a diverse community that includes people of different ages, abilities, cultures, nationalities, sexualities, faith perspectives, and life experiences.
- Dedicated to ongoing professional and personal development, with a commitment to acquiring new knowledge and skills relevant to the role.
About us
In L'Arche London, we are intentionally inclusive, bringing together those with and without learning disabilities, in our community of more than 100 people. One of the L’Arche UK communities, we’re re part of a federation that includes over 150 communities across 37 countries and 6 continents.
Our community includes over 30 people with learning disabilities, with lots of different support needs, who we support at home and in our workshops. Alongside them are dedicated community members, volunteers, friends and neighbours, all integral in fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere. Our team of employed assistants provides further support and care to our core members.
We have lots of diversity and lots of opinions. We love people, we love our busy, vibrant city, and we welcome everyone to build a community that values each individual and embraces the beauty of differences. Since 1977, our mission has been to create an environment where diversity is celebrated, creativity cherished, and independence nurtured. Together, we want a more inclusive, compassionate world.
A full job description and person specification can be found in the attached Recruitment Pack.
The closing date is midnight on Sunday 29 September 2024.
First round interviews are expected to take place between 10 and 16 October.
To apply, please read the full job description and person specification and answer the questions on our online application form.
Please also read our privacy notice for job applicants.
Our inclusive communities challenge people to think differently about disability
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Praxis is a dynamic, award-winning human rights charity. We have 40 years of experience working with migrant communities in London. Our immigration advice service offers support to more than 2,000 people each year. Praxis provides a safe space and support through immigration advice and support to access services such as housing and health. We run peer support groups that build social networks and confidence. Together with people with lived experience, Praxis campaigns for a compassionate and humane immigration system where no one is discriminated against based on their immigration status, race, or class.
Praxis has recently significantly scaled up its campaigns and communications work. We are looking for a new Stories and Media Coordinator to join our Fundraising and Communications team, to help ensure that people with lived experience of the immigration system are the driving force of our dynamic communications work, whilst also building the organisation’s profile and amplifying our systems-change work.
You will play an integral role in the Fundraising and Communications team in an ambitious organisation.
We are looking for the below skills and experience:
· Strong experience and understanding of working with experts by experience in communications, media and storytelling work, including excellent understanding of safeguarding and risk management;
· Significant experience of developing and maintaining good relationships with a range of journalists;
· A sharp understanding of what makes a strong story;
· Strong communication skills, both written and verbal;
· Ability to build relationships and rapport with a wide range of people.
See the Person Specification and Job Description for more detail.
Our Attractive Benefits Package Includes
· A 35-hour working week including flexible working hours (pro rata for part time posts)
· A hybrid work model
· 25 days annual leave, increasing annually to the maximum 30 days (plus paid Bank Holidays)
· Option to buy up to 3 days annual leave each year.
· 1-day additional birthday leave
· A defined contribution pension scheme
· Our employee assistance programme offers counselling and support for you 24/7.
· A season ticket loan to help you spread the cost of your commute.
We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from those with lived experience of migration, and from diverse applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy/maternity leave status.
Please see our website to find out more about our work.
For further details, please contact Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, our Policy and Public Affairs Manager.
To apply, send us your CV and cover letter demonstrating your capabilities in relation to each of the points of the person specification. Where relevant use your answers to illustrate how your competencies have helped you to achieve positive results. This will give you the best possible chance to be shortlisted.
If you would like to speak to someone about any adjustments or have any questions you can email and we will be in touch with you to make the necessary arrangements.
Application deadline: Monday 30th September 2024 at midnight.
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 15th October 2024.
To apply, send us your CV and cover letter demonstrating your capabilities in relation to each of the points of the person specification. Where relevant use your answers to illustrate how your competencies have helped you to achieve positive results. This will give you the best possible chance to be shortlisted.
If you would like to speak to someone about any adjustments or have any questions you can email and we will be in touch with you to make the necessary arrangements.
Application deadline: Monday 30th September 2024 at midnight.
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 15th October 2024.
When politicians treat migrants with cruelty, we refuse to accept it. We give legal support, demand change, and never give in. Join us.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.