Disabilities Assessment Manager

If you are experienced in working with people with disabilities and are looking to utilise your skills at a national assistance dog charity, this could be the role for you.

Canine Partners’ mission is to change the lives of disabled people using expertly trained dogs to
improve physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

To help us create amazing partnerships, we need amazing people. Canine Partners has an exciting opportunity for a talented Disabilities Assessment Manager to join our dedicated Operations Team.

This is an incredible role at a prominent assistance dog charity where your role will be a part of our essential work that transforms lives every day.

What you will do:

This unique role sits at the heart of our organisation, where you will manage applications from people with disabilities for Canine Partners’ dogs. Your role within the applications team is pivotal to the journey for those applying for an assistance dog. Using excellent communication skills, you will manage all applications for Canine Partners' dogs from initial contact, through to assessment and decision making, ensuring collection of adequate information regarding applicants to facilitate matching with the best suited dog.

Leading a small team, you will assess applicants, lead applications panel meetings, manage our communications with applicants, support, train and manage our network of contracted Occupational Therapists. You will also oversee any reopening of our waiting list, ensuring a fair and transparent process. Working collaboratively across our operations team, you will assist our dog training and partnership teams to establish how best to support our applicants and partners throughout their application and subsequent time with our amazing dogs.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a wide range of people with varying conditions and disabilities, alongside our specially trained dogs. No day is the same and is perfect for someone who wants to support our clients during a key part of their journey.

What we’re looking for:

• Understanding of human disabilities and associated care needs.
• Experience in training, teaching, instructing or guiding others of all abilities.
• Highly effective interpersonal skills, using empathy and understanding to interact with a wide range of people.
• The ability to have difficult conversations and make challenging decisions.
• Physical ability or knowledge on handling large breed dogs (training can be provided).
• People management skills.
• ICT skills (MS Office etc.)
• Willing and able to learn Canine Partners’ dog handling methods and learn how to instruct beneficiaries in this handling.
• Most importantly, you will be passionate about the transformative impact that our assistance dogs provide to our beneficiaries.

We can offer you:

• 33 days annual leave allowance (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Salary exchange pension scheme (matched up to 5%)
• Charity (occupational) sick pay
• Life assurance
• Wellbeing portal
• Employee assistance programme
• Free on-site parking
• Dog friendly offices
• Flexible working hours
• Mileage expenses (45p per mile)

This role can be delivered remotely from home; however, it is essential for you to have the ability to travel in line with the requirements of the role (including travel to some remote locations). Regular travel includes spending time at our National Training Centre in Osgathorpe, Leicestershire (approx. every 2 to 3 weeks) with some national travel (South England, Scotland) to conduct assessments. Claimable expenses for business travel as required. We will provide a laptop and mobile phone for use in the role.

If this sounds like the perfect role for you, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please apply online with a comprehensive CV and supporting statement explaining how you believe you match the requirements of the role.

Please note we may choose to close this advertisement early should we find a suitable candidate or if we receive a high volume of applications. Please be assured that we contact all candidates regarding the outcome of their application, this may take longer if we receive high volumes of applications. 

We recognise the benefit of diverse experience and welcome and encourage applications from all sections of the community. We are a disability confident committed employer.

Location: Homebased with regular travel
Job Type: Part time, 22.5 hours (3 days per week, flexible but must meet the needs of team and clients)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £33,533 - £36,500 FTE (£20,119.80 - £21,900 pro-rated) per annum

You may also have experience in the following: Disability assessment, occupational health, Support dogs, Guide dogs, Disability support, Disability coordination, Dog Handling, Canine support, occupational therapy.

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