Complex Needs Practitioner Location: High Wycombe , Buckinghamshire Salary: £27,341 – £29,500 per annum You have an understanding of drug, alcohol, and health related issues, and experience of working with adults in an addictions, housing or social care setting? All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Complex Needs Practitioner (Recovery Worker). Aquarius is a charity that helps people and communities overcome the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling. We are part of ‘One Recovery Buckinghamshire’ (ORB), a partnership between Inclusion (MPFT NHS Trust), Aquarius, and Build on Belief providing support for alcohol and drug issues across Buckinghamshire. The purpose of the role is to engage people in a variety of interventions, using a person centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes. All Complex Needs Practitioners (Recovery Worker) work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings. The caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health and social care. You will join our caring multi-disciplinary teams, to help empower you to provide quality psychosocial interventions to our diverse client groups. A core part of the role will be working with people to address holistic support needs across all aspects of the person’s substance use and wellbeing. This could include diverse work related to physical and emotional health, meaningful use of time, family and relationships, community engagement and activities, accommodation, physical and emotional health, offending as well as substance use (drug use and / or alcohol use). An energetic and confident self-starter, you have a qualification in health/social care, youth and community work (e.g. NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies). Alternatively, we’ll consider candidates with experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care. Experience of liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies and health professionals and engaging effectively with clients in a variety of settings is essential. You’ll also need a flexible approach, excellent record keeping and report writing skills and a willingness to work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings, on an outreach basis, with a central hub base at our head office. To Apply If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Waythrough, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application. We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a Black, Asian and those in Minority Ethnic background. This is a rolling recruitment process; shortlisted candidates will be interviewed as and when they apply. When applying, please upload a CV and supporting statement which should clearly outline your skills and experience. Aquarius Action Projects is a long-established charity (since 1982) based in Birmingham with a national reach of contracts and Partnerships. Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough – a large charity that specialises in mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. |
Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value.





We're looking for a kind, compassionate, and resilient Deputy Manager to join our Learning Disabilities service in Hertfordshire.
£38,148.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
A Deputy Contract Manager is to support the Cluster Manager who is responsible for the effective management of all contracts within their designated patch, including line managing the relevant frontline staff. Experience with working with Severe Learning Disability, Profound Autism, and behaviours of distress needed.
For a full job description, please visit our website.
About you:
Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement and inclusion
Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
What you'll bring:
Essential:
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 4 or other business/management qualification
Sound understanding of Positive Behaviour Support framework
2 years of experience with profound autism or complex learning disability
Desirable:
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 4 or other business/management qualification
Sound understanding of Positive Behaviour Support framework
2 years of experience with profound autism or complex learning disability
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Job purpose
This is an exciting time to join Action for ME. With developments in research and policy alongside delivering services which are in high demand, you will enjoy working in a fast-paced and continually changing environment. You will be responsible for overseeing operational programme design and delivery, reporting of progress, and measuring the impact of all Action for ME work to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow. You will also assist the Chief Executive in implementing the organisational strategy, and by adapting and evolving delivery models on the ground. As you will have operational management and oversight for our Healthcare Services and hold the Designated Safeguarding Lead role for the organisation, you will bring considerable services-related experience at a management and leadership level. The Chief Executive will focus predominately on external matters and therefore you must have experience of managing an organisation to achieve high quality programmes with evidenced impact and motivated teams. You will act for the Chief Executive on topics, as agreed, and deputise during their absence.
Key duties
1. Leadership
- Ensure that children and adults with ME are at the heart of everything we do through meaningful engagement and participation to influence all aspects of our work.
- Deputise for the CEO and represent and promote the Charity at national meetings and events.
- Deputise for the CEO during periods of absence, and in relation to specific matters, issues or elements of operation as delegated from time to time by the CEO, ensuring a consistency of approach and decisions aligned with the organisation’s objectives.
- With the CEO and HR Business Partner, lead on implementing the People and Culture Strategy and ensuring our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging plan is achieved.
- To provide support, leadership and coaching to the Management Team to ensure the smooth running of the organisation and development of the Charity.
- Contribute to the development of the overall strategy for Action for ME, ensuring that the best use is made of available resources within agreed priorities. Ensure that agreed strategy is delivered to target and in line with agreed budgets.
- Work closely with the Chief Executive and Trustees to ensure effective reporting to the Board and sub-committees.
2. Operations & management
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the Charity ensuring high quality service provision that meets all best practice, legal and regulatory frameworks and internal policies and procedures.
- Hold overall management responsibility for our Healthcare Services including the role of the CQC Nominated Individual, ensuring all regulatory requirements and compliance are met.
- Manage the staff and volunteer team, including holding regular meetings and ensure the efficient running of the office ensuring a culture that supports, inspires and motivates the team while ensuring required standards and quality are met at all times through effective performance management.
- Act as the organisational Designated Safeguarding Lead (children and vulnerable adults), working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Officers, colleagues and the Safeguarding Lead Trustee; facilitate the annual safeguarding audit (led by the Lead Trustee) and ensuring safeguarding standards across the organisation are maintained.
- Contribute to the learning and development of key personnel including coaching support (either directly or through the identification of external coaches) to enhance performance.
- Establish (where not already in place) and maintain a clear performance outcome-focused management system driving positive change and improvement across all teams.
- Ensure that policies and procedures are effectively implemented and kept up-to-date to enable the effective management of operations and support growth.
- Take the lead role for data protection, health and safety, compliance and risk management across the organisation and act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
3. Finance & income generation
- Hold financial leadership responsibility, working closely with the Finance Manager and the Fundraising Director to ensure sustainability for our work.
- Ensure effective financial management with procedures in place which are kept up-to-date and implemented accordingly.
- Provide support and engagement, where appropriate, to actively grow our income.
4. Working with others
- Lead, nurture and develop relationships with key stakeholder groups and partner organisations, both locally and nationally, supporting Action for M.’s place as the ‘go to’ organisation for people affected by ME
- Lead on new business ideas and pilot projects in line with the strategic objectives; with colleagues, develop the business case, identify and manage risks, lead implementation across teams, evaluate success and learning and make recommendations for future development.
5. Other key accountabilities
- Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting operations and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development.
- Take direction on projects and priorities from the CEO, which may vary from time to time.
- To ensure best value in all service delivery.
Person specification
Experience and Knowledge
- Proven experience in an operations, leadership, or senior management role, ideally within the charity service delivery or healthcare sector, with the ability to develop and implement strategic plans that drive organisational growth and reporting that demonstrates impact delivered. If you come from outside a support services background, you must demonstrate sound understanding of the regulatory and best practice requirements related to delivering support and/or healthcare services.
- An understanding of ME and associated/overlapping illnesses, the impact on people affected by it or a commitment and ability to understand the illness and lead services to meet the needs of children and adults with ME
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, including remote workers, and fostering a supportive workplace culture where change is a constant.
- Safeguarding understanding at a management/decision-making level.
- Proven experience of building and nurturing strong relationships internally and externally at all levels.
- A sound understanding of outcome-focused, effective performance management, quality assurance and risk management.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, financial planning, and resource management in the voluntary sector.
Skills and Behaviours
- Experience of governance, risk management, and compliance, including within regulated services, ideally within a charity and/or service delivery setting.
- Proven ability to think strategically, balance competing demands, use initiative to solve problems and actively seek innovative approaches to problem solving and delivering results.
- Strong interpersonal skills including motivational, negotiating influencing and networking skills which build strong internal and external relationships.
- An ability to understand, analyse and make effective use of data across all of our work.
- A proven ability to coach and motivate staff and to build and lead teams reflecting organisational culture and values, a respectful, constructive and energetic style.
- Proven, strong MS Office skills that supports writing, email, internet and database use.
- Demonstrable ability to work within our organisational values
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.