Sanctuary Hosting is a charity working across the Thames Valley to match people who are homeless and in the asylum process, as well as people fleeing domestic abuse and human trafficking / modern day slavery by placing them in a rent-free spare room for an agreed period of time.
Sanctuary Hosting is a registered UK charity managed by a board of trustees (the Management Committee). It was founded in 2015 by Oxford City of Sanctuary to provide one solution to the problem of homeless sanctuary seekers on our streets. The project matches destitute asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants with open-hearted volunteer hosts in the community. The service operates across the Thames Valley, mainly in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Marlow and Reading.
Sanctuary Hosting attaches great importance to ensuring volunteer support workers, volunteer hosts (henceforth referred to collectively as volunteers) and guests are properly assessed and supported and that everything is done to ensure that placements are safe and have the best possible chance of succeeding. All volunteers are interviewed and both DBS and reference checks are undertaken. Similarly, guests are interviewed and references are taken.
In the past five years we have helped 116 people from 27 countries who were homeless to find accommodation and provided over 22,000 nights of accommodation. The vast majority of the people assisted have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) and are destitute. To enable the delivery of the hosting service, Sanctuary Hosting has engaged 80 households to host and worked with over 50 support worker volunteers.
Overall Purpose of the Post
The Director has overall responsibility for the safe and effective delivery of the service. Reporting to the Management Committee they ensure that the work is carried out to meet the requirements of funders and within budget. They manage the Service Co-ordinator (Oxford & Milton Keynes area) and Project Worker (Reading & Marlow area) to ensure the effective recruitment, training, support and supervision of all Sanctuary Hosting’s volunteers. They oversee the staff and volunteer team in their processing, assessment and response to guest referrals as well as the coordination, facilitation and support of hosting placements.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Management of the charity
Work with the Management Committee to develop and implement operational plans, policies and procedures to ensure the scheme functions effectively and safely.
Work with the Fundraising Committee to identify funding opportunities and work with the Committee to make appropriate funding applications, respond to fundraising opportunities and build relationships with individual donors.
Ensure all monitoring and evaluation reports are delivered on time, according to the requirements of the funder.
Work with the Management Committee to extend coverage of the hosting scheme to other parts of the Thames Valley where there is unmet need.
Develop mechanisms for collecting feedback from guests and volunteers and ensure this feedback is used to develop and improve the Sanctuary Hosting scheme.
Collate and analyse information on the work of Sanctuary Hosting, producing statistical and narrative reports about the scheme’s performance for funders, regulating bodies and the Management Committee as required.
Ensure service standards, volunteer competencies and health and safety procedures are implemented and maintained across all areas of activity.
Develop volunteer recruitment policies, systems and procedures, working with the Sanctuary Hosting Management Committee.
Keep abreast of immigration and asylum policy with a view to working with the Management Committee to respond and adapt to the needs of people who are homeless with no recourse to public funds in the Thames Valley.
Management of staff and volunteers
Carry out line management of the Service Coordinator and the Project Worker, ensuring they are effectively supported, supervised and trained.
Oversee the recruitment of volunteers according to the scheme’s procedures, ensuring that they are assessed and inducted.
Oversee the recruitment, training, support and supervision of volunteers to support guests and hosts, ensuring that all volunteers have a clear understanding of their role and remit and receive appropriate support and supervision.
Oversee the group peer support for the Sanctuary Hosting community (guests, hosts staff and support workers) providing opportunities for all to share their experiences and learning.
Develop guidance, tools and training resources and deliver training to enable volunteers to carry out their roles safely and competently.
Ensure that volunteers are fully aware of and trained in appropriate health and safety procedures and risk assessments.
Develop signposting and referral resources to ensure guests with additional needs can be supported appropriately.
Support staff and volunteers to resolve complex issues that might arise within the Sanctuary Hosting community.
Referral and caseload management
Oversee all referrals to the hosting scheme to ensure they are assessed and responded to in a timely and professional manner.
Work with the Welfare Committee to manage guest placements and financial support, ensuring that any difficulties are resolved in an appropriate and timely manner.
Promotion, communications and developing partnerships
Be responsible for the Sanctuary Hosting monthly newsletter and for regular activity to promote the service on social media, aiming to recruit more hosts, volunteers and donors.
Proactively promote and publicise the Sanctuary Hosting scheme through attending relevant forums, meetings and events and giving presentations about the scheme.
Work collaboratively with members of the Management Committee and actively seek opportunities for collaborative and joint working relationships externally, which will enable the scheme to better meet the needs of its service users
Work productively and appropriately with existing partners including Citizens Advice Reading and the British Red Cross.
Build and maintain relationships with statutory, voluntary, community and faith organisations working with refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants in the Thames Valley Area and nationally as necessary.
Administration
Develop appropriate GDPR compliant systems to record personal details, availability and whereabouts of the Sanctuary Hosting community and ensure these are maintained by the staff team.
Develop effective systems for tracking actions carried out on behalf of individuals referred to the scheme and ensure these are maintained by the staff team.
Oversee timely and professional processing and response to enquiries.
General
Implement and adhere to Sanctuary Hosting’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities.
Make known to the Management Committee any circumstances, errors or omissions that may have a detrimental effect on scheme and its stakeholders.
Work with the Sanctuary Hosting Chair and Treasurer to assist with developing, implementing and managing operating plans and budget.
Work flexibly in accordance with the needs of Sanctuary Hosting, including undertaking out of hours and weekend work as required.
Commit to on-going professional development by participating in regular clinical and management supervision, relevant external meetings, forums and available training.
Person specification
Job Title: Director
Experience
- Experience of developing and delivering high quality, confidential, user-centred services for vulnerable people** E
- Experience of providing support services to refugees, asylum seekers and/or vulnerable migrants** E
- Experience of recruiting, supporting, managing and supervising volunteers and staff** E
- Experience of fundraising and reporting on existing grants. **E
- Experience of developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external stakeholders**E
- Experience of developing, monitoring and evaluating services or projects in response to service user needs** D
- Experience of supervision of staff and volunteers in challenging, frontline services ** D
- Experience of delivering participatory training **D
Knowledge/ Technical Skills
- Working knowledge of issues affecting refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants**E
- Working knowledge and understanding of legal provisions and good practice in relation to vulnerable people**E
- Knowledge of statutory and voluntary services that provide support to refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants**E
- Understanding of how to develop and implement operating plans, policies and procedures**D
- Knowledge of health and safety good practice in a service delivery environment**D
- Understanding of how to collate and interpret service delivery information including statistics and user feedback**E
- Competent user of email, Word, Excel, databases, internet and social media**E
- Understanding of how to manage and monitor budgets**E
- Excellent interpersonal skills including conflict resolution and consultation skills**E
- Ability to communicate with people of diverse cultures and empower people by identifying and working with their strengths**E
Competencies
- Ability to write clearly and accurately and give verbal presentations**E
- Ability to work flexibly as part of a team**E
- Ability to motivate, develop and supervise others**E
- Ability to manage own time and workload and prioritise a range of competing tasks within the working hours allocated **E
- Ability to monitor and improve service quality through active consultation** E
Behaviours
- Able to ensure equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices and promote diversity**E
- Able to recognise and value the contribution of others**E
- Able to take responsibility for own actions and to undertake reflective learning**E
- Able to uphold confidentiality in all aspects of the work with service users, volunteers and colleagues**E
- Able to maintain boundaries in a demanding, frontline context**E
Special Circumstances
- Able to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends as required**E
- Able and willing to travel in Oxford and the surrounding Thames Valley area on a regular basis as necessary**E
- Current driving licence valid for use in the UK and access to own vehicle**D
E = Essential criteria
D = Desirable criteria
Sanctuary Hosting matches homeless asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants to people in the community who offer a spare room, at ... Read more
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Buckinghamshire Mind works to support and represent people with mental health problems living across the county. We tackle stigma and discrimination head-on. We support our service-users to live safe, purposeful and fulfilled lives in our communities. We believe in their recovery and are hopeful about their future. Working together with national Mind we will not give up until everyone in our community gets the respect and support they need.
Post Title: Crisis Services Manager
Reports to: Head of Operations
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours of Work: 37 hours per week
Some flexibility on working pattern with a minimum of 2 evening shifts per week (Wednesday and Thursday or Friday). The remaining hours to be worked throughout the week. Exact shift pattern to be agreed.
Holidays: 25 days per annum, plus 2 wellbeing days, plus bank holidays (pro-rata)
Pension: Auto-enrolment scheme in place
Probationary Period: Six Months
Place of Work: Across Aylesbury (Whiteleaf Centre and Ashton House) and High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire Mind High Wycombe Office) in line with the agreed shift pattern.
In line with Covid-19 guidance there will be a mix of face-to-face service delivery and working from home until restrictions are lifted.
Please note: From April 2021 is anticipated that further funding will become available to expand the service in High Wycombe to run 7 days per week.
ABOUT THE SAFE HAVEN SERVICE
The Safe Haven offers a welcoming, safe, friendly and non-stigmatising environment for people to access in times of out-of-hours crisis’ and as an alternative to A&E, or secondary mental health care. It offers a safe place for emotional support, resilience building and person-centered support. Its aim is to deliver the following key outcomes: -
- To provide a calm and welcoming environment for those people facing out-of- hours mental health crisis’ as an alternative to emergency departments.
- Treat service users with respect and provide personalised support focused on individual need.
- To prevent the escalation of a mental health crisis and thereby reduce A&E attendance and avoid hospital admissions.
- To raise service user awareness of alternative mental health services appropriate to personal need and circumstances and encourage their use to improve longer term mental health and well-being and reduce social isolation.
- To increase the independence and self-management skills of those people accessing the service.
ABOUT THE ROUGH SLEEPER INITIATIVE
The Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI) is delivered by several partner organisations, including Buckinghamshire Mind. The RSI supports individuals identified as rough sleeping, or in temporary housing in Aylesbury.
Buckinghamshire Mind’s Mental Health Support & Liaison Worker (MHSLW) is situated within the Rough Sleeper Initiative. The MHSLW provides personalised asset-based support to improve mental well-being and prevent mental health crises becoming a barrier to long-term housing solutions.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Crisis Services Manager will be responsible for the ongoing operational management and mobilisation of the anticipated future expansion of our Crisis Services. Additionally, they will provide line management to the Safe Haven Team Leads and the Mental Health Support & Liaison Worker. They will have significant experience of managing and developing staff, project management, ensuring operational quality and promoting equality and diversity.
They will have significant experience of supporting and coaching staff working in challenging environments with adults with challenging behaviour and complex needs.
Excellent organisation and decision-making skills are essential for this role, as it requires being able to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines and work unsupervised during evenings and weekends.
The Crisis Services Manager will be required to work collaboratively with the Head of Operations and will be proficient at communicating effectively with staff at all levels, a wide range of key stakeholders and service users. They will ensure the service is well resourced from a staffing perspective and embed high-quality operational plans and processes.
They will be responsible for the delivery, progression and continual improvement of Buckinghamshire Safe Haven and Buckinghamshire Mind’s contribution to the Rough Sleeper Initiative, including ensuring the achievement of all key performance indicator targets. They will have responsibility for ensuring Crisis services operate in line with organisational H&S processes and procedures and will be a member of the H&S committee.
SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT
- Supervision is provided by the Head of Operations on a regular basis.
- Buckinghamshire Mind has a system of annual appraisals.
- Buckinghamshire Mind is committed to training and allocates training according to a clearly defined annual training needs analysis.
- Buckinghamshire Mind is a Mindful Employer.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Tasks will vary from week-to-week depending on priorities, but regular tasks will include:
Operational Management
- To oversee the management of the Safe Haven and Rough Sleeper Initiative services in line with organisational values and service quality expectations.
- To continually drive enhancements to operational effectiveness and maximise outcomes against targets (key performance indicators) from Crisis Service delivery.
- To provide effective line management supervision to the Safe Haven Team Leads, the Mental Health Support & Liaison Worker including coaching and performance development.
- To collaborate with the Head of Operations and the HR Manager to deal with performance management/disciplinary issues confidently and effectively in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
- To ensure interpret performance and impact data for crisis services and be responsible for reporting against service targets.
- To mobilise the expansion of future crisis services in line with agreed project plans.
- To pro-actively develop relationships with external stakeholders in order to improve and develop crisis provision for people with mental health needs.
- To ensure excellence in the recruitment, training and ongoing support of staff and volunteers where applicable.
- To support the Safe Haven Team Leads to ensure adequate and appropriate staffing at all times within the Safe Haven service.
- To work closely with the Finance Manager to ensure the Safe Haven Services are delivered within the available budget.
Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust staff to support, develop and promote both the Safe Haven services.
- Manage the Mental Health Support & Liaison Worker to fully contribute to the Rough Sleeper Initiative partnership meetings and provide an interface to other Buckinghamshire Mind services.
- Establish excellent working relationships with out-of-hours services such as Emergency Services, Crisis Teams, SCAS and GPs, around inward and outward referrals.
- To attend and contribute towards meetings pertaining to patient care on behalf of the Safe Haven service, to ensure collaborative multi-agency working.
- Represent Buckinghamshire Mind at external meetings as agreed with the Head of Operations.
Quality and Compliance
- To work within Buckinghamshire Mind’s policies and procedures including Performance Management, Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Service User Involvement, Health and Safety, GDPR and Professional Boundaries.
- To embed all operational policies across managed services in line with a consistent organisational approach.
Service User Involvement
- To ensure high levels of meaningful service user involvement in service provision, responding to the needs of service users locally.
- Ensure bi-annual service users satisfaction surveys are undertaken.
Quality and Monitoring
- Ensure data and qualitative information is collected, collated and communicated to key partners and key stakeholders, as required and directed by the Head of Operations.
- Ensure that all managed services are effectively informed by service user feedback.
- Keep up to date with best practice and contribute to the continuous improvement of the service.
- Monitor the quality of the service and ensure appropriate data is collected (in line with GDPR) to monitor outputs and outcomes.
- Produce regular service summary reports.
- Attend and contribute to H&S committee meetings.
General
- Undertake such duties not included in the job description as are reasonably requested by the Head of Operations.
- This role involves out of hours working and a willingness to work flexibly is required.
- To keep line manager informed about other projects, events and related issues regarding Buckinghamshire Mind’s managed services.
- To prepare for supervision and use it effectively.
- To work in a flexible way to take on other responsibilities as appropriate.
NOTE: The post holder will be an employee of Buckinghamshire Mind but will also be given an honorary Oxford Health contract to access premises and read and upload patient notes.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The person specification seeks to define a person most likely to be suited to the job of Crisis Services Manager. Candidates are required to meet all the essential Conditions listed. E = essential criteria; D = desired criteria. Reference to both Conditions and Requirements in completing your application form will help in selecting candidates for interview.
Conditions
- Positively supports the aims and work of Buckinghamshire Mind (E)
Requirements
Qualifications and experience
- Managing services for vulnerable people in a service delivery organisation. (E)
- Excellent people and project management skills and significant experience of supporting and managing staff. (E)
- Experience of working in the voluntary sector. (D)
- Experience of working within a mental health crisis service or similar (E)
- Experience of working within a homelessness service. (D)
- Experience of motivating, developing and training staff. (E)
- Successful track record in performance management of staff. (D)
- Experience of creating and implementing safety and risk policies and procedures. (E)
- Compiling and interpreting performance data and reporting against service targets. (E)
- Successful track record in planning and project management. (E)
- Experience of report writing and presentation. (D)
- Supporting people with mental health problems. (E)
Knowledge
- Knowledge of and empathy for the issues facing people with mental health problems. (E)
- Knowledge of the day-to-day application of relevant legislation e.g., Health and Safety. (E)
- Understanding of the principles of ensuring safe service provision for people at risk and how these are put into practice. (E)
- Knowledge and understanding of the relevant statutory authorities including NHS and social care. (D)
Skills/attributes/abilities
- Excellent communication skills and able to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences. (E)
- Commitment to service user involvement and able to work with service user groups to develop this. (E)
- Is committed to working in an anti-oppressive way and striving to create equal opportunities for all people (E)
- Commitment to working within the policies of Buckinghamshire Mind including confidentiality and safeguarding. (E)
- Positive attitude, passionate about working for Buckinghamshire Mind and able to inspire people to higher levels of performance. (E)
- Team player and able to form positive, professional relationships with staff at all levels. (E)
- Able to work effectively with a range of external stakeholders. (E)
- Strong organisational skills and able to take control of own workload and meet deadlines. (E)
- Ability to work independently with minimum support. (E)
- Confident in challenging poor performance assertively, constructively and successfully. (E)
- High professional standards and the ability to communicate these clearly to others. (E)
- IT literate to aid communication and analysis of data. (E)
- Willing to undertake training and development. (E)
- Has a full driving licence and use of own vehicle (work related mileage will be paid) (E)
Employee Benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2 wellbeing days pro rata
- Sodexo employee benefits - access to a portal with discounts on supermarket shops, holidays, high-street shops, days out, cinema and gym membership
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme – free professional confidential counselling
- Childcare vouchers
- Annual leave purchase scheme
- Flu vaccinations
- Free eye tests
- Pension: Auto Enrolment (currently 3% employee contribution, 3% employer contribution
To apply, please send the following 2 documents:
- CV
- Supporting Statement (explaining how you meet each criteria in the job description)
Buckinghamshire Mind is an Equal Opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. Any offer made relating to this post will be subject to satisfactory references and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, therefore please apply as soon as possible.
Buckinghamshire Mind shares National Mind’s vision: “We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health... Read more