Deputy service director jobs in barton le clay, central bedfordshire

PSPA is the only national charity offering support and information to people living with the rare, incurable, degenerative brain diseases called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD). Our purpose is to create a better future for everyone affected by PSP and CBD.  We provide much needed support to people and their families living with these devastating neurological conditions. We also invest in research to deepen our understanding of the conditions with the goal of reducing the time to accurate diagnosis and discovering treatments and an eventual cure. Since 2024 we have increased our investment in awareness raising of these relatively unknown diseases.

Since the charity was formed 31 years ago, we have made significant progress in raising awareness and supporting people living with these devastating neurological conditions.  Research estimates there are 10,000 people living with PSP and CBD in the UK.  PSPA currently supports around 2,100 people living with PSP, 415 people with CBD and a furter 3,000 people who are supporting someone with these conditions.  Alongside this we provide education and advice to over 2,000 Health and Social Care Professionals.

Helpline & Support Services Manager

Reports to: Director of Service Improvement and Development

Responsible for: 6 Helpline Care Navigators (HCNs)
Location: Hybrid – minimum one day per week in Milton Keynes office, remainder from home
Hours: 28 hours per week (some evening and weekend hours may be required)
Salary: £32,400 per annum (FTE £40,500)
Contract Type: Permanent, Part-Time
Benefits:

• Employer contribution to a workplace-defined pension scheme
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Employee Assistance Programme (UK Healthcare)

Make a Difference Every Day

At PSPA, we support people living with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD)—two rare and complex neurological conditions. As our Helpline and Support Services Manager, you’ll lead a small, passionate team dedicated to providing high-quality support to individuals and families at critical moments in their lives.

This is more than a management role—it’s a chance to drive real change, improve lives, and lead a service that’s a lifeline for many across the UK.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and Inspire: Manage and support a team of 6 Helpline Care Navigators (including posts based in Scotland and Wales), and a team of volunteers providing out-of-hours support.
• Deliver Impact: Ensure people affected by PSP & CBD receive timely, empathetic, and accurate support and information.
• Enhance Support Services: Design and deliver tailored support groups, including groups for carers and people who are newly diagnosed.
• Champion Service Quality: Monitor performance, gather data, and use insights to shape and improve service delivery.
• Promote Inclusion & Safety: Ensure all services are accessible and comply with safeguarding and equality standards.
• Lead in Safeguarding: Act as Deputy Safeguarding Lead, maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all service users.
• Collaborate & Influence: Work with internal teams to ensure service user voices influence policy, communications, and PSPA publications.

Key Responsibilities

• Line manage, develop, and support the helpline team and volunteers.
• Lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of support services.
• Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to deliver evening helpline services.
• Develop and implement policies to ensure safe, effective, and evidence-based service delivery.
• Ensure all work reflects the lived experience of people affected by PSP & CBD.
• Support the creation of new services and resources based on community need.
• Contribute to the editorial direction of PSPA’s magazine, ensuring it reflects service users' perspectives.
• Deputise for the Director of Service Improvement and Development, including leadership responsibilities and safeguarding oversight.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in managing a helpline, support, or care service.
• Strong people management and team development skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills—empathetic, clear, and confident.
• Experience working with people affected by complex health or neurological conditions.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and procedures.
• Ability to use data and insights to monitor and improve services.
• Skilled in designing and facilitating support sessions or groups.
• Comfortable working independently, flexibly, and across remote/hybrid teams.
• Confident IT user, including case management and reporting systems.
• Familiarity with equality, diversity, and inclusion best practices in health or care settings.

Desirable

• Experience of managing volunteers or out-of-hours services.
• Knowledge of PSP, CBD, or rare and neurological conditions.

Personal Attributes

• Compassionate and person-centred in approach
• Strong leadership presence, able to motivate and empower others
• Detail-oriented and organised, yet flexible and adaptable
• Committed to continuous improvement
• Collaborative and open to feedback
• Passionate about making a difference for people with rare conditions

If you’re looking for a meaningful role where your leadership can directly improve lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Professional Communities Manager

Reporting to: Director of Membership

Line Manager Responsibility for: Professional Communities Co-ordinator

Location: This is a remote UK-based role with regular travel to CST’s national and regional events, mainly in Birmingham and London. Candidates within reasonable travel distance to these locations are preferred.

Salary: £41,603 - £45,470 a year.

Pension: We offer a workplace pension and life assurance scheme. CST makes contributions equivalent to 10% of your gross salary.

Annual leave: Initially 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with an additional two days leave after three years’ service.

Working hours: Full-time 37.5 hours.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 27th August 2025, 12 noon.

Interview Date: First stage interviews will be conducted on Tuesday 9th September 2025, second stage interviews will be conducted on Thursday 11th September 2025.

Job overview

The Professional Communities Manager leads the development, content curation, and operational delivery of CST’s 11 Professional Communities. These networks, events, and forums are a core benefit of CST membership and are provided free of charge to members.

This is a proactive, member-focused role that blends operational excellence with strategic content oversight. The postholder will work directly with community chairs, subject experts, community supporters, CST platinum partners and members to ensure that all communities are vibrant, professionally hosted, and deliver high-quality, relevant content.

The role also plays a key part in ensuring a joined-up approach to content across CST’s full range of activities, working closely with the professional learning and conference teams and partnerships to ensure alignment and maximise value for members.

Key responsibilities

 Strategic Development and Continuous Improvement

• Develop and implement strategic plans to strengthen the value, engagement, and content of CST Professional Communities.
• Set clear objectives and KPIs to monitor success and drive continuous improvement of community services.
• Regularly evaluate community activity, identifying ways to increase engagement, relevance, and impact for members.

Community Content Curation and Management

• Oversee the quality, consistency, and relevance of content across all 11 Professional Communities, ensuring alignment with member priorities and organisational objectives.
• Work in partnership with community chairs, subject experts, community supporters and CST’s platinum partnerships to proactively commission, curate, and quality-assure community content (e.g., webinars, blogs, resources, discussions).
• Work closely with the professional learning and conference teams to ensure a joined-up, coherent approach to content across CST activity, avoiding duplication and enhancing overall member value.
• Identify content gaps and work creatively, including drawing upon resources and contacts within the policy and partnership team to address them, ensuring a balanced and evolving programme across the communities.

Community Engagement and Facilitation

• Lead and facilitate virtual and in-person community events, ensuring professional delivery and high-quality member interaction.
• Support and brief speakers, chairs, and contributors to ensure a consistently excellent experience for members.
• Actively promote member engagement through community platforms and other channels, driving participation and interaction.

 Stakeholder Relationships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with CST members, community chairs, speakers, and supporters.
• Collaborate with internal colleagues across membership, communications, professional learning, policy, and conference teams to maximise the impact of community activities.
• Manage relationships with sponsors where appropriate, ensuring alignment with CST values.

Digital Platform and Event Management

• Oversee the effective use of digital and platforms (including CiviCRM and Hivebrite,) to host communities, deliver events, and share content.
• Manage operational aspects of events and online communities, ensuring smooth logistics and excellent user experience.

Data, Insight, and Reporting

• Monitor and report on community engagement, content performance, and member feedback, using data to guide improvements.
• Lead the ongoing development of data processes for the communities, ensuring accurate insights are captured and shared.

Team Leadership and Development

• Manage, develop, and support the Professional Communities Coordinator, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Encourage learning and development across the team to ensure consistently excellent member service.

Adaptability and Wider Contribution

• Contribute to broader membership engagement strategies and initiatives.
• Undertake any other duties as required by the Director of Membership to support CST’s mission