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.  

Income Generation Manager

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Part time - 30 hours per week

Salary: £35,134 to £39,804 pro rata

Locations: Flexible

Start Date: Immediate Start

Connection Support is excited to announce a new post being created to implement our charity’s latest strategy to generate and diversify its income. We are looking for someone to bring enthusiasm, professionalism, personable and persuasive communication both in person and writing to the process of establishing a distinct, charity focussed fundraising strategy to generate supplementary income through grants, individual givers, events and other means, during this very exciting time for us.

From a fundraising/charity background, you have experience and a proven track record of fundraising from individual and company donors and grant making organisations and can facilitate people to plan and work together so that income generation targets are achieved.

You will be part of our senior management team working together to help us to reach more vulnerable people and make a greater difference to peoples lives.

Put simply, it’s about making a difference. A real difference.

The full Job Description and Person specification is available on our website.

This is an exciting time for Citizens Advice services in Buckinghamshire. The charities Citizens Advice Aylesbury Vale, Citizens Advice Chiltern and Citizens Advice High Wycombe District are merging to become Citizens Advice Bucks. Like the constituent organisations that will form it have done for many years, this new charity will provide independent and impartial advice on debt, benefits, housing, employment and family issues that will help people get their lives back on track, as well as using on the ground knowledge to improve local and national social policy.

While the merger was planned long before the COVID 19 crisis, this newly formed, larger organisation will be better placed to meet the increasing demand for our services. It also matches the geography of one of our primary funders, the newly formed unity authority, Buckinghamshire Council, which will allow us to build strong working relationships at county level.

Each of the constituent charities have considerable areas of strength, providing services that respond to the need in their local communities. Citizens Advice Bucks must maintain these strengths and the local focus of services, whilst also ensuring the same high quality, availability and consistency of services across the county, and developing a strong, shared internal culture across the new charity.

We believe that in these times more people than ever will need money advice – and we need someone to help us grow this service; to meet the exacting requirements of contracts that we have in this area; and to support and develop our staff and volunteers as we change to meet the demands placed on us. 

We are looking for a Money Advice Manager to join the team

Key details

Organisation: Citizens Advice Bucks

Job Title: Money Advice Manager

Salary : £35 000 per annum

Length of contract and hours: 12 months FTC, Full time

Location: Buckinghamshire

Key responsibilities  

• You will be the manager of the new Bucks Money Advice Service (BMAS), including debt advice and financial capability services, ensuring services are managed, monitored, evaluated, and developed effectively and efficiently.
• You will ensure BMAS delivers a high-quality money advice service throughout Buckinghamshire
• You will work alongside the Chair of the Financial Insecurity Partnership, leading the Citizens Advice Bucks  research, campaigns and advocacy work related to financial insecurity and debt issues, making the case for policy, practice and systemic change to policy makers and creditors.
• You will also be responsible for maintaining good relationships with funders of money advice and financial capability services, ensuring reports are delivered, and for assisting with the development of new income streams for these services, in close liaison with the Head of Development & Communications.

The successful candidate will have

• Proven ability to manage effective services, preferably in the money advice sector.
• Proven ability to plan, manage and report on projects and budgets (including to funders) and contribute to decisions on the allocation of resources.
• Proven ability to develop and sustain effective partnerships.
•  An understanding of quality standards preferably within the money advice sector, and the ability to ensure that these standards are met.
•  Excellent understanding of debt and financial insecurity issues and effective interventions to alleviate them.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing and use IT systems for the provision of advice, research and campaign services.
•  Proven ability to manage people including the ability to recruit, develop and motivate staff and volunteers.
• Proven ability to monitor and maintain casework systems and procedures, service delivery against agreed targets and analyse and interpret complex information produce and present reports verbally and in writing.

We encourage applicants who are from underrepresented groups with protected characteristics, as we value having a diverse pool of applicants to find the best candidate.

Closing date for applications: 9:00 am, Monday 25th January 2021

SERVE is a registered charity In Northamptonshire providing a range of services for Older People and People with Disabilities.  SERVE activities and services support independence to enable those people to live independently in their own homes.

Background

[email protected] is a befriending service that has been running for several years, we are now in a unique position to extend the provision at scale throughout Northamptonshire.

The Northamptonshire Healthcare Partnership (NHCP) consists of key health and care organisations in the county.  Whilst the organisations all remain separate entities with their own responsibilities, they are committed to working together towards a positive future for community services. 

The NHCP has embarked on a major new programme of transformation work, called ‘Integrated Care across Northamptonshire’ (iCAN).  Its purpose is to deliver refreshed focus and way to improve the quality of care and achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes for older and frailer people across the county, supporting them to maintain independence and resilience for as long as possible. 

The countywide befriending programme will contribute towards the Community Resilience Pillar of the iCAN transformation programme which aims to support older and frailer people to live independently, to prevent hospital admission and delay the need for more intensive social care.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are looking for someone to lead and manage the countywide befriending service and oversee the operation of multiple befriending programmes in partnership with the NHCP and other statutory and voluntary organisations.

Older people can live in complex and challenging situations if they have no network of family, friends, or community to call on.  Our current befriending service receives regular referrals from statutory and voluntary sector partners and since the COVID-19 pandemic this has increased.  Service users are vulnerable and frail - the options available to them before the pandemic were limited as they very often did not leave their homes, now it is even harder for them.

[email protected] provides trained volunteer supporters to visit and befriend lonely, isolated, vulnerable older people in the community. Supporters receive training, are DBS checked and become our ears and eyes to prevent issues escalating thus preventing hospital admissions, further ill health and perhaps admission to residential care. Referrals are received, assessments carried out & volunteers & service users matched to ensure a successful outcome.

The programme aims to prevent deterioration of mental health, promote confidence and independence, and enable residents to be active where possible in their communities, and access existing available services and promote social inclusion.

Duties and Key Responsibilities

• Responsible to the management of Countywide Northamptonshire Befriending Programme, monitoring service delivery levels.
• To use appropriate systems to monitor and evidence the work of the service, and help to gather, update and organize relevant information in line with Serve and iCAN outcomes.
• Responsible for all safeguarding matters relating to the service, directly reporting to existing pathways and if necessary to the Chief Executive.
• Ensure that services are maintained to the highest standard and support further development.
• Liaise with stakeholders, including health and social care and the  voluntary organizations.
• Prepare monthly written and statistical reports for the Chief Executive and liaise with iCAN groups as needed.
• Organise and Chair meetings in order to monitor service progress, development and share information.
• Prepare and deliver presentations as and when required.
• Evaluate the programme including preparation of case studies for the Chief Executive.
• Manage and support the befriending coordinators employed by Serve and work closely with partner organizations coordinators to maintain consistency of service.
• Be part of the management team, working closely with Senior Management.
• Engage with statutory services and other partners who promote service user enablement.
• Attend regular meetings with the Chief Executive.
• To work collaboratively with fundraising and media campaigns teams
• Organise, attend and take an active role in social events within the County.
• Organise attend annual volunteer events.
• Attend training events to keep up to date on developments on issues affecting older people.
• Attend occasional evening or weekend events or meetings (time in lieu will be given)
• To represent and incorporate the organisations mission and values in your role on a day-to-day basis.
• Carry out any other duties consistent with the responsibilities of this post as requested by the Chief Executive.

This role will be a mix of home, community and office based working. On occasion, there maybe some out of hours working, time off in lieu will be given.

Hours:  Monday to Friday  - 8.30pm to 16.30pm

Holidays - 28 days (including bank holidays), extra days off at Christmas

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Understand the needs of older people in the community.

• Understand the support needs of staff and volunteers.
• Knowledge and understanding of the impact on health and wellbeing of loneliness and isolation.
• At least two years’ experience working at senior management level in a similar role.
• Experience of working in partnership and developing strong relationships with statutory and/or voluntary organisations.
• Experience of people management and/or support
• Knowledge of relevant legislation
• Microsoft Experience and the ability to produce statistical and operational reports including powerpoint.
• Good planning and organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent telephone, verbal and written communication
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team.
• Ability to set priorities and manage workload while remaining responsive to events.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills and to plan pro-actively.
• Ability to take an active role in any future developments of the service.
• An understanding of Equal Opportunities and how it applies to the work of the charity.
• Must have a full drivers’ license and access to a vehicle.
• Ability to travel throughout Northamptonshire as required.
• Must be willing to have an enhanced DBS check through the Disclosure and Barring Service

Desirable

• Experience of marketing or promoting a service.
• Personal experience of volunteering

Please send a cover letter detailing your experience in Project Management in a similar role,  CV's received without a cover letter will not be accepted.

Interviews will be held in Rushden on the following dates.

Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th April 2021.

Deadline for applications is Friday 26th March 2021, 4.00pm.

This exciting opportunity is suitable for an individual who shares our core values of care and compassion, and who can work with initiative in a fast-paced project management environment.

NOAH Enterprise is a charity that helps homeless and disadvantaged people to improve their lives by providing emotional and physical care, training in employable skills and work experience opportunities in our charitable businesses. We are driven by our values of Care, Compassion and Commitment, which were inspired by Saint Vincent de Paul, and led to the founding of NOAH and its humble service of those in need.

This pivotal role is based at the heart of our Training and Employment Academy in Luton. The successful candidate will work as part of our team delivering projects that change lives for the better. It is a permanent full-time role (Part-time considered) suited to an individual who shares our core values of care and compassion and who can work with initiative in a fast-paced project management environment.

The ideal candidate for this role will have strong IT, planning and prioritisation skills. They will be committed to providing excellent customer service which appropriately reflects our organisational values, and the value that we place upon each individual who accesses our services.

It is essential that applicants are committed to the core values of care, compassion, commitment and love of the people we work with. Successful candidates will seek to serve those that we support and will be able to demonstrate this at interview.

Applications are via CV and supporting statement form, which you can find on our website.

Application Deadline: 15/03/2021

Lymphoma Action are the UK's only charity dedicated to lymphoma, the fifth most common cancer. The charity provides information and support whilst driving improvements in the diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of lymphoma. They give advice and guidance, endorsed by medical experts, to help empower those affected to understand the complexities of lymphoma. From symptom awareness through to diagnosis, treatment and beyond, Lymphoma Action are there to help at every step, providing reassurance to those affected and supporting doctors and nurses to deliver the best possible treatment and care.

This is an exciting time to join Lymphoma Action as they move towards their 35th anniversary this year. The charity is now looking for a Director of Services and External Affairs to lead their award-winning directorate, with a key focus on leading their service delivery team and influencing external stakeholders. You will lead the strategic development of Lymphoma Action's support services and volunteering function, ensuring this meets the needs of all those affected. You will also be an ambassador and voice of the people affected by lymphoma, representing their needs and leading on external affairs and policy work. As an integral part of the Senior Management Team, you will drive strategic direction and provide thought leadership on service delivery, development, innovation and inclusion. In addition, you will support the charity by managing changes brought on by COVID-19 and build on the digital development which was accelerated by the pandemic.

The successful candidate will be an inspiring and empowering leader, working collaboratively with others to help Lymphoma Action to achieve their ambitious goals. You will have experience of operating at strategic level in a similar support service/service delivery environment. You will also have experience of building high level external partnerships and influencing. Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and impact measurement will be important, along with budgeting and business planning experience. Whilst expertise and experience are important, Lymphoma Action are also open to recruiting for potential in this role, and understand that there may be development areas that the Charity can support you with.

Prospectus are delighted to be partnering with Lymphoma Action to recruit for this vacancy. Please apply with your CV only in the first instance, in Microsoft Word format. Following your initial application you may be contacted by Prospectus for an informal discussion, and may be asked to provide further information to assist with the recruitment process.

Please note, due to high volumes of interest in vacancies it may not be possible to answer all individual queries on positions prior to an application or registration. However, if you do have any specific questions not covered in the Candidate Pack please call Steven Fraser at Prospectus.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community.