Head of jobs in taunton, england

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

Interview: The first round of panel interview scheduled to take place in Bristol on the 24th of June 2025.

Job purpose

The Clinical Lead will play a pivotal role in leading and developing Action for ME’s Healthcare Services with the Operations Director, ensuring the highest standards of clinical care for individuals affected by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). The postholder will be responsible for clinical oversight, service development, and leadership, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to enhance outcomes for children and adults with ME and will be the CQC Registered Manager for the service.

At present, the Healthcare Services is a small team with two doctors (GPs) and two physios. Our counsellors are overseen by a Counselling Lead Supervisor and our multi-faith Chaplains are supported by our Lead Chaplain.

We are keen to develop and expand our services, building on the small amount of spot purchasing from local commissioning boards and exploring a diagnosing and prescribing offer. We are also keen to explore the potential of increasing the range of disciplines offered within the team. You will play a key role in driving the strategy for our Healthcare Services with the Director of Operations.

Key responsibilities

• Provide clinical support and expertise to Action for ME's Healthcare Services, ensuring evidence-based, person-centred care.

• Act as Registered Manager for CQC (Care Quality Commission) purposes and ensure that the service meets all required standards.

• Lead the development and implementation of clinical policies, protocols, and best practices in line with national guidelines and regulatory requirements.

• Supervise and support healthcare professionals within the service, offering guidance, mentorship, and training.

• Designated safeguarding officer for Healthcare Services.

• Collaborate with external stakeholders, including NHS services, researchers, and others, to enhance healthcare provision for people with ME.

• Ensure the service complies with regulatory and safeguarding standards, including CQC requirements where applicable.

• Monitor and evaluate service delivery, using data-driven insights to improve clinical outcomes and patient experience.

• Provide expert advice on complex cases, supporting staff with clinical decision-making.

• Represent Action for M.E. at external forums, conferences, and policy discussions.

Person specification

• A registered healthcare professional (e.g., doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist) with active professional registration (GMC, NMC, HCPC or equivalent) OR an experienced commissioner of healthcare services with experience of quality assurance, safeguarding and compliance.

• Extensive clinical experience in chronic illness management OR sound understanding of clinical practice, ideally with expertise in ME or related conditions and a clear understanding of the challenges faced by people with ME.

• An understanding of Care Quality Commission regulatory requirements.

• Proven leadership experience in a healthcare setting, including team management and service development.

• Strong understanding of evidence-based practice and clinical governance.

• A sound understanding and experience of safeguarding children/young people and vulnerable adults.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.

• Experience in training and mentoring healthcare professionals.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment.

• Commitment to patient-centred care and advocacy for people with ME.

• Knowledge of NHS structures and commissioning processes.

• An understanding of working within the third sector or charitable organisations.

Do you share our dream of a UK where poverty is a thing of the past? 

Founded in 2019, the Poverty Truth Network believes that this can only happen when those most impacted by poverty are at the heart of the movement to end it. Our specific contribution brings together people experiencing poverty with those with responsibilities for alleviating it. “Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us.” 

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we are recruiting for an Operations Manager who will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Poverty Truth Network, including the oversight of systems, staff performance and finances. 

You will be a highly motivated person with a clear leadership record; dedicated to social justice; with a proven track record of operational delivery, including financial, administrative and governance management.

Key tasks of the role:

• To form part of the Core Leadership Team, providing overall strategic leadership across the Network 
• To lead on the financial management of the Poverty Truth Network, including the delivery of Management Accounts and the production of an annual budget
• To manage the Operations Team, setting clear goals and objectives linked to the Strategic Plan
• To lead on and establish the appropriate processes to ensure high levels of staff performance and development, including appraisals and performance management 
• To develop, and where necessary implement, administrative systems which ensure effective, efficient and safe practice across the Network
• To ensure that the Network operates in line with its charitable purposes, overseeing changes to its constitution as and when necessary
• To regularly update the Charity’s policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with the relevant regulations / legislation, providing advice to the Director and trustees as appropriate 
• To oversee the production and sharing of papers for trustees in an organised and timeous manner
• To oversee the effective running of online and in-person meetings and events for the Network, liaising with other teams as appropriate
• To lead on the delivery of the Network’s Support Grant Programme
• To deputise for the Director as and when required
• Undertake other activities as needed dependent on jobholder’s knowledge, skills and experience

This role involves working from home with some travel.

Do you share our dream of a UK where poverty is a thing of the past? 

Founded in 2019, the Poverty Truth Network believes that this can only happen when those most impacted by poverty are at the heart of the movement to end it. Our specific contribution brings together people experiencing poverty with those with responsibilities for alleviating it. “Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us.” 

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the PTN is recruiting a Partnerships Manager who will provide management and oversight of key partnerships essential to the delivery of the Network’s Strategic Plan, with a specific focus on the development and delivery of Regional Hubs.

You will have experience of establishing and delivering partnerships; dedicated to social justice; a commitment to collaborative working; and proven management experience.

Key Tasks

• To form part of the Core Leadership Team, providing overall strategic leadership across the Network 
• To manage the Partnership team, setting clear goals and objectives linked to the Strategic Plan 
• To lead on the development and support of Regional Hubs, including support with grant funding and income generation
• To act as the primary point of contact with Regional Hubs, for initial enquiries and ongoing relationships, including with staff and trustees
• To provide oversight of the Network’s Parliamentary work in Westminster and across the devolved administrations
• To oversee the Network’s Learning & Evaluation framework, offering insight and advice as appropriate, ensuring that agreed activities are delivered on time and in budget 
• To be the primary point of contact for partners working alongside the Network to deliver change in line with its Strategic Plan
• To recruit external partners to participate in the Mutual Mentoring programme
• To liaise closely with members of the Amplify Team in the development of national partnerships
• To develop and support work with creative partners to highlight the resilience of those struggling to overcome poverty
• To deputise for the Director as and when required
• To undertake other activities as needed dependent on jobholder’s knowledge, skills and experience

This role involves working from home with some travel.