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- Tasks: Lead and support a creative team in enhancing mental health services for East Sussex residents.
- Company: Join East Sussex County Council, dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, a generous pension scheme, and access to extensive training opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative culture focused on growth, creativity, and meaningful social impact.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in social services management and relevant professional qualifications required.
- Other info: Interviews via Microsoft Teams; flexible scheduling available for candidates.
We are looking for an individual who can support our workforce in its growth and creativity while collaborating with our residents of East Sussex. The ideal candidate will be creative in supporting value for money and providing appropriate opportunities for residents to have choice and control to meet their needs. Our ethos is to work collaboratively across internal sectors and with our external partners to support strength-based work and future developments.
You will require significant experience in working within the mental health sector to support the growth of our service. You will be supported to access further training to enhance your career progression. The role entails managing Practice Managers to maintain quality practice and continue to create opportunities for driving forward developments, utilising relevant data and consulting with stakeholders.
We are currently undertaking several developments that you would be expected to lead on with the support of the Head of Service. Health and Social Care are moving to several government transitions, and we need to support and grow our current systems and workforce to meet them. The Operational Manager has a fundamental role in leading this forward, so we require the candidate to have a strong history of working in Mental Health and substantial experience working with a statutory organisation.
We are seeking candidates with the following experience:
- Significant Social Services managerial experience
- Strategic service planning
- Local budgetary control
- The management of change
- Relevant Professional Qualification (e.g., social work, occupational therapy)
- Relevant Management qualification or willingness to complete Chartered Manager (Level 6) apprenticeship, which will be funded by the Council.
To apply for this role please follow the 'Apply Now' button above and upload your CV with a covering letter explaining how you meet the job specification criteria. This job advert might close earlier than the stipulated closing date if a large volume of applicants is received.
Interviews will take place week commencing the 14 or 21 July via Microsoft Teams unless you request an in-person interview. If you are unavailable to attend the allocated interview date, let us know and we may be able to schedule an alternative date for you.
There are many rewards working for East Sussex County Council, some of these include:
- Generous pension scheme
- Hybrid working
- Access to training
- Lease car scheme (subject to qualifying criteria)
- Access to our extensive wellbeing and wellness training
- Annual registration fee with Social Work England will be reimbursed
We have a committed workforce who strives to work alongside people who require a service. We are open to initiatives to support positive outcomes by working in a strength-based approach; we would like an Operational Manager with the same ethos to enhance our services.
For more information about our diverse range of benefits please click on the link to show the benefits page. For an informal discussion, please email Bev.Hull@eastsussex.gov.uk.
“For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!”
Operations Manager employer: East Sussex County Council
Contact Detail:
East Sussex County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the mental health sector in East Sussex. Understanding local challenges and opportunities will help you demonstrate your commitment to supporting the community during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the mental health field, especially those who have experience with statutory organisations. This can provide you with insights and potentially valuable connections that may help you stand out as a candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your strategic service planning experience in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed change and improved services in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the ethos and values of East Sussex County Council. Aligning your personal values with theirs and being able to articulate this during your interview will show that you're a great cultural fit for the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure your cover letter specifically addresses the job description. Highlight your experience in the mental health sector and how it aligns with the role's requirements, particularly your managerial experience and strategic service planning.
Showcase Relevant Qualifications: Clearly outline your relevant professional qualifications, such as social work or occupational therapy, and mention any management qualifications you possess or are willing to pursue, like the Chartered Manager (Level 6) apprenticeship.
Demonstrate Collaborative Skills: Emphasise your ability to work collaboratively across sectors and with external partners. Provide examples of past experiences where you successfully led teams or projects that required strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
Highlight Change Management Experience: Discuss your experience with managing change within organisations, especially in the context of social services. Include specific examples of how you've navigated transitions and supported workforce growth in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at East Sussex County Council
✨Showcase Your Experience in Mental Health
Make sure to highlight your significant experience in the mental health sector during the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've supported service growth and collaborated with stakeholders in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
The role requires strategic service planning, so come equipped with ideas on how you would approach this. Discuss any past experiences where you successfully managed change or implemented new strategies that improved service delivery.
✨Emphasise Collaborative Skills
Since the position involves working collaboratively across sectors, be ready to share examples of how you've effectively worked with both internal teams and external partners. Highlight your ability to foster teamwork and drive collective goals.
✨Prepare for Questions on Budget Management
As local budgetary control is a key aspect of the role, prepare to discuss your experience managing budgets. Be ready to explain how you've ensured value for money in previous positions and how you would apply that knowledge in this role.
