At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead support services to make a real difference for those affected by gambling harm.
- Company: Join Betknowmore UK, a leader in preventing gambling-related harm.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Embrace a dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while leading innovative support initiatives.
- Qualifications: Management experience in mental health or addiction services is essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Lead a growing portfolio of support services making a real difference to people affected by gambling harm. At Betknowmore UK, we work to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm through support, education, training and community engagement, embracing the insight and knowledge of 'Experts by Experience' alongside evidence-based approaches.
As our Head of Support Services, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership across our Triage, Peer Aid, New Beginnings and Affected Other teams, and lead the development of a strong, sustainable London-based service offer that establishes our presence and reach across the capital. Reporting to the Director of Services and leading a team of service managers, you'll ensure our services are safe, effective, person-centred and delivered to a consistently high standard, while strengthening pathways into and through support and ensuring services meet their contractual, quality and impact objectives.
What you'll be doing:
- Providing operational oversight and leadership across our peer support services, with effective line management of service managers and direct reports.
- Maintaining oversight of service demand, capacity, waiting times and service user pathways, and addressing operational risks and barriers to delivery.
- Monitoring service performance, quality and outcomes, using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement.
- Ensuring safeguarding and risk management procedures are understood and consistently applied, and that trauma-informed, person-centred principles are embedded in practice.
- Ensuring staff and volunteers receive effective induction, supervision, training and development, and promoting a psychologically informed culture that supports the wellbeing of a lived-experience workforce.
- Building and maintaining relationships with commissioners, treatment providers and referral partners, and representing Betknowmore UK at external meetings and partnership forums.
- Managing delegated service budgets and resources, and contributing to service planning, forecasting and funding bids.
- Championing lived experience and co-production, and promoting equality, diversity, inclusion and equitable access to support.
We're interested in hearing from candidates who have:
- Lived experience of addiction-related harms, either directly or as an affected other.
- Significant management experience within mental health, social care, addiction, recovery, peer support or a related field.
- Experience leading complex support services and managing service managers or multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong experience of performance management, service improvement and workforce leadership.
- A good understanding of safeguarding, risk management and safe service delivery.
- Experience working within commissioned or contract-funded services.
- The ability to use data and evidence to improve performance and outcomes.
- Strong communication, leadership and partnership-working skills, with a commitment to lived experience-led and person-centred practice.
- A degree-level qualification (or equivalent professional qualification) and substantial senior leadership experience in a relevant field such as mental health, public health or social care is essential.
- Lived experience of gambling harms, management experience within gambling harms services, experience within NHS or statutory commissioning, and knowledge of NICE guidance, CQC standards or comparable quality frameworks would all be advantageous.
Head of Support Services in City of Westminster employer: Betknowmore UK
Betknowmore UK is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by gambling harm. With a strong commitment to equality and inclusion, we foster a supportive work culture that values lived experience and encourages professional growth through training and development opportunities. Located in a vibrant community, our team enjoys a collaborative environment where every contribution is valued, making it a rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Support Services in City of Westminster
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Betknowmore UK.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Betknowmore UK!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Betknowmore UK, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Betknowmore UK or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Support Services in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Betknowmore UK:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Betknowmore UK! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Betknowmore UK
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
