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- Tasks: Lead operational services to ensure safe, high-quality, person-centred support.
- Company: Mainstay, a leader in delivering innovative care services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while shaping the future of care services.
- Qualifications: Experience in service delivery and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on continuous improvement and community impact.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Head of Service Delivery will provide senior operational leadership across all Mainstay DRP services, ensuring regulated (Residential Living, Supported Living, Short Breaks) and unregulated (Day Opportunities including Social Enterprise) services are safe, effective, person-centred, compliant, and aligned with Mainstay’s values and strategic plan. The postholder will also serve as the Organisational Safeguarding Lead, ensuring compliance with Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership (2015) and providing organisation-wide leadership, assurance, and oversight of safeguarding practice. This role builds operational resilience, enhances service quality, strengthens safeguarding governance, and forms a critical component of Mainstay’s succession planning and leadership pipeline.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic and Operational Leadership
- Lead all operational service areas to deliver safe, high-quality, person-centred support.
- Line-manage Managers, embedding consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure services meet regulatory and contractual requirements including RQIA, Supporting People, Trust contracts, and funder specifications.
- Ensure service delivery reflects Mainstay’s strategic priorities and aligns with NI system reform, including We Matter, HSC Reset, and the Disability and Work Strategy.
- Translate organisational strategy into operational delivery plans with measurable outcomes.
- Lead service development and innovation, ensuring services support independence, inclusion, meaningful lives, and transitions.
- Drive a learning organisation culture — reflective practice, learning reviews, and quality improvement cycles.
- Organisational Safeguarding Lead
- Provide expert safeguarding leadership across Mainstay.
- Ensure organisational compliance with Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership (2015) and NIASP procedures.
- Advise the CEO and Board on safeguarding matters, emerging risks, and trends.
- Lead safeguarding governance, ensuring strong alignment with quality, risk, and incident management frameworks.
- Act as the principal point of contact with HSC Trusts, PSNI, RQIA, Supporting People, and other safeguarding partners.
- Ensure consistent safeguarding practice across all services.
- Provide expert advice on safeguarding concerns, risk thresholds, and decision-making.
- Ensure safeguarding concerns are reported, investigated proportionately, recorded accurately, and closed appropriately.
- Ensure staff have appropriate safeguarding training and competency.
- Oversee and audit safeguarding records.
- Produce the Annual Adult Safeguarding Position Report.
- Identify emerging safeguarding themes and lead organisational learning.
- Quality, Safety and Compliance
- Ensure consistent implementation of governance, audit, incident reporting, and quality assurance systems.
- Monitor regulatory compliance across all operational services.
- Lead internal quality reviews for safeguarding, risk, and service effectiveness.
- Prepare services for RQIA inspections and manage post-inspection improvements.
- Ensure high standards of practice in medication, care planning, risk enablement, incident management, and safeguarding.
- Workforce Leadership and Culture
- Model and promote Mainstay’s values.
- Provide strong leadership to Managers and teams.
- Ensure effective supervision, appraisal, staff development, and workforce planning.
- Lead initiatives that strengthen retention, wellbeing, reflective practice, and competence.
- Support the development of future leaders through mentoring and succession planning.
- Transitions, Carer Support, and Community Inclusion
- Lead work on transitions including children to adult services, family home to supported/independent living, and internal transitions.
- Oversee implementation of carer support initiatives.
- Strengthen partnership working with families and carers.
- Drive volunteering, skills-building, and supported employment pathways.
- Work with the CEO and Finance Team to ensure efficient operational budgets.
- Support financial planning, workforce establishment control, and efficiency.
- Contribute to business cases, funding proposals, and service expansion planning.
Head Of Service Delivery in Downpatrick employer: MAINSTAY DRP
Contact Detail:
MAINSTAY DRP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Service Delivery in Downpatrick
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Service Delivery role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Mainstay's values and strategic priorities. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their mission. We want to see that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for the culture!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on articulating your leadership style and how you’ve driven service quality and compliance in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Mainstay team and contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Service Delivery in Downpatrick
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Head of Service Delivery role. Highlight your leadership experience and how it relates to operational service delivery, as this will show us you understand what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Values: At StudySmarter, we value person-centred approaches and compliance. Use your application to demonstrate how your personal values align with Mainstay’s mission and strategic priorities. This will help us see that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for our culture.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experiences. Avoid jargon and focus on what makes you the best candidate for the job.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures that we receive all your details correctly and helps us keep track of your application. Plus, it’s the easiest way for us to get in touch with you if we want to move forward.
How to prepare for a job interview at MAINSTAY DRP
✨Know the Organisation Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly research Mainstay and its values. Understand their approach to service delivery, especially in relation to safeguarding and compliance. This will help you align your answers with their strategic priorities and demonstrate your commitment to their mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a Head of Service Delivery, you'll need to exhibit strong leadership skills. Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully led teams, managed operational challenges, or implemented quality improvements. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Prepare for Safeguarding Scenarios
Given the importance of safeguarding in this role, be ready to discuss your experience with safeguarding practices. Think about how you've handled safeguarding concerns in the past and be prepared to share your insights on emerging risks and trends in the sector.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, take the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions. Inquire about Mainstay's future plans for service development or how they measure success in service delivery. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the organisation is the right fit for you.
