Deputy Service Manager

Deputy Service Manager

Application Deadline

Department

Operations

Employment Type

Permanent

Location

York Road Accommodation Service

Reporting To

Sarah Gwenzi

Compensation

• £29567.22 per annum (basic salary) plus £1900 per annum (geographical allowance)
• Description

To support the Service Manager with the management of the service and the building, providing guidance, supervision and support to staff to ensure the provision of a recovery-focused service, working with people with very complex and challenging recovery needs, utilising elements of personalisation to improve engagement and promote reliable, timely and positive outcomes.

Deputise for the Service Manager in their absence.

There will be some shift work, cleaning duties and support with day to day living.

Key Responsibilities

• Take a lead role and provide support and advice to staff in creating and reviewing robust risk assessments, producing and agreeing management plans, personalised recovery support plans (identifying goals and aspirations and detailing activities and interventions) and structured move‑in plans with new residents.
• Assess new service users, liaise with professionals, other mental health placements and hospitals and prepare management plans for individuals prior to admission to York Road.
• Support individuals to achieve their goals and aspirations through individual key work, targeted recovery outcomes‑focused interventions and person‑centred planning, utilising a core and flexi approach, enabling service users to choose who would like to support them with each task.
• Organise weekly key worker sessions with individual clients, using Recovery Star, WRAP and person‑centred planning tools.

Sessions will focus on mental health insight, awareness and resilience, medication management including self‑medication, symptom management, coping strategies and self‑management techniques.

Key workers will also help clients create their own advance directives and advance statements.

• Plan, organise, timetable and lead a range of appropriate groups, e. g. managing mental health, living skills, nutrition, assertiveness skills, confidence building, mindfulness, stress management, relapse prevention.
• Organise a rota of activities and events for service users, including contribution to the flexi approach to team work.
• Broker and, where appropriate after training, provide specialised interventions such as DBT, CBT, input from substance abuse teams and forensic services.

Some interventions will require trained specialists, but staff are expected to access basic training in delivering CBT techniques, relaxation and mindfulness training/skills.

• Support service users in preparing for independence through

• Helping them maintain and develop their skill base, (re)gain general IT skills, including support with CV writing, online applications, shopping online, etc.
• Identifying and facilitating suitable move‑on accommodation and support, actively engaging family/carers and wider networks in preparing for transition according to the service user’s wishes.
• Providing advice on benefits, tenancy rights or signposting when necessary.
• Facilitating access to training or employment, supporting employers during initial stages, providing a direct link between service users and opportunities, and addressing problems early to prevent placement failures.
• Make a positive contribution to and work constructively within the team, including developing your own abilities to enhance team performance.
• Carry out staff supervisions and monitor the performance of team members, including relief staff, in a constructive, effective and creative way.
• Contribute to evidence for commissioners and stakeholders by fully involving service users and team members.
• Promote, monitor and maintain health and safety and security in the workplace and ensure the building is safe and secure.
• Ensure the service is delivered in compliance with relevant legislation, Together’s values, policies and practices and contractual requirements.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Essential

• Qualified to at least Diploma Level 3 in Adult Care / Health & Social Care.
• Commitment to the empowerment of service users and mental health service users and a strong interest in user involvement and promoting people’s rights.
• Ability to respond promptly to service users’ needs (including those in crisis) in a flexible, consistent and appropriate way, and to give the team clear direction.
• Ability to work with service users in a user-led, calm, confident and sensitive manner and to advocate for them.
• Excellent listening skills and effective communication with people in mental distress, including those who may be acutely ill.
• Knowledge and practical experience of using person-centred tools to support recovery and the development of service users and the ability to transfer such knowledge and associated skills.
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team and contribute to meeting team and organisational objectives.
• Experience supervising people and teams and monitoring performance.
• Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise work, meet deadlines and make autonomous decisions when needed.
• Experience participating in and running meetings/groups.
• Ability to liaise and communicate well, both orally and in writing, with health professionals, the general public, other providers and be assertive where necessary.
• Commitment to equal opportunities and awareness of issues related to social and health‑care provision in a multi-cultural context.
• Good computer literacy, including use of Windows applications and word processing and database packages, internet use and drafting and sending e‑mails.
• Experience liaising with a range of providers and services and promoting user-led initiatives as well as Together services.

Desirable

• At least two years’ full-time equivalent experience of working in mental health.
• Willingness to attain the Diploma Level 5 in Leadership & Management for Adult Care.
• Experience running groups.
• At least one year experience of supervising and managing others.
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