Manager - Care at Home Service

VSA, the social care charity, has stood next to the people of Aberdeen City and Shire for 155 years offering care, support, and vital services to vulnerable people of all ages living in our communities as and when they need it. Our focus continues to support children, families and adults to thrive. Working in social care is a hugely rewarding career, and you can help change the lives of vulnerable children and adults. At VSA, we are looking for motivated and compassionate individuals to join our team. VSA has an exciting opportunity available to join our VSA@Home Service as a Manager based in Aberdeen. This will be a permanent position and in return, you will receive a competitive salary and benefits.

We are ideally looking for someone who is experienced working within and running a Community Care Service, however we will consider people who are experienced and have a proven track record of running an elderly or very sheltered housing care service to a high standard. VSA is proud to be part of Granite Care Consortium which is made up of local 3rd & private sector providers with decades of experience in delivering health and social care services. The Consortium was set up so that people have quick and easy access to person-centred, integrated care so that they feel supported, safe and well.

Hours: 39 hours per week

Rota: Monday to Friday

Salary: £43,170.03 per annum

Location: Aberdeen City

We offer our Staff fantastic benefits including:

• Company pension
• Generous annual leave
• Refer a friend programme - Receive £225 when you introduce a family member or friend to VSA
• Investment in your personal development and career through our learning and development programmes
• Blue Light Discount

Purpose of Job: To successfully manage the day to day running of a care at home service effectively and efficiently within budget and provide strong leadership to all staff teams, to make sure staff have all the knowledge, skills and support needed to carry out their respective duties and responsibilities on a day-to-day basis. You will also be responsible for ensuring Service Users needs and support are met by providing a high standard person-centred service.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

• Developing and using systems to communicate, record, and report; ensuring that records are updated accurately and reports are produced when required to provide reliable data to support decision-making for management purposes and to meet regulatory requirements.
• Overseeing the communication systems and processes needed to enhance and develop the work of staff teams and address the needs of service users, taking appropriate action to progress issues arising from communication processes relating to both staff and service users.
• Developing, maintaining and evaluating systems to promote the rights and responsibilities of service users, ensuring that practice is non-discriminatory and that service users’ personal beliefs and preferences are appropriately acknowledged.
• Ensuring that practices are in place to encourage and facilitate service users to participate in social activities, develop social networks, access services and facilities, and to live as independently as possible, in accordance with their needs and preferences.
• Developing and maintaining healthy and safe practices in the workplace through the effective implementation and monitoring of risk assessment procedures relating to the protection of staff and service users, including the administration of medicine; complying with health, safety and security regulations and procedures.
• Monitoring the development, implementation and review of personal plans with service users, ensuring that their needs and preferences are met.
• Ensuring that services are designed, delivered, and reviewed to promote the best possible outcomes for individual service users.
• Ensuring that procedures are in place to support service users and staff appropriately when experiencing a significant life change or loss.
• Identifying staffing requirements in relation to operational objectives and budgetary requirements, establishing procedures to ensure that staffing cover is maintained at appropriate levels to meet regulatory requirements.
• Overseeing and participating in the selection and recruitment of staff, identifying job and person requirements, in accordance with specified standards and procedures.
• Developing teams and individuals to enhance performance, identifying development needs and implementing plans to meet these needs.
• Ensuring that staff performance is assessed and conveyed to individuals and teams in accordance with VSA’s appraisal/supervision procedures and, where appropriate, shortcomings are addressed with reference to agreed procedures.
• Establishing, maintaining, and developing an effective working environment in respect of working relationships, identifying and minimising interpersonal conflict, and where appropriate implementing VSA disciplinary and grievance procedures.
• Managing the use of financial resources within the Service, controlling expenditure against budgets and making recommendations for expenditure.
• Developing and maintaining good working relationships with regulatory bodies (Care Inspectorate) to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and codes of practice.
• Reporting any alleged or actual breaches of practice to the necessary bodies following both VSA and regulatory guidelines.
• Developing and maintaining good working relationships with Contractual compliance Partners.
• Contribute to and participate in the senior management meetings.
• Developing one’s knowledge and practice continuously through participation in training and development activities.
• Carrying out other duties from time to time provided they are reasonable and within the post holder’s capabilities.
• Support and lead the future development of service delivery and the wider marketplace.

Qualifications/Training/Education:

Essential:

• Registration with SSSC
• SVQ in Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 9 or BA (Hons) in Health and Social care or Equivalent
• SVQ in Care Services Leadership and Management SCQF Level 10 or Equivalent

Experience:

Essential:

• Experience of managing the delivery of a Community Care Service or large residential care home for older adults
• Supervising staff
• Working to specified standards, involving the concept of ‘good practice’
• Communication and negotiation processes
• Creating/developing procedures suitable for a care home for older adults.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety procedures

Desirable:

• Proven track record of achieving grades of 4 and above with Care Inspectorate
• Managing poor performance and disciplinary issues
• Experience of financial management

Key Skills/Aptitudes:

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills - both verbal and written.
• Good Planning Skill
• IT skills e.g. e-mails
• Ability to write comprehensive reports
• Good interpersonal skills
• Evidence of ability to manage and motivate staff
• Effectively organise and prioritise own workload
• Knowledge of legislative requirements of a Community Care Service or Care Home.
• Knowledge of National care Standards, Quality Themes and Care Inspectorate and commissioning inspection procedures.
• Leadership skills
• Organised
• Well developed decision making skills
• Processing data electronically

Personal Qualities:

Essential:

• Integrity
• Self-confidence
• Flexibility
• Approachable
• Non-judgmental
• Ability to cope under pressure

Other Job Requirements: To comply with the registration and qualification requirements as laid down by the Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) and to strictly adhere to the SSSC Codes of Practice.