Service Manager

Job Title: Service Manager

Stable Life is a successful, highly respected charity based in the Scottish Borders. Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing and learning experience utilising Equine Facilitated Wellness to help disadvantaged young people reach their full potential and achieve their aspirations and dreams. With an impressive reputation, our day-to-day purpose is to improve the health and well-being of the young people referred to us.

The way we work at Stable Life is characterised by five strong and distinctive values:

Respect: We will treat people with respect and consideration and provide our services without judging or discrimination

Empower: We seek to empower all those whom we work with, building self-esteem and providing opportunities to learn new skills.

Integrity: We take responsibility & accountability for our actions and are open and transparent in all we do.

Collaborate : We are committed to working in collaboration with one another, our partners, service users, volunteers, customers, and communities to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people.

Excellence: We deliver high-quality services to meet the expectations of our children, young people and families as well as our own personal and organizational aims.

Job Purpose:

• To take a lead responsibility for the implementation of Stable Life charitable services in order to achieve the agreed outcomes
• To support the development and implementation of the Stable Life business plan helping to determine service objectives within Stable Life and monitor outcomes in conjunction with the Chief Executive.
• The Service Manager is accountable to the Chief Executive and has line management responsibility for Project Workers and Project Volunteers.
• To represent Stable Life with external funders, stakeholders, agencies and the local community in order to promote and progress Stable Life's strategic agenda.
• To manage and develop a small project team.

Key Tasks/ Responsibilities:

1  Delivery of Service

• To ensure the provision of an appropriate case management system including IT solutions.
• To take a lead in the review of referrals, yard visits and planning of groups and 1:1 sessions.
• To deliver group and 1:1 sessions with referred young people when required.
• To ensure that accurate and up to date case records are kept.
• To lead on all internal management systems including team meetings, case management meetings, supervision and case reviews.
• To ensure written reports, contributions to case conferences and children's hearings for a variety of statutory/non-statutory agencies as and when required are provided in a timely, appropriate and consistent format.
• To liaise with visitors, welcome young people and promote the ethos of Stable Life.
• To provide opportunities for young people to become meaningfully engaged in decision-making process.
• To act as Child Protection Officer for Stable Life and fulfil the duties and responsibilities as defined in the Role Description of the Child Protection Officer.

2  Service Development & Planning

• To conduct regular service reviews with Project staff to ensure all aspects of service provision continue to meet the highest quality standards and initiate corrective actions as necessary.
• To conduct regular future capacity planning with Project staff to ensure staff capacity reaches optimal balance between serving the client demand for services v the need to ensure quality service provision and client outcomes.
• To assist the Chief Executive with identifying, developing and implementing new and innovative service ideas and work practices which will meet the ever-evolving need of the young people we support.

3   Resource Management

• Provide direct line management to the Project staff, including providing direction, completion of all duties in line with job descriptions and ongoing performance management.
• Conduct regular supervision and annual performance appraisals with all direct line staff.
• Ensure that all direct line staff receive appropriate training and development to ensure ongoing continuous professional development and compliance.
• Participate in weekly management meetings with the Chief Executive and staff meetings.

4    Compliance, Health & Safety

• In compliance with all policies liaise on a regular basis with the Health & Safety Lead to ensure that all Health & Safety requirements are followed.
• As Child Protection Officer take the lead in ensuring that appropriate arrangements for keeping children and young people safe are in place at Stable Life and to promote the safety and welfare of children and young people involved in Stable Life's activities at all times, including, where appropriate, risk assessments and registers.
• Contribute to the funding applications, annual report and funder's reports for Stable Life in conjunction with the Chief Executive.

5     Building & Maintaining External Relationships

• To work with other services to develop opportunities for multi-agency working in order to engage with more marginalised young people.
• Work with the Chief Executive to liaise with external grant funders to provide regular progress updates, complete monitoring forms and maintain positive working relationships.
• Work with all referring agencies and partners to ensure that the ethos and image of Stable Life is maintained at the highest level.
• In conjunction with the Chief Executive make sure that all marketing, correspondence, contact and advertising promotes a positive image of the company.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Uphold Stable Life values at all times.
• To observe all Stable Life policies and procedures, in particular those applying to Health and Safety and Diversity and Equalities aspects
• To follow Stable Life's Code of Conduct for staff, regarding workplace professionalism at all times.
• The flexibility to work out of office hours. This may include evening and weekend work and, on occasions, be at short notice.
• The post holder will receive regular recorded supervision sessions from their line manager.
• The post holder will also be required to undergo Emergency First Aid Training and undertake the duties of a First Aider.
• To undertake any additional and appropriate functions as required by the Chief Executive or Board of Directors.

Person Specification

Experience - Essential:

• Extensive experience, knowledge and skills working with vulnerable young people and challenging families.
• Experience of working with groups or individuals of vulnerable young people.
• Experienced in working with horses.
• Experience of leading and managing a team.

Experience - Desirable:

• Track record in managing projects and the development of new initiatives.

Qualifications/ Education/ Training - Essential:

• Educated to minimum HND and/or SVQ L4 or above in Social Care or other relevant subject such as Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Education or other relevant Health Care Practice.

Qualifications/ Education/ Training - Desirable:

• Degree or Certificate in Higher Education or BACP Approved qualification
• Equine qualifications  

Knowledge and Skills - Essential:

• Intricate knowledge of factors relating to problems facing young, disadvantaged people including, but not limited to, the causes, issues, continuum of care services and the challenges facing those affected.
• Ability to initiate, develop and sustain effective relationships with young people.
• Ability to create a supportive and safe environment for young people.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, develop and enable staff to achieve their full potential, including delivery and training
• Written, verbal and presentational communication skills to acquire and convey information, to build trust and rapport and to build networks and influence at management level.

Knowledge and Skills - Desirable:

• An up to date knowledge and awareness of GIRFEC, SHANARRI, Curriculum of Excellence and developing strategic drivers.
• Knowledge of how public sector and grant funding works.

Personal Qualities and Attitude - Essential:

• Forward thinking
• Energised
• Approachable.
• Proven inter-personal skills.
• A tactful and diplomatic approach to dealing with sensitive and confidential information.

General - Essential:

• Fully IT literate.
• Prepared to work outside normal office hours including evenings, weekends as required.
• Willing to travel regionally and nationally as appropriate.

General - Desirable:

• Holder of a full current driver's licence.