Area Manager required for 35 hours per week covering Liverpool City Region North. 12 month temporary contract. Driver Essential.

Area Manager required for 35 hours per week covering Liverpool City Region North. 12 month temporary contract. Driver Essential.

Alternative Futures Group is the North West’s largest Mental Health and Learning Disability charity.

With a strong track record over 30 years, we work and through our  to provide a wide range of innovative and bespoke care services.

We have a vision to create a world where people control their lives.  Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment.  These principles are really important to us.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family.  If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make.  We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you 

In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

Location

Although you may be required to work anywhere in the UK, you will initially be aligned to cover our Liverpool City Region North geography.

Job Purpose

To deliver great outcomes for the people we support, the contribution of our staff should be focused on delivering high quality care and support interventions to improve independence, choice and control, enabling people to recover from ill health and promote well-being.

Area Managers line manage Team Leaders to ensure the delivery of this frontline support along a local pathway through effective supervision, guidance and monitoring of key performance indicators.

Building capacity to co-ordinate this activity within the defined pathway will enable resources and interventions to be appropriately deployed to deliver the required outcomes within agreed budgets.

Key Objectives of this role are:

• Managing, co-ordinating and facilitating the first level line management function within a community-based setting to deliver effective, high-quality support for individuals with complex needs including learning disability and mental health.
• Being a CQC Registered Manager for the delivery of all regulated activity (personal care) within the registered location to ensure compliance with Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and all other relevant legislation. The Registered Manager role may be organised so that there are 2 Registered Managers in each location. Each Registered Manager will share full responsibility for all regulatory compliance in that location. All Registered Manager roles will be full time.
• Completing quality assurance audits locally to monitor and report on the quality of care enabling the delivery of great outcomes.
• Supporting senior managers through operational, financial performance and quality assurance reporting to improve efficiency and the delivery of excellent outcomes which increase independence, choice and decision making for service users.
• Occasionally providing direct care and support in service though manager step-down or on-call requirements.
• Participating in the organisations on-call rota to support ‘out of hours’ management, decision making and management of significant events.

Key Result Areas

Leadership

1. Leadership and delivery of AFG business requirements, charitable aims and purpose within a defined area.
2. Leadership of the local Operations Team and overseeing all operational matters affecting frontline care services. Acting as key liaison and escalation point for any complaints or disputes involving service users, families, carers, commissioners, regulators or partners.
3. Acting as a Leader and Ambassador for the organisation, it’s purpose and its people at all times. Being a positive and active part of the local Leadership Team and supporting the Heads of Operations on key organisational initiatives and assignments.
4. Assisting with the development and production of the local business plan; ensuring alignment with and delivery against the strategic objectives of the organisation and agreed performance standards.
5. Demonstrating a high level of expertise and understanding of operational services and effectively contributing to the overall strategic development of the organisation as a member of the local Leadership Team.
6. To lead and direct staff across geographical areas and be responsible and accountable for the quality, compliance and performance of service provision.

Financial Management & Performance

1. Work within the defined process and limits of AFGs Scheme of Reservation and Delegation (SORD).
2. Budget planning for area with Head of Operations and associated finance colleagues.
3. Managing and delivering within agreed targets the operational budget/P&L and annual business plan.
4. Cost-effective deployment, management and utilization of resources and non-pay spend within the locality to agreed cost models, budgets, commissioner contract terms and conditions.
5. Supporting Head of Operations to ensure local workforce requirements are aligned, deployed effectively and efficiently in line with commissioner contract requirements.
6. Implementing and management of the operating model and service model for a defined area and set of contracts and services.
7. Helping to implement local performance management arrangements to ensure delivery of performance in accordance with organisational performance framework.
8. Collaborating with appropriate colleagues to identify local targets and objectives that are realistic and underpin the management of performance as outlined in accordance with the organisational performance framework; helping to deliver these targets and measure progress against these.

People Management

1. Provide operational leadership, direction and management which results in the delivery of effective, efficient, quality assured and person-centred care.
2. Ensuring staff performance is appropriate and effective; providing regular 1:1s, performance reviews, personal development plans and ongoing support to staff working at a local practice level including regular team meetings
3. Setting objectives for team members that align to local and strategic plans and budgetary constraints in association with the Head of Operations
4. Delivering initiatives to drive improved area performance, team work and operational excellence within the locality
5. Be active as a member of the Management Team contributing on organisational and corporate initiatives
6. Implementing local performance management and my performance processes in conjunction with People & OD colleagues (LD or MH). Ensuring quality conversations are taking place with team leaders to engage, develop and promote high performing teams that achieve excellent standards of care.
7. Help implement the People and OD strategy to support our aim to become an  employer  of choice to ensure we attract, retain and develop our people.
8. Ensure all operational people practices are in line with the organisation governance requirements and best practice.
9. Developing team capacity and capability through mentoring and coaching. Supporting their ongoing development to maintain competence in practice and support.  Assessing their skills gaps and working closely with training team to overcome any potential concerns and minimise any risk to the people we support and the business.
10. Recognising indicators of poor performance/quality and acting quickly to remedy to minimise any potential risk
11. Understanding of an electronic staffing roster system, ensuring processes to support operational delivery are in place about safe, efficient and effective staffing deployment. The system is used effectively by teams and the information is utilised to improve performance. Working with Heads of Operations, Team Leaders and Workforce Planning team to guide effective deployment of staff.

Service Development & Growth

1. Helping to deliver annual growth targets in support of Heads of Operations
2. Ensuring on-going feedback on the service is obtained from individuals, families, professionals and groups to determine priorities for improvements to services and supports. Ensuring a culture of engagement and full involvement of the people we support their families, friends and significant others.
3. Working collaboratively with Executive Team, Senior Leadership Team and own Area Team to build intelligence for area to understand the service requirements and opportunities of local commissioners and plan accordingly.
4. Working collaboratively with Business Development Team to help implement operational development of services in the local area in line with Commissioner needs, the Organisations’ vision, mission and values and promoting Alternative Futures Group (AFG) as a truly person-centered Organisation - a world where people have choice and control in their lives.
5. Working with the Business Development Team and the wider Senior Leadership Team to ensure development of services locally are aligned to strategy and annual business plan.
6. Ensuring quality and value for money are reflected in service delivery and encouraging creativity, innovation and new ways of working.
7. Promoting and implementing the delivery of integrated models of care with commissioners, local partners and suppliers.
8. Promoting Operational team behaviours and opportunities to develop and grow services through appropriate area initiatives, projects and collaborations.
9. Connecting with communities and stakeholders to promote the services on offer locally; responding to changing demands, needs and aspirations of the people who use and those who commission services locally.
10. To provide strategic support to the Head of Operations in relation to business growth, transformational change, financial performance and the local agenda.

Quality and Compliance

1. Delivery to all requirements of Care Act and/or Mental Health Act and all areas of CQC regulated and non-regulated activity.
2. To lead and direct a team in developing and delivering person centred services for staff and to the individuals we support
3. Through management of the Team Leaders, develop a culture where people supported are protected from abuse and improper care.
4. Working in partnership with Heads of Operations and the Head of Quality to help ensure compliance with legislation governing professional regulation, human rights, safe care and treatment and associated standards.
5. To deliver a program of quality audits and quality improvement work across area as directed by the Head of Operations or Head of Quality.
6. To provide information to senior managers to enable them to deliver all Quality and Compliance KPIs and requirements of AFGs Quality Management System. Helping to ensure areas of low quality and compliance are identified and addressed in association with Team Leaders and Heads of Operations.
7. Ensuring local performance drives continuous improvement and development in quality; being accountable for the performance of local services.
8. Working closely with the Quality Improvement Managers (for LD or MH) and Quality Auditors to priorities and deliver a program of quality audits and quality improvement work across area. This will include Home Safety Files as a matter of priority.
9. Assisting with the local resolution of complaints handling and incident management in line with the organisational frameworks set for these areas of work; using the learning and evidence gained from incidents, complaints handling and compliments to inform quality initiatives in the local area.
10. Ensuring all safeguarding incidents are reported and managed in line with local multi agency safeguarding policies and procedures.
11. Developing connections with the local community that actively encourage and increase the voices of staff, service users, carers and families in the running of AFG and upholding the reputation of the organisation locally as a ‘person-centered’ organisation.
12. Working with Quality Lead ensuring local systems and processes are in place to meet regulatory requirements and assisting with the monitoring and performance of regulatory standards.
13. Assisting with preparation and delivery of local action plans resulting from external regulators or internal audit.
14. Working in partnership with the H&S Lead to ensure all service provisions are have the highest standards of H&S and that any potential risk to staff, the people we support, and visitors are minimized.
15. Ensuring systems and processes for managing risk are in place locally including the provision of relevant training aligned to the organisational Risk Management Framework.

CQC Registered Manager

1. Be the CQC Registered Manager for all regulated activity (personal care) within a registered location. Ensure services are safe, caring, responsive, effective and well led.
2. Ensure that people receiving new packages of support are assessed to determine whether they meet the definition of receiving personal care as a regulated activity.
3. The Registered Manager role may be organised so that there are 2 Registered Managers in each location. Each Registered Manager will share full responsibility for all regulatory compliance in the location. All Registered Manager roles will be full time.
4. Be the main point of contact for CQC relationship manager at local level. Ensure that routine CQC engagement meetings are conducted in a positive and effective manner.
5. Lead on CQC inspection process and any preparatory work such as Pre Inspection Report returns. Plan and implement any actions identified as part of any inspection process.
6. Ensure that all formal CQC notifications are made in a timely and accurate manner.
7. Ensure any CQC data submissions are made in a timely and accurate manner
8. Support the organisation’s Nominated Individual with any regulatory activity at corporate level including the preparation of reports, submissions of data or providing updates on significant events.

Responsibilities common to all managers

• Demonstrate good judgment and sound decision making by reflecting an appropriate situational awareness, understanding of context and making informed choice when reaching decisions.
• Lead and promote initiatives that support our organisational aim to be socially and environmentally responsible.
• Lead and support initiatives/projects that promote the use of technology.
• Establish, maintain and develop professional working relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• Contribute generally to the development of quality services.
• Uphold the values, mission and vision of AFG at all times.
• Adhere to AFG policies and procedures and to operate within the law at all times.
• Demonstrate continuous professional development, encouraging others to do the same and to operate within the AFG performance management framework.
• Work effectively with others to ensure the best outcome for the people supported.
• Comply with Equality and Diversity policy.
• Comply with Code of Conduct.
• Work flexibly in accordance with organisational need.
• Travel within the operational and business area of AFG.
• Hold team meetings and disseminate corporate messages, feeding back issues and recognising staff achievement.
• Comply with AFG recruitment and selection policy and process.
• Act with integrity and transparency at all times.

Essential Qualifications and Training required for this role: 

• NVQ Level 4 qualification in management or care (or equivalent) and a commitment to complete a Level 5 qualification within an agreed time period.
• Training in Person centred practices (planning, review, team development)

This list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive but indicates the main areas of work and may be subject to change after consultation with the post holder to meet the changing needs of Alternative Futures Group.

A driver with use of a vehicle for work purposes is essential for this role. This Role is Band II as per our Banding Structure. Recent applicants need not apply. 

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