Job Description

Head of Recovery College|Restore

Department:

Recovery College

Reports to:

 Joint CEO

Employment term

Full Time/Perm to start at 35 hours a week with the view to increase to 37 hours a week.

Salary:

£31,846-£34,746 per annum,pro rata

Position based in

Oxford,
Oxfordshire, UK

Benefits

33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), Employee Assistance Programme (detailed below) four weeks unpaid sabbatical after five years’ service

Are you passionate about education and how it can positively impact recovery from mental illness? Do you have the skills to inspire and motivate a team of highly committed individuals? Do you enjoy the challenge of a rewarding and stimulating role? We are looking for a highly organised, skilled communicator who is able to think strategically, positively engage with those involved with mental health services and empower the Recovery College Team. 

About Restore and The Recovery College
 

Restore is a respected and established mental health charity, set in the heart of a vibrant and diverse county, providing a range of recovery, coaching and training services for adults recovering from mental health issues. Restore is part of the Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership, a partnership that formally brings together six local mental health organisations: Oxford Health Foundation NHS Trust, Connections Floating Support, Elmore Community Services, Oxfordshire MIND, Response and Restore. The partnership is committed to better integrating services across the county in order to make it easier for people to get the best mental health support possible.

The Oxfordshire Recovery College was established by these 6 partners, with Restore leading on its delivery, almost 3 years ago and has been growing and thriving ever since. The college provides recovery-focused courses for a student base of people with mental health problems; their friends, family and carers; and staff and volunteers working in the mental health sector. Covering all of Oxfordshire, we take an educational approach to recovery, and believe that where people are provided with tools, knowledge and skills, that they can live a full and meaningful life. All of our courses are co-produced and co-delivered, drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience in equal measure.

Why work for us?

As an employee of Restore, you can expect a range of fantastic benefits and opportunities to both support you and enable you to develop both personally and professionaly. These include:

• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which can provide short term counselling, and up to six sessions of relevant physical therapy.
• An individual training budget which, in agreement with your line manager, you can allocate to relevant training and development opportunities, from both within the partnership, and externally.
• A pension scheme that provides 2% matched to your own contributions.
• Childcare vouchers
• A travel loan to buy any bus or train season tickets in advance
• An eye care scheme which contributes funds towards spectacles for DSE use
• Access to our Cycle to Work Scheme which enables you to save up to 47% off the retail price of bikes and accessories.
• 33 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays (pro rata), and the option to take an unpaid sabbatical after 5 years of service with us.

About the role

Now in our third year, the college is continuing to grow and expand, and we need a skilled and adaptable Head of College to lead the development of this innovative and exciting project.

The Head of College plays a pivotal role in leading the college’s growth through a co-produced strategic plan, and ensures the smooth running of the college on a day-to-day basis. There are real opportunities to shape this flagship project in response to community need, and to utilise your knowledge and skills to drive the service forward.

More specifically, the job entails:

• To become the expert in Recovery College principles and practices and to model these throughout the partnership
• To develop the college’s financial sustainability and independence, undertaking relevant fundraising and business development activities
• To lead and supervise the Recovery College Team (College Coordinator, Tutor Coordinator, and Administrator) in delivering all aspects of the college core business with a focus on principles of recovery and social inclusion
• To act as an advocate and champion for the college both externally and internally
• To create and deliver long-term strategy, project work plans and revise as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements, ensuring that all courses/workshops are co-produced and co-delivered
• To work with the Recovery College Advisory Group as the Specialist Lead in the management and delivery of services and  to continue to develop the Recovery College according to the guiding principles of  IMRoC and as part of the Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership
• Manage day-to-day operational aspects of the Recovery College
• Identify resources and assign responsibilities
• To meet financial objectives by forecasting requirements; adhering to the planned budget, scheduling expenditures, analysing variances and initiating corrective actions
• Ensure the efficient administration of the project, including maintaining progress and financial records and submitting project status reports to meet the reporting requirements of funders
• To oversee the Tutor Coordinator in ongoing recruitment, development, training and supervision of the Recovery College Tutors and Volunteers
• To engage and involve stakeholders (service users, carers, volunteers, and staff from all the partnership organisations) in the Recovery College through events and communications
• To share good practice and positively promote the Recovery College model
• To be responsible for the ongoing development, delivery and monitoring of quality assurance systems, including impact measurement
• To co-facilitate courses/workshops where necessary
• Working as part of Restore’s Executive Team, to ensure that robust policies and procedures are developed, regularly reviewed, communicated and implemented consistently, particularly around the areas of risk management, health & safety and safeguarding 

Person Specification
We’re looking for someone who is skilled and experienced in driving a project or service forward, and towards increased financial security. An ability to think creatively and work within limited resources is a real asset, particularly in providing team support maintaining a high level of service at low cost. An understanding of the mental health sector, paired with a real belief in and commitment to recovery is important, as we’re dedicated to providing empathic and strengths-based support to a student group that faces much adversity. Our ideal candidate will relish the opportunity to work in an unusual and evolving project where their work can make a real impact.

Essential Requirements

• Understanding, enthusiasm, and experience of working in a co-produced ethos, or incorporating significant participation
• Experience of operating at managerial level, and developing and implementing strategic plans
• Demonstrable experience of fundraising and/or business development
• Familiarity with impact measurement models and approaches
• Proven local knowledge of Oxfordshire’s networks and communities
• Transparent and open leadership style
• Experience of representing an organisation to a range of external audiences
• An understanding of the principles of recovery from mental illness and the barriers that people with mental health problems may face when attempting to or accessing education

• Excellent supervision skills and experience of managing staff
• Excellent listening skills and communication skills (both written and verbal) with clear evidence of ability
• Initiative and decision making ability
• Ability to motivate and inspire others and translate learning into effective and committed practice
• Excellent time management skills with an ability to manage and monitor a range of objectives
• Awareness of and commitment to all aspects of anti-discriminatory practice

Desirable Requirements

• Access to own car
• Experience of delivering training in educational settings
• Either a professional mental health qualification or a recognised education qualification
• Willingness to undertake professional qualifications if required

This job description may change over time, subject to discussion with the post holder, and in line with the expectation of funders and the strategy for the organisation agreed by the Chief Executive and Trustees

Other Information:

• Any offer of employment is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service.
• This post will be on a 2 months notice period.
• Willing to undertake evening and weekend work when required
• Willing to undertake regular travel within the county and occasionally elsewhere in the UK
• There is a probation period of six months for new employees, during which time your employment will be monitored. Your employment will be subject to you completing your probationary period to the satisfaction of RESTORE.