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General Manager Princess Marina House
royal air force benevolent fund

Job Description

General Manager, Princess Marina House,

Rustington, West Sussex

C£55k, good pension contribution & benefits

Contribution to relocation costs for exceptional candidate

Are you enthusiastic, hardworking, innovative and adaptable with excellent leadership and communication skills? Are you passionate about the support that you provide and want to lead an excellent team?  Due to retirement, the RAFBF has a rare vacancy for the General Manager of Princess Marina House (PMH), the Fund’s short break centre.  This popular facility caters for RAF veterans and their spouses (and their widows/widowers) and provides short breaks for younger RAF families, either self-catering or full board. 

PMH offers residential accommodation in a hotel style, providing short breaks for adult members of the RAF.  The House has 30 beds registered with CQC for Personal Care and early dementia care, plus a further 20 beds offering social breaks as part of the Fund’s wellbeing programme.  In addition, the Care Services team offers a Respite at Home domiciliary service and a 7-day per week Lunch Club to local RAF veterans.  It is rated by the CQC as “Outstanding”.  We also operate four adjacent properties that are offered to the RAF Family as self-catering holiday respite accommodation. Full details are available on the Funds website. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an exceptional person to join the Fund.  A successful and experienced registered manager, the successful candidate will have experience of managing a large estate and leading a large team of c100 personnel working in Administration, Care, Hospitality, Facilities and Entertainment departments.  They should have a social care, nursing or military background and a working knowledge of CQC regulation.  Most applicants will hold the Registered Manager Award, but we recognise that ex-military applicants in particular might not, in which case, they will have to commit to and achieve the RMA within 6 months of appointment; the General Manager will be expected to register with the CQC as the Home’s registered manager.  Applications from RGNs are especially welcome.

The General Manager is a member of the RAFBF Welfare Management Team and will be expected to attend the London Headquarters on a monthly basis. They will also be a figure head for the RAFBF in the South East region and will be required to network with other charities, organisations and care groups to promote the work of the home and the Fund.

The RAF Family is a diverse group of all ages and the postholder will need to be ambitious, innovative and responsive to their changing needs and be prepared to work hard as part of the strategic welfare planning group. Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation would be an advantage; applications are also invited from those with RAF experience.

For an informal discussion, potential applicants are welcome to call the current post holder Shirley Steeples at PMH, or Paul Hughesdon, Director Welfare & Policy. Telephone details are on the main RAFBF website. The closing date for applications is Noon on Thursday 4 April 2019.  For those longlisted, suitability assessments and a chance to meet the team will be held at PMH on Thursday 11 April, and those shortlisted called back for interview in our London Offices on 17 April 2019.

To apply, please email a covering letter (2 pages max - in which you should clearly explain how you meet the job profile and provide details of your notice period/availability and current salary) and your CV (3 pages max), to Pete Thompson, HR Manager, RAF Benevolent Fund. 

Due to the high number of applications expected, only candidates longlisted for interview will be notified. 

Details of PMH, annual reviews and reports and our research can be found on the Fund’s website. PMH is located on Seafield Road, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 2JG.  The RAF Benevolent Fund’s offices are at 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1AR

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a Registered Charity (No. 1081009) which encourages applications from all sections of the community.

MAIN SUMMARY OF ROLE

1.  Working to the Director Welfare & Policy, the General Manager of Princess Marina House is responsible for the day to day control, direction and leadership of an ‘Outstanding’ respite home with multifaceted services and support.  It is a unique and exciting role that demands empathy and understanding of the RAF Family, as well as collaboration with Head Office.  More specific duties are:

The General Manager is:

  • The Nominated Individual and the Registered Manager under the Care Standards Act for Princess Marina House and is professionally as well as managerially accountable for the regulated services registered to PMH.
  • The Fund’s expert on Social respite care and as such will be asked where appropriate to sit on project steering groups and other such bodies
  • The Fund’s ambassador for PMH and into the local community, working closely with the Comms team and fundraising to build and maintain links with other military and community stakeholders promoting the work of PMH and the RAFBF.

The General Manager is responsible for the:

  • Safe, effective and efficient provision of services from PMH to eligible RAF Benevolent Fund beneficiaries.  
  • Welfare of residents and short stay guests in PMH, the Respite at Home clients and the occupants of the Seaside cottages/apartments.
  • Maintenance of all buildings and equipment on the estate including vehicles, ensuring compliance with the relevant legislation re Health and Safety.
  • Maintenance and operation of the Short stay cottages/apartments ensuring efficient and effective use, and prioritising applications according to need. 
  • Driving the utilisation of PMH, Seaside cottages, the Respite at Home service and the lunch club, to ensure that the Fund’s resources are well used.
  • Setting of individual fees in line with the relevant policies, including the award of transport costs to individual guests, and is provided with a welfare budget for any exigencies which may arise for individuals in his/her care. 
  • Provision of support services to ensure a comprehensive service of housekeeping, catering and entertainment for guests.
  • Preparation of the PMH Budget for approval by DWP, the Welfare Committee as part of the Annual Welfare Budget.
  • Management of Income and expenditure against the agreed budget reporting any variances or extraordinary expenditure in a timely fashion to DWP and Welfare Business Partner.
  • Raising income and managing expenditure of the Amenities Fund.
  • Recruitment, retention and development and management of staff at PMH within agreed establishment, working closely with the HR business partner, HR staff and Payroll.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Development, Reporting and Performance)

2.  KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • To provide a quarterly report to DWP which gives details of activity levels, finance and quality issues; producing reports to brief the Welfare Committee.
  • To prepare and update all documentation to support the House’s Registration under the Care Standards Act. 
  • To develop and maintain a comprehensive Quality programme in response to changing regulation, ensuring timely and appropriate action to continually improve and develop the service to lead in the respite field of social care.
  • To work closely with the HODs from all departments to ensure efficient and effective service to beneficiaries promoting PMH and sharing knowledge and expertise.
  • To be responsible for achieving and maintaining excellent relationships with statutory authorities such as the Care Quality Commission, West Sussex Social Services and relevant health trusts. 
  • To ensure sufficient staff are fully trained and supervised as required by legislation and the high standards for which PMH has become known.
  • To be responsible for the provision of cost-effective care and support services. Including propriety and probity in the handling and recording of charitable funds, including adherence to Procurement Policy etc.  Internal and External Audits will be managed by Head Office.
  • To develop a draft annual business plan and budget to include strategic development of the service to meet the changing needs of the RAF Family for scrutiny and approval by DWP. 
  • To manage all funds within budgetary levels and to manage the Amenities Fund.
  • To be responsible for maintaining good working relationships both internally and externally. 
  • Develop and maintain strong and mutually supportive relationships with the Friends of PMH to promote the work of PMH and the RAFBF.
  • To develop and maintain strong and mutually supportive relationships with the local community, military forums, social and health care forums and individuals involved in social care and charitable work
  • To be responsible for maintaining a close relationship with the serving and veteran RAF Family.

3.  DEVELOPMENTAL OBJECTIVES:

  1. Take personal responsibility for own professional development to take into account the diverse role of the post holder
  2. Undertake all mandatory training as outlined in Health & Safety Policies, CQC Regulation, GDPR policies and other Fund requirements
  3. To attend initial PDR training

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THE ROLE

  • Leading and Deciding
  • Supporting and Co-operating
  • Interacting and Presenting
  • Analysing and Interpreting
  • Creating and Conceptualising
  • Organising and Executing 
  • Adapting and Coping
  • Enterprising and Performing


QUALIFICATION(S), KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE ROLE

Academic/Professional Qualification(s) or equivalent:

Essential

  • Demonstrable leadership skills
  • At least 2 years’ experience of managing a residential or hospitality service or military unit
  • Registered Managers Award (RMA) in care or willingness to gain one (and succeed in so doing) within 6 months of appointment
  • Working knowledge of CQC regulations
  • Appointment is subject to a clear DBS check

Desirable

  • Degree or diploma in Management
  • Qualified Nurse or Health or Social Care practitioner/Social work Qualification at level 4 or above
  • Qualification in Facilities or Hospitality Management
  • Care related qualification to level 4
  • Licensee

Knowledge/ Experience:

Essential

  • In depth knowledge of the CQC Regulation
  • Demonstrable leadership and management within a Health/Social Care or hospitality environment.
  • Experience of managing a large team
  • Experience of contract management
  • Good administrative skills, together with computer literacy
  • Knowledge of Institutional and Facilities Management.
  • Experience of managing a large budget
  • Experience of presenting to groups of people
  • Ability to represent the Home/Fund to varying audiences

Desirable

  • Two years in a similar role
  • Experience of Dementia Services
  • Experience of working for a charity
  • Knowledge of RAF
  • Proven ability in public/private health care management including care of the elderly.
  • Proven ability and application of managing a residential/hospitality establishment
  • Experience of managing a regulated service
  • Working knowledge of the provisions of the Health Care Act.
  • Experience of change management 
  • Experience of project management

Skills/Abilities:

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Proven leadership skills
  • Good judgement and effective decision-making skills
  • Ability to influence others
  • Strong communication skills (written, verbal, interpersonal and listening)
  • Strong people management skills.
  • Strong presentation skills
  • Flexible/adaptable approach and resilient
  • Approachable, confident, discreet and diplomatic.

Desirable

  • Creative with the ability to think strategically
  • Excellent problem-solving skills
  • Enthusiasm and patience.

Other Requirements:

  • Willingness to travel to Head office on a monthly basis and to act collegiately with Head Office staff.
  • Willingness to travel to other UK locations to represent PMH and the Fund
  • To carry out any other duties that are consistent with the scope of the job as requested by the Director Welfare & Policy

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.