Job Description

SERVE is a registered charity In Northamptonshire providing a range of services for Older People and People with Disabilities.  SERVE activities and services support independence to enable those people to live independently in their own homes.

Background

Home@lone is a befriending service that has been running for several years, we are now in a unique position to extend the provision at scale throughout Northamptonshire.

The Northamptonshire Healthcare Partnership (NHCP) consists of key health and care organisations in the county.  Whilst the organisations all remain separate entities with their own responsibilities, they are committed to working together towards a positive future for community services. 

The NHCP has embarked on a major new programme of transformation work, called ‘Integrated Care across Northamptonshire’ (iCAN).  Its purpose is to deliver refreshed focus and way to improve the quality of care and achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes for older and frailer people across the county, supporting them to maintain independence and resilience for as long as possible. 

The countywide befriending programme will contribute towards the Community Resilience Pillar of the iCAN transformation programme which aims to support older and frailer people to live independently, to prevent hospital admission and delay the need for more intensive social care.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are looking for someone to lead and manage the countywide befriending service and oversee the operation of multiple befriending programmes in partnership with the NHCP and other statutory and voluntary organisations.

Older people can live in complex and challenging situations if they have no network of family, friends, or community to call on.  Our current befriending service receives regular referrals from statutory and voluntary sector partners and since the COVID-19 pandemic this has increased.  Service users are vulnerable and frail - the options available to them before the pandemic were limited as they very often did not leave their homes, now it is even harder for them.

Home@lone provides trained volunteer supporters to visit and befriend lonely, isolated, vulnerable older people in the community. Supporters receive training, are DBS checked and become our ears and eyes to prevent issues escalating thus preventing hospital admissions, further ill health and perhaps admission to residential care. Referrals are received, assessments carried out & volunteers & service users matched to ensure a successful outcome.

The programme aims to prevent deterioration of mental health, promote confidence and independence, and enable residents to be active where possible in their communities, and access existing available services and promote social inclusion.

Duties and Key Responsibilities

• Responsible to the management of Countywide Northamptonshire Befriending Programme, monitoring service delivery levels.
• To use appropriate systems to monitor and evidence the work of the service, and help to gather, update and organize relevant information in line with Serve and iCAN outcomes.
• Responsible for all safeguarding matters relating to the service, directly reporting to existing pathways and if necessary to the Chief Executive.
• Ensure that services are maintained to the highest standard and support further development.
• Liaise with stakeholders, including health and social care and the  voluntary organizations.
• Prepare monthly written and statistical reports for the Chief Executive and liaise with iCAN groups as needed.
• Organise and Chair meetings in order to monitor service progress, development and share information.
• Prepare and deliver presentations as and when required.
• Evaluate the programme including preparation of case studies for the Chief Executive.
• Manage and support the befriending coordinators employed by Serve and work closely with partner organizations coordinators to maintain consistency of service.
• Be part of the management team, working closely with Senior Management.
• Engage with statutory services and other partners who promote service user enablement.
• Attend regular meetings with the Chief Executive.
• To work collaboratively with fundraising and media campaigns teams
• Organise, attend and take an active role in social events within the County.
• Organise attend annual volunteer events.
• Attend training events to keep up to date on developments on issues affecting older people.
• Attend occasional evening or weekend events or meetings (time in lieu will be given)
• To represent and incorporate the organisations mission and values in your role on a day-to-day basis.
• Carry out any other duties consistent with the responsibilities of this post as requested by the Chief Executive.

This role will be a mix of home, community and office based working. On occasion, there maybe some out of hours working, time off in lieu will be given.

Hours:  Monday to Friday  - 8.30pm to 16.30pm

Holidays - 28 days (including bank holidays), extra days off at Christmas

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Understand the needs of older people in the community.

• Understand the support needs of staff and volunteers.
• Knowledge and understanding of the impact on health and wellbeing of loneliness and isolation.
• At least two years’ experience working at senior management level in a similar role.
• Experience of working in partnership and developing strong relationships with statutory and/or voluntary organisations.
• Experience of people management and/or support
• Knowledge of relevant legislation
• Microsoft Experience and the ability to produce statistical and operational reports including powerpoint.
• Good planning and organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent telephone, verbal and written communication
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team.
• Ability to set priorities and manage workload while remaining responsive to events.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills and to plan pro-actively.
• Ability to take an active role in any future developments of the service.
• An understanding of Equal Opportunities and how it applies to the work of the charity.
• Must have a full drivers’ license and access to a vehicle.
• Ability to travel throughout Northamptonshire as required.
• Must be willing to have an enhanced DBS check through the Disclosure and Barring Service

Desirable

• Experience of marketing or promoting a service.
• Personal experience of volunteering

Please send a cover letter detailing your experience in Project Management in a similar role,  CV's received without a cover letter will not be accepted.  Address:  Jess Slater, SERVE, 8 West Street, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0RT or email through Charity Job Site.

Interviews will be held in Rushden on the following dates.

Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th April 2021.

Deadline for applications is Friday 26th March 2021, 4.00pm.