Bramley Hill Day Centre

Bramley Hill Day Centre

Part of the Garwood Foundation

A Day Centre for adults with physical and learning disabilities

Centre Manager required from June 2014

The Bramley Hill Centre is part of The Garwood Foundation[1] which has supported children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and their families in Croydon and surrounding areas for sixty years. The Foundation operates two other Centres in Croydon; Jean Garwood House, a residential home, which caters for adults with physical and learning disabilities and Rutherford School, which caters for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities and complex medical needs. A Board of Trustees manages the Foundation under the directives of current legislation covering charity, social welfare and company law.

The Bramley Hill Centre is dedicated to the provision of day support primarily for adults with physical disabilities. While the Centre’s emphasis historically on support for adults with physical disabilities there has been an increasing trend towards both learning disabilities and more significant physical disabilities. The Centre also provides activities and daytime respite care for an increasing number of members with deteriorating medical conditions

The Centre has operated on the site since 1965. There are currently 48 regularly attending members. These are almost all funded by a number of local authorities and health bodies, with the vast majority coming from the London Borough of Croydon.

The Trustees are seeking to appoint a Manager of Centre who has:

a clear ability to enjoy the company of adults with physical and learning disabilities and relate well to them
proven leadership and management skills
a commitment to provide the best support, activities, experiences and fulfilment for all
an understanding of current issues around expected legislative changes and funding
the ability to develop a vision for the future of the Centre in an era of financial stringency and changing legal background and to implement proposals to implement the vision.
a broad experience in the care and welfare of adults with disabilities
a clear vision for the development of the Centre
an enthusiasm for working in partnership with parents / carers, Trustees, other branches of the Garwood Foundation, agencies, the local community and local authorities
the ability to manage staff
and implement change
highly developed inter-personal skills
the ability to innovate and to drive plans through to success

We can offer:

a recently redecorated Centre with a fitness suite, computer area, physiotherapy facility, greenhouse, trainingkitchen and recently constructed hydrotherapy pool.
an outstanding, caring, supportive, encouraging Centre.
an experienced and motivated team who have excellent knowledge of and relations with the Centre’s members.
a supportive group of Trustees
an established, happy community of regularly attending members who enjoy their day time experiences at the Centre.
positive links with families, carers and the wider community
specialist physiotherapy and social work staff to support the members.
a range of contracted and volunteer activity leaders covering adult education, arts and crafts, gardening, music and drama, yoga, sewing and woodwork.

The Bramley Hill Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its attendees and expects all staff to share this commitment. An Enhanced DBS check is required for appointment to this post.

Application packs are available from the Director of Services of the Garwood Foundation. The application period will close at 9am on Monday19thMay 2014. Interviews will be held shortly afterwards. Informal visits to the Centre can be arranged through the Director on 020 8406 8225 or the Centre’s office on 020 8686 4716.

Visitors to the Bramley Hill Centre regularly comment on the warm and friendly family atmosphere and sense of community. The Centre supports disabled adults from the local Croydon Sutton and Surrey area, and has close links to the relevant local authorities. The Centre is located next to the Foundation’s residential home, Jean Garwood House, and a significant number of the residents regularly attend the Centre; the managers of the Centre and the Home work closely in relation to the attending residents.

Mission Statement

The Bramley Hill Centre is committed to offering a positive and life-enhancing day care for adults with disabilities and to provide support for them and their families and carers.

Aims

At the Bramley Hill Centre, we believe that:

All attending members have a right to a safe and caring environment and to an interesting and fulfilling time at the Centre.

Members should have the opportunity to engage in activities which are suited to their particular needs and which enable them to expand their abilities and interests.
Each member is entitled to day care and access to activities which provide equal opportunities regardless of ethnicity, religion, age, gender and individual need.
We aim to ensure a caring, happy, sensitive and safe and healthy environment in order to encourage and enable members to benefit from attending.
Recognising and celebrating members’ efforts and achievements demonstrates that they are valued both as an individual, and for their role in the Centre as a community.
Good communication is vital in order to achieve continuity and consistency, and should be gained by working as a team with the family and a multi-disciplinary staff.
Links with and involvement in the community should be a two-way process in order to be appropriate and of value, both to the individual and to the Centre as a whole.

The Centre Building, Environment and Resources

The Bramley Hill Centre is located in a purpose built building which comprises:

Two large and one smaller rooms
A modern hydrotherapy pool
A small specifically equipped fitness suite and physiotherapist’s room.
A computer suite for members’ use.
A kitchen adapted for use by members.
A greenhouse adapted for use by members
A small patio and barbeque area.
A kitchen and dining room.
Offices for the Manager, social worker and administrative assistant.

The main rooms have been redecorated recently. When not engaged in one of the formal activity sessions, members can participate in work activities (making British Legion poppies and filling envelopes for local organisations to fulfill contracts) or engage in informal pastimes with each other or members of staff. The rooms are equipped with televisions and a range of games, jig-saw and other pastimes.

The Centre provides further support for members. The Centre provides each full day attending member with a lunch prepared and cooked in the Centre’s kitchen and individual dietary and feeding needs are addressed by the staff. The Bramley Hill Centre has a fleet of four minibuses which collect most attending members and return them home at the end of the day. Some members travel privately or in alternatively arranged funded transport.

The Future

At the Bramley Hill Centre we aim to create an environment which is safe, happy and caring, in order that the members and their families can feel at ease and confident in our ability to meet each individual’s needs.

The current financial situation means that the Garwood Foundation is having to consider the future of the Centre. The Foundation is committed to continuing to provide the support for the attending members which they have enjoyed in the past –in some cases for a number of decades. However the nature of the disabilities which local authorities consider to warrant funded places has changed significantly in recent years; referred attendees now tend to have more significant disabilities with consequent challenges to the costs and resources required for their care and support. Moves towards self-directed funding bring further challenges as even established members will rightly wish to balance the benefits of attending the Centre against other options. The Centre must therefore ensure that its offer represents the day-care option of choice for those attending.

The absence of specific commitments from funding authorities as regards future patronage and funding, means that the Trustees have to regard the Centre as potentially entering into a period of change. The new manager is therefore expected to work with Trustees, the Director of Services and the managers of the Foundation’s other facilities to develop a vision for the future of the Centre which both secures continuity for existing users and establishes a business model which will secure the financial stability of the facility for the foreseeable future. In particular the Foundation is aware that the local community currently has no facility dedicated to or capable of addressing the potential daycare needs of the young adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities and complex medical needs who leave Rutherford which is another Foundation facility; the Trustees expect the new manager to work with colleagues and external agencies to explore the scope for the Centre to support this group.

Job Description – Manager, Bramley Hill Day Centre

This job description is based on the expectations of which the Garwood Foundation has of the managers of its three service Centres.

The Centre Manager will carry out all professional duties in accordance with relevant health and safety, employment and other relevant legislation.

he Centre Manager is accountable to the Director of Services of the Foundation and the Trustees for the standards achieved and the conduct, management and administration of the Centre, subject to any policies which the Trustees may adopt. The Centre Manager reports to the Director of Services, particularly in relation to the effective running of the Centre and management of the Centre’s annual budget, and to the Centre’s designated Trustee and the Board of Trustees in respect of the setting and achievement of agreed personal and corporate targets and adherence to the approved budget.

The Garwood Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of service users and the Centre Manager must ensure that the highest priority is given to all guidance and regulations relating to safeguarding.

Core Purpose of the post

The core purpose of the Centre Manager is to provide professional leadership and management for the Centre with the drive and vision to strive to improve it. This will promote a secure basis from which to achieve high standards in all areas.

To gain success a Centre Manager will:

effectively manage the Bramley Hill Day Centre
promote excellence, equality and high expectation in the delivery of services
provide vision, leadership and direction to all stakeholders
agree priorities and decision-making parameters with the Director of Services and trustees
evaluate Centre performance and identify priorities for continuous improvement
deploy resources to achieve the Centre’s aims
carry out day-to-day management, organisation and administration

ecure the involvement and support of parents, carers, local authorities and other funding bodies and the community

create a safe and stimulating environment which is engaging and fulfilling for all service users
provide reports to the Trustees, and Director of Services

Improving the Lives of Disabled People

Working with the Director, Trustees and others, the Centre Manager will:

develop a staff who have the necessary skills and knowledge
promote equality, respect diversity and challenge stereotypes to promote the rights of service users and young people
recognise the roles parents, carers and families play in helping the Centre’s members to succeed and thrive through being healthy; staying safe; enjoying and achieving; and making a positive contribution to the community.

The Centre Manager will ensure that staff:

listen, question and respond to what is being communicated by service users and their carers, while maintaining appropriate records.
demonstrate knowledge of the physical, intellectual, linguistic, social and emotional growth and development of service users.
recognise when a service user may not be achieving their developmental potential or their health may impaired and be able to identify sources of help for them and their families and be able to support parents and carers when they are confronted with difficult situations in their service user’s health or development.
understand the impact on a service user of transitions they may be going through
work successfully on a multi-disciplinary basis and to be clear about the role of the Centre Manager and the roles of other professionals
adopt the right approach to information sharing by following the correct procedures and by ensuring that the service user, parent or carer understands the process
review needs and aspirations with parents and carers in a positive and understanding way.

Shaping the Future

Working with the Trustees and others, the Centre Manager will:

create a shared vision and strategic plan which inspires and motivates service users, staff and all other members of the Centre community
develop the ethos of the Centre linked to its core aims and values
think strategically, build and communicate a coherent vision in a range of compelling ways
inspire, challenge, motivate and empower others to carry the vision forward
model the values and vision of the Centre
identify and work with potential partners to achieve the Centre’s goals
work with other managers, Trustees clients and other agencies to develop a vision for the future to fit anticipated legal and financial circumstances and lead the introduction of any required changes.

Developing Self and Working with Others

In order to develop effective relationships and communication which underpin a professional facility which enables service users to achieve, the Centre Manager will:

foster an open, fair, equitable culture and manage conflict
develop, empower and sustain individuals and teams
collaborate and network with others within and beyond the Centre
challenge, influence and motivate others to attain high goals
give and receive effective feedback and act to improve personal performance
accept support from others including colleagues, parents, the Director, Trustees, Garwood Foundation and the Local Authority

Managing the Centre

The Centre Manager, working with the Director and Trustees will:

provide effective organisation and management of the Centre and seek ways of improving organisational structures and functions based on rigorous self-evaluation
ensure that the Centre and the people and resources within it are organised and managed
provide an efficient, effective and safe environment for service users, staff and members of the Centre community. This includes adhering to safe employment procedures which place the safety of service users at the heart of all practices.
build a successful organisation through effective collaboration with others
establish and sustain appropriate structures and systems
working closely with the Director of Services and trustees, develop and manage the Centre’s budget and manage the Centre and its resources efficiently and effectively on a day-to-day basis
delegate, management tasks and monitor their implementation
prioritise, plan and organise themselves and others
make professional, managerial and organisational decisions based on informed judgments
effectively manage and direct maintenance, domestic and office staff to ensure a harmonious atmosphere of secure and satisfactory employment
oensure staff appraisals are complete, training needs identified and appropriate/ relevant training carried out.
arrange for the effective monitoring and appraising of the service users’ requirments.
contribute to the management of the Garwood Foundation through attending meetings with the Director and other managers, supporting Foundation-wide initiatives and as and when required attending meetings of the board of Trustees.
Work with other foundation managers to identify and implement best ways of working with a view to sharing experiences, identifying and coordinating revenue streams and to identifying cost-sharing opportunities.

Securing Accountability

The Centre Manager is legally and contractually accountable to the Foundation for the Centre, its environment and all its work. The Centre Manager also must fulfill the wider accountabilities in relation to service users, parents, carers, local authorities and other funding bodies and other relevant groups.

The Centre Manager will:

demonstrate political insight and anticipate trends
engage the Centre community in the systematic and rigorous self-evaluation of the work of the Centre
work closely with the Trustees to ensure that effective Centre self-evaluation informs Centre improvement priorities
collect and use data to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Centre
combine the outcomes of regular Centre self-review with external evaluations in order to develop the Centre
manage the acquisition and use of resources subject to the limits of delegated authority

Strengthening Community