Job Title: Learning and Leisure Head of Service

Job description

Salary: £32,160.00 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer

Summary of post:

The post-holder will have overall responsibility for ensuring the smooth running and development of the Learning and Leisure Service at Centre 404, including:

Day to day management and strategic development of the service and all related activities
Responsibility for ensuring the line management of the Assistant Managers, Coordinators and all other project and support staff within the service
Work to maintain current levels of funding and develop new income streams through tendering and other sources
Ensure all groups and activities are delivered in line with Centre 404 mission and values and that they promote inclusion and diversity

Management Responsibilities

Lead on strategic planning within the service and contribute to development of strategic direction within the organisation as a whole
Lead on a user-led approach to the planning, running and review of services and encourage user involvement in decision-making structures within the service and the wider organisation
Ensure that the service complies with and meets the requirements of any grants, awards or contracts with external bodies
Oversee the service’s management committee, ensuring that there is an appropriate balance of members, parents/carers and stakeholders. Take responsibility for ensuring that decisions arrived at are implemented
Prepare reports for funders as required and produce papers and reports as requested by line manager or learning and leisure management committee
Manage the budget for the service, ensuring that spending is kept within limits and that financial targets are met. Participate in regular financial monitoring of projects
Contribute to the preparation and writing of contract bids/tenders and represent the organisation at interviews and presentations when required
Contribute to fundraising for the Learning and Leisure Service and participate in Centre 404 fundraising events
Ensure that appropriate policies, procedures and quality standards are in place and implemented in line with national and local requirements, funding bodies and Centre 404
Be responsible for monitoring and managing health and safety systems, procedures and policies within the service in line with relevant standards
Act as Centre 404’s Child Protection and safeguarding representative. Lead on ensuring the Child Protection policy is up to date and that staff understand and work within child protection procedures
Undertake liaison and networking with individuals and organisations in the borough, for example schools, the local authority, community groups, youth clubs, and umbrella organisations and make presentations and attend meetings as required
Attend relevant internal and external meetings reporting back to the staff team, line manager, management committee or other groups as appropriate
Update the strategic plan, operational objectives, fundraising strategy and work programme for the Learning and Learning Service
Organise an annual staff away day and update the strategic plan, operational objectives, fundraising strategy and work programme for the Learning and Leisure Service
Liaise with and support the Volunteer Coordinator to recruit volunteers for the service. Ensure they are supervised and that their induction/training needs are met
Uphold data protection requirements and maintain confidentiality of any information relating to members of the organisation, service users, staff and any sensitive issues relating to the work of Centre 404

Service Delivery

Ensure project leaders adopt a user-led approach to planning activities and support and that the sessions are exciting, challenging, creative and responsive to reflect best value
Ensure that services support the social, recreational and educational needs of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities
Ensure that all required documentation and reporting is being collated and recorded in line with funder and Centre 404 expectations
Develop and review services to ensure best value and undertake monitoring and evaluation to ensure that services are meeting required standards and outcomes
Oversee the organisation of transport for the groups, ensuring there are systems in place regarding safety, maintenance and tax/insurance
Provide direct support to users as and when needed including but not limited to when staff are absent or when additional support is required. During direct support, provide personal support to members as required

Staff Management

Ensure there are clear and accessible procedures in place for all services and that they are reviewed regularly and communicated to the staff team
Ensure that all staff receive a full induction and relevant training and that regular supervisions are undertaken and recorded
Adhere to and oversee the implementation of Centre 404 policies and procedures around personnel and staff management including recruitment, staff development, disciplinary procedures and handbooks
Provide line management support and supervision to staff working in the Service, along with the Assistant Managers and Coordinators

GeneralDuties

Adhere to all Centre 404 policies and procedures and to the requirements of funding organisations
Promote and adhere to Centre 404 Equality and Diversity mission and Equal Opportunities Policy and contribute to an accessible and welcoming work environment
Maintain confidentiality of information relating to service users, volunteers, staff and any sensitive issues relating to the work of the organisation
Contribute to your personal and professional development by attending regular support and supervision sessions and training as identified by your line manager in relation to your role and responsibilities
Assist and supervise volunteers where required and adhere to Centre 404 values in relation to supporting volunteers
Be flexible and available to work evenings and weekends in accordance with the needs of the post and the organisation as a whole
Attend and organise staff meetingsand other committees when requested
Aim to meet targets as set and agreed with your line manager in relation to your personal development and the progress of the service
Attend the annual AGM, fundraising functions, events and staff away days as required. Time off in lieu will normally be given for activities outside of normal working hours
Undertake any other reasonable duties as commensurate with the aims of the post and as requested by management

Unsociable hours

This post will involve some evening and weekend working. The post-holder is required to cover evening sessions as required and run quarterly staff meetings. They will also monitor weekend and other evening sessions on a regular basis. The timetable of work will be agreed between the post-holder and line manager.
Along with the Assistant Managers, the post-holder will be responsible for responding to calls on the work mobile. This includes calls from staff reporting absences in the morning or over the weekends.

Person Specification

(E) Essential requirements(D) Desirable requirements

Physical/personal attributes / To be able to travel to a variety of locations / E
To be able to work evenings on a regular basis and weekends occasionally. Some flexible working hours can be considered / E
Qualifications / Good level of general education and training to degree level or equivalent in any field or hold a nationally recognised professional qualification in a relevant area e.g. youth work, play, teaching, social work / E
Have substantial experience of developing and managing activities similar to those provided by Centre 404 / D
Knowledge & Experience / Commitment to concepts ofequality and diversity and knowledge of the ways in which the people we support encounter discrimination / E
Knowledge of relevant health and safety, legal and policy requirements in order to run the service safely / E
Knowledge and understanding of generating income streams appropriate to the learning and leisure activities through charitable grants, contracts, tenders etc. / D
Experience of day to day working in a similar service for people with learning disabilities (including profound and multiple disabilities) or other vulnerable people / D
Experience and expertise at involving people with learning disabilities in planning, development and evaluation of services / D
Experience of working in an inner city, diverseand multi-cultural community / D
Experience of supporting and working to a voluntary management committee / D
Experience of setting clear targets and performance indicators for staff and being able to monitor and demonstrate these achievements / E
Experience of developing an annual work programme for yourself and your staff which fits into the organisation’s overall strategic intentions / D
Skills/Abilities / Ability to manage staff, including provision of support and supervision, staff appraisals and performance management / E
Proven ability to motivate and lead a team / E
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage children and adults with learning disabilities (including those with profound and complex disabilities and with challenging behaviour), and people from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds in stimulating programmes of recreation and social education / E
Ability to form effective and professional relationships with children and adults, parents/carers, volunteers, the staff team and others outside the organisation / E
Good organisational and administrative skills including report writing, record keeping and management of petty cash / E
Ability to solve day to day operational problems and to manage your own and others’ time effectively and prioritise a varied workload / E
Ability to draw up an annual budget and manage this quarterly and the ability to draw up budgets for new services / D
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately / E
Ability to develop a business plan in conjunction with other Heads of Service that contributes to the overall strategic direction and development of the organisation / D
Other / Possession of a coherent vision for the development of the service and ability to communicate that vision to others / E
Willingness and ability to undertake the personal support needs outlined in the job description / E
Be willing to drive the Centre 404 minibus (with a full clean UK driving license) / D