Head Of Operations

Options for Supported Living

Options for Supported Living, founded in 1993, is a well-established local charity, providing support for people with learning disabilities within Merseyside. We are proud to be celebrating our 30th year in 2024.

For us, it's all about making a positive difference in peoples lives. We have grown gradually over the last 30 years and currently provide support to 181 people across Liverpool, Wirral, and Sefton. We employ 376 staff across the whole organisation providing a mix of supported living and outreach-based support.

At Options, we aspire to be different to other supported living providers. We are shaped by our vision, values and beliefs and set a high bar when it comes to person­ centred principles.

Even with the pressures in social care at the moment, we continue to invest in training, healthcare, inclusion, innovation, and quality to ensure the people we support are living the lives they choose and to the highest quality.

As we look towards the next 30 years of Options support, we want to do more to influence the communities around us, and the wider social care system to demonstrate what is possible.

We are proud to hold an Outstanding rating with the CQC. This in only possible due to our innovation, quality of all our staff and great leaders.

As Head of Operations, you will work closely with our Chief Executive Kevin to oversee all operational aspects of our work/organisation. You will have a great team made up of 5 senior managers who have an average of 19 years' experience in overseeing great, person-centred support.

Creating and maintaining a robust team to achieve our Vision and Mission through strong relationships with teams and stakeholders is paramount. As is remaining updated with legislation, white papers and having an awareness of future changes.

Our Vision

"A better world where people with disabilities contribute as unique and valued members of dynamic and inclusive communities.''

Our Mission

We support, empower and enable people with disabilities to live their lives to the full.

Our talented and dedicated teams work collaboratively with families, carers, partners and our communities to offer genuine person-centred support.

"Together, we give every person we support the opportunity to have a fulfilled and meaningful life."

Our Values

Creative Collaborators - We love teaming up and thinking outside the box. We listen, learn, and welcome diverse ideas because it makes us stronger and helps us do better.

Courageous Advocates - We stand up for fairness, celebrate every victory, and speak out for those who can't. It's all about creating a world where everyone is treated equally.

Passionately Committed - to improving lives. Balancing our team's well-being with our mission, we stay positive and keep pushing for a more inclusive society.

Curious Learners - We're always exploring new ways to understand and support our community. We believe in growing our skills and learning from each other. We're authentic, bold, optimistic, and full of knowledge, committed to making life better for everyone.

What we Believe

We believe that we all...

•            Should have control over our own lives and the resources to shape our future

•            Deserve belonging, acceptance, and dignity in our communities

•                         Should be able to have enriching experiences, meaningful relationships and express our own cultural and spiritual beliefs

•                         Should take responsibility for what we can and ought to do for ourselves, whilst caring about others and helping those around us.

Head of Operations

Role Purpose:

To contribute to our mission by overseeing all aspects of day-to-day delivery of operational support to people at Options, maintaining good person-centred policies and processes that enable people to live a fulfilled life, maintaining a minimum CQC good rating.

Reporting to:

Chief Executive

Responsible for / manager of:

4 x Development Managers (DM), Outreach Manager, Administrator.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities:

l. Provide effective leadership and promote a positive culture which develops high performing, consistent and collaborative operational teams.

2. To manage, support, develop and shape our Development Managers and their Team Leaders to ensure the people we support are living fulfilled and meaningful lives.

3. To work closely with other central support team members (including our Quality Team) to continuously improve the quality of Options support, ensuring the outcomes and impact of our work.

4. To contribute to long-term strategic planning for Options and relate on-going advice to the Trustees, Chief Executive and Leadership Team. To contribute to the development of Options development plan.

5. To work with Development Managers and external stakeholders to identify and actively pursue growth opportunities in line with Options business model and development plan objectives.

6. To contribute to the Senior Leadership Team at Options, and work with the Chief Executive and Central Support Team to ensure that person-centred practices are embedded throughout the organisation.

7. To continually review Options' operating structure and business model to ensure it is fit­ for-purpose.

8. To ensure that Options' builds a positive health and safety culture by embedding good practice at all levels of the organisation, working with the Health and Safety Lead and Development Managers.

9. Act as senior point of contact with Local Authorities, health professionals and other stakeholders, building and maintaining strong positive relationships.

10. Develop, improve and implement operational policy and processes to effectively manage resources, support we provide and staff.

11. Identify areas of innovation and improvement across our Operational Teams incorporating best practice and changing trends. Work with the Quality and Central Support Teams to support organisational learning and response when things go wrong.

12. Collaborate with other departments to streamline operations and enhance contract compliance.

13. Stay updated with changes in legislation and regulatory landscape affecting social care and implement accordingly.

14. Work with central support team on building a robust, excellent and values-led staff­ focusing on developing and retaining staff, and ensuring good operational involvement in recruitment and placement.

15. Provide the operational oversight of plans to reduce and keep agency staff to a minimum.

16. Oversee the on-call system and contribute to on-call when required.

17. To act as Safeguarding Lead for Options.

18. Deputise for the CEO in their absence.

19. To be the Nominated Individual for CQC.

Person Specification

Experience:

At least three years in a senior Leadership role within a person-centred, social care setting.

2. Strong understanding of CQC and regulated activity.

3. Significant staff management experience in a support work setting.

4. Setting strategic direction and delivery.

5. Evidence of leading and shaping organisational culture.

Qualifications:

l. Minimum NVQ Leader in Adult care Level 5 or equivalent.

2. A qualification in leadership or management (or suitably skilled by experience)

Skills, Values and Knowledge:

l. Person Centred - see people as people, irrespective of disability.

2. Able to work on own initiative, prioritise work, handle pressure and the day-to-day decisions of running the operational aspects of the organisation.

3. Able to develop, maintain and monitor management information systems and procedures.

4. Able to communicate effectively in person, in writing and over the telephone, with individuals and with a wide variety of organisations and audiences and to research, analyse and interpret complex information and produce clear verbal and written reports.

5. Extensive knowledge of the social care system and legislation.

6. Understanding of supportive living contracts and tenders

7. Strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

8. Able to lead and develop Operational Teams.

9. Great people skills.

10. A real desire to support and develop others.

11. Able to produce and analyse monthly management reports.

12. Attention to detail, accurate, with the ability to see the big picture.

Summary of Terms and Conditions

Salary: £55,000 per annum. 40 hours a week

Annual Leave: 33 days inclusive of premium days (Bank Holidays)

Sickness: 5 days (one calendar week) full pay per year (after the first 6 months of service) and after a waiting period of 3 days.

Car: 40p per mile (when additional travel is required to carry out work for Options)

Training: Options is committed to significant staff training and development and will support the post holder in their development.

Pension: Subject to eligibility, we will automatically enrol you into our nominated pension scheme after you have worked for us for three months. You can opt-out if you do not wish to be in the Scheme. Options will contribute 5% of salary to a pension scheme.

Based At: Options office (currently central Liverpool)

Interviews taking place on 20th March 2024