Job Specification

Job Title: Director of Operations

Salary: £50,500 per annum

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week

Contract type: Permanent

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Central Bath

About Bath Mind

Bath Mind was established in 1998 by a group of local people with lived experience of mental ill health who wanted to provide information and activities for people in the community. Since then we have worked hard to develop what we do in response to local needs.

Many of our current staff have lived experience of facing mental health challenges; we have a greater understanding of the community that we support.

We are in contact with over 6,000 people annually to support people’s mental health and wellbeing.

While we are affiliated to national Mind, we receive no direct funding from them. We are a self – sustaining, independent locally run charity.

Overall Responsibilities

• As part of our charity Senior Leadership Team (SLT) comprising of CEO, two Directors of Operations, Director of Business Development and Finance Manager, to have overall responsibility for the leadership, management, financial control and public profile of Bath Mind
• To oversee the ‘live’ element of Bath Mind, within our ‘live’, ‘learn’, ‘share’ structure
• To have operational oversight of the organisation’s activities, ensuring that they are effective and reflect the mission, aims and values of Bath Mind and the Mind federation
• To lead the service managers within their operational area
• To work with SLT to oversee the strategic aims and long term vision of the organisation
• To work with and across our health and social care system to support the planning, development and management of community mental health services
• To liaise with external partners to communicate the organisation’s vision
• To comply with the organisation’s quality, legislative and financial requirements
• To work as the Safeguarding lead across the organisation
• To be (or willing to be) registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to act as the Nominated Individual to support the manager of our Registered care home
• To comply with Bath Mind’s policies and procedures

Communication Responsibilities

• To adopt a team approach and be a proactive team leader and team player
• To be non-judgemental and empathetic
• To adhere to the policy of confidentiality and sharing of information
• To be non-discriminatory
• To promote positive perceptions of Bath Mind at all times
• To maintain positive working relationships with colleagues in Bath Mind
• To respond to telephone calls and general enquiries if required
• To attend supervision, appraisals and SLT/team meetings
• To attend training and relevant courses for professional development

Specific Responsibilities

• Attending external meetings with, or on behalf of the CEO as required
• Bring to the attention of the CEO, issues of concern that could affect our ability to achieve our objectives
• As part of SLT, to provide robust leadership for the organisation
• As part of SLT, to oversee the management and development of the organisation, developing and implementing the strategic vision and business plan priorities

· To provide oversight management and leadership development for service and senior managers across the ‘live’ services, encouraging collaborative approaches that build a strong, self-motivated team. These services include:

o Housing Services (registered care home and supported housing projects)

o Community Support

o Crisis House

o Intensive Outreach Support

o Welfare Benefits support

o Office Management

• To work with external colleagues/partners and commissioners to develop and lead our services to work effectively across all BaNES systems, including overseeing relevant performance indicators and outcome measures

· To ensure the implementation of effective systems for constructive supervision and annual appraisals, to monitor individual performance and to support professional development

• To communicate effectively the strategic and long term needs of the organisation
• To encourage innovation and quality throughout the organisation

· To work with SLT, Finance Manager and Service Managers to produce the annual budget

· To regularly monitor and manage income & expenditure for each service, ensuring financial control

· To have specific responsibility for overseeing the organisation’s current contracts, and supporting the CEO to respond to new contracts/commissioning intentions

· As part of SLT, to maintain links and positive relationships with BSW ICB (BaNES, Swindon, Wiltshire Intergrated Care Board) and BaNES Council

· To foster positive relationships with other organisations/stakeholders and people who access our services

· As part of SLT, to manage the organisation’s risk register and monitor the various risk controls of the organisation

· As part of SLT, to respond to any negative news about and/or within the service, managing potentially damaging publicity as a consequence

• To perform any other tasks which are reasonable requests that may be made by the CEO

Benefits

25 day’s holiday per year + Public and Bank Holidays

Workplace Pension Scheme

Sick pay

Employee Assistance Programme

Eligibility for charity discount via Blue Light Card

Our Inclusive Recruitment Commitment

Bath Mind is committed to encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) throughout our entire workforce. The aim is for our workforce to represent the diverse society we live in, and that our employees, volunteers, and clients feel respected and heard by Bath Mind.

We have active staff and volunteer networks for staff, volunteers, and EDI allies, and encourage new staff to ask questions and join if they are interested. Bath Mind is growing to fulfil our ongoing commitment in inclusion in the workplace. As an organisation that prioritises the mental health and wellbeing of all, we are determined to create meaningful and lasting equitable change across our charity.

Bath Mind is dedicated to supporting staff to enable them to carry out the role and responsibilities to the best of their ability and we are committed to developing staff with a comprehensive training package.

Lived experience

Whilst we welcome lived experience and encourage our staff to look after their wellbeing, we are unable to recruit new employees who have accessed our services within the last 12 months in the best interests of staff and the people we support.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Interpersonal

· A personal and professional philosophy which aligns with the vision, mission and values of Bath Mind

· The strategic vision, confidence and drive to help lead the organisation effectively

· An inclusive leadership style that values and enhances strong teamwork and inspires respect, while maintaining authority.

· A positive, proactive approach with robust professional boundaries

· An approach that is non-judgemental, non-discriminatory and empathetic

· Strong personal integrity and independence of mind

· Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrating respect and sensitivity alongside clarity of leadership

Communication

· Ability to effectively communicate organisation’s vision and strategy across organisation and external stakeholders

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including listening skills

· Confident IT skills

· Knowledge of, and compliance with GDPR

Qualifications/Experience/Skills

· Graduate qualifications or equivalent

· Minimum 5 years’ experience of strategic leadership within health and social care sector

· Already registered (or willing to be registered) with CQC as Nominated Individual

· Experience of working within mental health services at a senior level

· Experience of managing organisational change

· Working knowledge and understanding of mental health legislation

Finance

· The ability to manage effective resource allocation through budget planning and analysing income & expenditure reports

· The ability to plan new services within a framework of full cost recovery

Performance Management

· Commitment to regular supervision and appraisals

· Commitment to continuing professional development

· Commitment to quality assurance and the provision of excellent services

· The ability to analyse performance and feedback data to inform service improvement

· Knowledge/experience of developing, delivering and monitoring contracts with local authority/ICB

Desirable Criteria

· Post-graduate/professional qualification

· Experience of working within the third sector