Deputy Locality Leader / Deputy Service Manager

Deputy Locality Leader / Deputy Service Manager, L'Arche Kent

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reports to: Locality Leader

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week (up to 17.5 hours dedicated to management and leadership tasks, remaining hours providing care and support work) 

Salary: £28,429.44 rising to £29,568.24 in year two

Place of work: St.Stephen’s Locality Community houses; L’Arche Kent office (however, you may be required to work at any service, determined by the needs of the community).

Contract type: Full time, permanent

Closing date: Thursday, 13th February 2025, at 9:00 am

Are you an energetic and compassionate individual, passionate about managing and inspiring the team of care and support workers to facilitate the practical, social, and spiritual needs of adults with learning disabilities in our vibrant community?

This is an ideal step up for someone with knowledge and experience of supporting people with learning disabilities, an enthusiasm for our values, and the ability to inspire and manage others. 

As Deputy Locality Leader / Deputy Service Manager you will be part of a caring and committed team, and have opportunities for fun, personal and professional development, and friendship in the process. 

As well as joining a friendly Community, where you will be well supervised and supported, and benefit from L’Arche’s mentorship programme, these are some other benefits you get by working for us:

• Joining shared meals since cooking and having a meal together is what we are all about
• Paid sick pay, up to a maximum of 7wks (depending on length of service)
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption/Surrogacy, and Paternity Pay (depending on length of service, details available on request)
• Interest free loans and salary advances available
• Free eye tests and a contribution towards the cost of glasses if you need them for work
• Free DBS / PVG checks
• Free SSSC registration
• Free Blue Light Card
• Professional membership fees paid if they are directly relevant to your role
• Free Employee Assistance Programme available to everyone
• Up to 5 days paid compassionate leave
• Up to 6 days paid (pro rata) for time off for emergency dependents leave
• Carer and Childminder costs available in some circumstances to facilitate attendance at residential meetings
• Paid mileage costs at HMRC rate
• Working from Home Allowance for those in office-based roles but for whom no office is provided
• Specialist bereavement counselling for employees and their family members
• Free Life Assurance up to 4 times gross annual salary
• Access to the Bike to Work scheme

Main purpose of the role:

As a Deputy Locality Leader you will be required to undertake delegated duties and tasks by the Locality Leader and thereby contributing to shared leadership of the Locality. The purpose of this shared leadership is:

• To lead and manage a locality comprising a range of services for people with a learning disability and a team of Care and Support Workers and Voluntary Workers.
• To maintain a sense of community within the locality and to lead service delivery in line with L’Arche values and the requirements of the Care Quality Commission [CQC] and KCC Commissioning.
• To Deputise for the Locality Leader in their absence.
• The role requires experience of Social Care.
• While performing Support Assistant duties you will support people with learning disabilities living in a variety of settings, in line with agreed support and care plans, in all aspects of their everyday lives. 
• You will deliver practical, physical and emotional support to people with learning disabilities, whilst proactively promoting choice, independence and self-determination
• Comply with all the policies of L’Arche Community both written and spoken.

Key essential criteria:

• Ability to plan and prioritise own work and that of others
• Ability and experience and commitment to work with people with learning disabilities in a person-centred way, to develop relationships and to facilitate their empowerment
• Ability to create and manage an environment in which cultural difference is respected and supported and in which the spirituality of house members is supported and nurtured
• Competent administrator, strong organisational skills, IT literate
• Ability to work under pressure, set priorities and meet deadlines 
• Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for England; or other equivalent relevant professional qualification; or committed to studying to this level of qualification

ABOUT L'ARCHE KENT

We are people with and without learning disability, on a mission to build a world where everyone belongs. As a movement of life-sharing Communities, we help each other live full and empowered lives, enriched with belonging, kindness, creativity, fun and joy. We seek every opportunity to celebrate the gifts and contributions of people with learning disabilities. And we look to grow by building mutual relationships across our diversity and differences, and to work together for a more human society. 

L’Arche Kent is the oldest of the 11 UK L’Arche communities, calling Canterbury a home since 1974. Our Community includes currently 28 people with learning disabilities, who we support at home, as well as volunteers, friends, neighbours and L’Arche assistants. Some of the people we support choose to live in their own flat, others prefer to share their home with one or more housemates who have a learning disability and perhaps with L'Arche assistants as well.

A full job description and person specification can be found in the Recruitment Pack.

The closing date for applications is: Thursday, 13th February 2025, at 9:00am

To apply, please read the full job description and person specification and answer the questions on our online application form. 

Interviews will take place on the week commencing February 17, 2025.

Please also read our privacy notice for job applicants.

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