Employment and Communities Manager

Job Description & Person Specification

Title:	Employment and Communities Manager
Reports to:	Senior Operations Manager
Accountable to:	Senior Operations Manager
Location:	Contracted Base – this role requires travel across the county
Hours:	37.5 hours per week
Date reviewed	April 2018

Job Purpose

To manage employment and community services in a geographical or themed area. Providing strategic and management support for service coordinators, customers and other stakeholders. Maintaining existing relationships and developing new business opportunities within local communities, stakeholders and employers.

Key Responsibilities

As an Employment and Communities Manager you will provide and deliver:

Be responsible and accountable for promoting and delivering the visions and values of Surrey Choices within a designated area of the company.
Be responsible and accountable to ensure you and your staff deliver the company’s objectives and operating model
Ensure your designated services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and meet targets
Provide leadership and direction to staff to ensure a high level of competence, professionalism and customer focus is maintained
Be responsible and accountable for the management of a designated budget to ensure services are delivered in a cost effective and proportionate way.
Be responsible for the implementation of a business plan that supports the delivery of sustainable growth in our business offer.
Support and contribute to the continuous monitoring of standards of service delivery and customer care and implement improvement plans when appropriate

Role specific Objectives – Customer Focus

Ensure that services are customer focused at all times, planned and delivered in accordance to their wants needs and wishes.
To ensure the planning and provision of outcome-based services that promote customer’s independence, choice and control.
To engage with parents/carers to promote a positive proactive relationship and ensure that communication strategies are in place to support this relationship.
To attend, carers meetings and other discussion and decision-making forums in order to support Service Coordinators and Employment Support Specialist with consistent two-way communication.
To educate employers and the wider community on the issues and management of disabled people in the workplace.
To support customers, employers and your staff with complex workplace issues.
To build relationships with employers, Job Centres, community groups, education providers and other stakeholders.
To represent Surrey Choices on community and work-related forums.
To develop projects designed to increase employability and independence skills in local communities.
To work across Surrey Choices services to ensure all customers are encouraged to access work, volunteering and opportunities in their communities independently.

Role Specific Objectives -Business Development

Work in collaboration with the Operations Senior Managers and other key stakeholders to develop new services and offers to increase community involvement, volunteering and employment.
To manage existing contracts and projects to ensure compliance, professional standards and cost effectiveness is maintained.
Establish and maintain links / relationships with local stakeholders and other local partners
To meet targets set in relation to Key Performance indicators.
To ensure data returns are completed in a timely and accurate manner.
To keep up to date with local and national policy relating to your area of work.

Role Specific Objectives – Staffing

Be responsible and accountable for the deployment of staff across your designated area, to ensure the safe and effective delivery of customer focused services
Provide management support, mentoring and guidance for staff to ensure the safe and effective delivery of customer focused services within their designated areas of responsibility.
Where there are operational issues or in the absence of a line manager, provide direct managerial oversight for services
Provide regular supervision and appraisals for service coordinators and other staff
To have overall responsibility and accountability, for the compliance of your staffs training requirements.
To have overall responsibility and accountability for the safer recruitment of staff
Collaborate with HR colleagues in relation to staff welfare issues, performance and disciplinary processes
To ensure that all staff understand, implement and comply with Surrey Choices policies, procedures and approved practice are applied by all staff

Other Objectives

● Maintain professional and personal boundaries with all customers, parents &
carers, colleagues and other professionals.
● Comply, observe and promote the company’s Code of Conduct.
● Comply with the company’s policies and procedures at all times.
● Take all reasonable precautions to maintain the health and safety of self and
others, ensuring that any risks in relation to this are reported and remedial action
taken in a timely manner.
● Take responsibility for own continuous professional development and maintaining
an adequate level of knowledge and skills pertaining to the role.
● Undertake any other duties that may reasonable be required of this role and as
requested by manager (s).
● Actively support and promote Surrey Choices business objectives, operating model
and core values.

Person Specifications, Qualification, Experience, Skills, Knowledge

Attributes

Essential

Desirable

Qualification and Training

● Degree level or equivalent in work experience

● Management qualification ideal but not essential

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

● Excellent written and spoken communication skills

● Proactive self-starter who is able to work with others in a multi-agency environment.

● Ability to use initiative and be innovative, with attention to detail

● Excellent organisation skills. Ability to prioritise work in an environment that may have conflicting pressures and demands.

● Competent IT skills, with evidence of ability to learn new computer systems

● Time Management, making effective use of time and resources

● Budget management

● Negotiating and sales aptitude with an ability to motivate others.

● Ability to understand and work within relevant legislation, particularly around disability and employment.

● Proven experience of working with diverse communities

● Results oriented with ability to develop new business contacts and build relationships with employers, education providers and external partners.

● Flexible working to cover weekends and evening if appropriate.

● Car driver and access to vehicle to transport both staff and customers when appropriate

● Management experience in a target driven sector

● Worked with community organisations or employers with evidence of professional networking

● Demonstrable partnership working

● Delivering projects effectively within agreed timescales

● Knowledge of disability and employment issues

● Managing budgets

● Managing staff teams to achieve targets

Personal Qualities

● Experienced manager with excellent communication skills

● Passionate about equality of opportunity

● Knowledge of issues relating to disability and work

● Budget holder experience

● Able to manage own workload

● Highly motivated and able to motivate others

● Able to manage and deliver on projects.

● Flexible worker

● Car driver

Other

This Job Description is neither exhaustive or exclusive and may be subject to change in light of company requirements and the development of services.