Job summary
We are seeking to recruit an experienced and highly motivated individual to provide operational leadershipfor Ace Centre's clinical services in the North and to support our Senior Management Team (SMT) to ensure the continual improvement of our portfolio of services that focus on supporting the evolving needs of people with complex communication difficulties and put the people we serve at the heart of all decision making.
Ace Centre is a registered charity (No. 1089313) thatspecialises in providing Augmentative andAlternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT)services and support for people with complexneeds. We offer assessment, training, technical and engineering, research andinnovation, and information services, and we work actively with partners andstakeholders to advance service delivery and development across the UK.
We are recognised for the quality of our work, and wedeliver services contracted by the NHS in the North West of England and theThames Valley and Wessex region. In addition to our NHS work we are active inbuilding partnerships across the health and education sectors, training,engineering and technological development, research and innovation, andemerging fields.
This is an exciting time to join Ace Centre as we look tomeet the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead as we embark on the next stage of ourjourney.
Main duties of the job
The role is to provide operational leadership for Ace Centre's clinical services in the North and to support the Senior Management Team (SMT) in developing services and enhancing systems at a regional level.
The successful applicant will be responsible for the co-ordinated planning and delivery of our services in the North, and contribute to the recruitment, induction and ongoing training and support of service delivery staff to ensure we maintain a workforce that has the capacity, skill and competency mix to meet service requirements
They will also support our SMT to develop working relationships with external partners and to manage overall service capacity and demand, promoting the effective collection and use of data to inform operational decisions and facilitate the formulation and evaluation of business plans.
About us
We are a registered charity (No. 1089313) providing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) services for people with complex needs.
With bases in Oldham and Abingdon, our multi-disciplinaryteam of specialist teachers, occupational therapists, speech and languagetherapists, technical and administrative staff ensure that we are focused onsupporting the evolving needs of people with complex communicationdifficulties.
We believe everyone should be given the opportunity and the tools they need to fulfil their potential. We lobby for change in statutory policy as well as working directly with people who need our support and we are dedicated to thecontinual improvement of our portfolio of services that puts the people weserve at the heart of all decision making.
We have a clear business plan to deliver on four key goals:
1. Establish and develop AAC/AT expertise to meet the needs of the community
2. Become the nationally recognised Centre of Excellence in the provision and delivery of AAC/AT services
3. Provide advocacy for all people needing/using AAC/AT
4. Become the "go to" place for AAC and AT resources and information
We offer excellent CPD opportunities, a competitive salary, and membership of a generous pension scheme with Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will:
5. Be responsible for the co-ordinated scheduling and delivery of services in the North and for the development and implementation of co-ordinated strategies for caseload/workload management.
6. Facilitate the development of peer support groups and clinical supervision in the North.
7. Act as a point of liaison, where appropriate, regarding sensitive and confidential information relating to staff in the North and provide pastoral care to staff who may be experiencing personal difficulties that impinge upon their work.
8. Support and guide clinical staff in the North to maintain personal development records that comply with professional standards,
9. Support clinical staff to adhere to the GDPR and Caldicott recommendations through policy development and implementation.
10. Manage complaints relating to service delivery in the North, ensuring complaints are handled promptly and sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
11. Act as Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
12. Support the Senior Management Team (SMT) to understand and manage overall service capacity and demand, promoting the use of relevant data and reports to make informed operational decisions and to formulate and evaluate business plans.
13. Inform and contribute to SMT capacity planning for all areas of service delivery to provide a staffing complement that is qualified and able to meet service requirements, addressing such issues as the recruitment and retention of staff and changing service needs.
14. Support the SMT to recruit service delivery staff in the North as required and to and ensure robust induction processes are in place for those staff.
15. Support the SMT in the implementation of a robust system of continual professional development in order that professional registration with the HCPC is maintained within the legal and national professional requirements for practice in the North
16. Support the SMT to develop working relationships with external partners.
17. Notwithstanding the items described above, to be involved with other workstreams where appropriate and necessary.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
18. Experience of providing education and training on AAC/AT solutions, principles, and practice.
19. Experience of working with a range of AAC/AT solutions for clients with differing needs.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
20. In-depth knowledge of the AAC/AT assessment process and ability to contribute to this as part of a team.
21. A strong understanding of Ace Centre services to support and enable discussions with SMT colleagues to ensure continuous improvement.
22. Ability to manage complex and challenging situations.
23. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
24. Competent IT skills.
25. Ability to manage own workload.
26. Ability to maintain accurate records/documentation.
27. Evidence of on-going personal development CPD.
Personal attributes
Essential
28. Aware of, and sensitive to, the needs of individuals with disabilities. Committed to maintaining client safety, confidentiality, and privacy.
29. Self-motivated.
30. Enthusiastic team member.
31. Methodical with excellent attention to detail. Willing to work flexibly when required, including occasional overnight stays.
Qualifications
Essential
32. Professional qualification, degree level or above in Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Education or relevant field of experience.