Chief Executive Officer

Job Summary

Lead with a high degree of professional autonomy the management and staff teams to realise the vision of a good neighbourhood through the following aims:

• Building social cohesion through bringing together individuals and changing communities. Seeking to understand each other and celebrating our differences, leading to a thriving neighbourhood.
• To equip people with skills, knowledge, confidence and resilience to enable them to meet their needs and discover new solutions.
• Work together with children, young people, adults and older people to encourage routes to improve life chances.
• To be a community resource that promotes good health and well-being.

Leading the Organisation

The Communityworks CEO:

• is accountable to all those who access Communityworks, who work within it, who fund it and who govern it. They are responsible for the quality of the work and for the staff. They must understand, implement and comply with relevant legislation including discrimination legislation, regulations, statutory guidance and inspection requirements. In particular, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
• develops, implements, monitors and audits all Communityworks’ policies, procedures and practices to ensure they comply with legislation, regulations and guidance.
• provides information, advice and support so that the Board of Directors can fulfil its responsibilities to improve outcomes for children, families and local people.
• works with the management team and the Board on the self-evaluation of the centre and business planning.
• leads a culture that encourages children, parents, other people in the community and staff to become enthusiastic, independent and successful lifelong learners.
• maintain the delivery of our Outstanding Nursery provision that meets local needs, by working closely with the Nursery Manager.
• has a comprehensive understanding of the local community and its strengths in order to support and develop the capacity of other organisations in the community and individuals to support sustainable community development.
• analyses current community needs, anticipates future needs and plans for further development within the local, regional and national context.
• is responsible for effective leadership and management. They must ensure that the building, its staff and resources are organised to offer a safe, efficient and legally compliant environment that can be enjoyed and used by the community it serves.
• is responsible for the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainable development of Communityworks. Central to this is responsibility for the financial management, reports and monitoring of the current budget, future viability through identifying potential funding opportunities and securing income for project delivery.
• works both with and through others and will forge strong working partnerships with children, families, staff and volunteers, partner agencies and the local community.
• will build on current good practice and identify new and creative ways for staff from different disciplines and/or local people to work together to improve the quality of local provision.
• uses feedback from children, families, local people, staff and other partners to evaluate and identify improvements to the quality of provision and resources.

Leading and Managing Staff

The post holder will lead, motivate, support, challenge and develop staff to deliver high quality services.

• Co-ordinate the work of the staff to ensure that Communityworks’ aims, objectives, policies and procedures are implemented, monitored and evaluated.
• Lead, manage and support staff effectively on a day-to-day basis to enable all to carry out their professional responsibilities.
• With the management team develop training plans for individual staff and the wider team.
• Ensure that all staff have access to induction, individual supervision, appraisal, support and mentoring.
• Ensure that there exists a clear commitment to the principles and practice of equality and diversity which reflects and respects the diversity of the local community and creates and promotes positive strategies for challenging all prejudice and dealing with harassment.
• Ensure that volunteers and students are given the proper support to acquire the skills and knowledge to work effectively within Communityworks.
• Where possible involve all staff and volunteers in decision-making, in order that they feel a sense of ownership and involvement.
• Encourage integrated working with clear communication of information between all members of the staff team and between Communityworks and other agencies.

Supporting Children, Families and Local People

• Provide information and develop activities and the support available to respond effectively to the needs of parents and children and local people.
• Help to develop, promote and market the range of activities, including adult learning and support activities delivered at Communityworks to the local community.
• Identify and ensure that all families are included and involved in the activities and services in the local area and have equality of access in line with Communityworks’ policies.
• To establish positive working relationships with partners and the local community to promote collaborative integrated working and provide a seamless service to families and local people.
• Follow Communityworks’ procedures for reporting any allegations of abuse of children and vulnerable adults as a Designated Safeguarding Lead. Keep up to date with Safeguarding legislation and good practice.
• Encourage the involvement of parents in their own and their children’s learning and in supporting children’s wellbeing.
• Monitor and evaluate services to ensure that they are relevant, responsive to changing needs and can demonstrate sustained improvement through continuous organisational self-evaluation.

General

The Communityworks CEO will receive guidance, support and challenge through line management from the Board. They are expected to work on their own initiative within the values, aims and ethos of Communityworks and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the organisation. Regularly review their own practice and take responsibility for their own personal and professional development, seeking support where appropriate.

The post holder will be expected to attend supervision sessions; team meetings and all appropriate training arranged on their behalf.

Maintain confidentiality of information.

To be responsible for resources and equipment used.

There may be additional tasks not listed above that arise which the Board of Directors will deem the responsibility of the post holder. In general, the post holder will need to be flexible, adaptable and able to respond to situations as they arise.

Pay and conditions

Salary: Spinal Column Point: NJC 32 – 43, £42,839 – £54,495 pro rata which is £34,271 – £43,596 actual

Holidays : 5 weeks per annum (pro rata) + 8 public holidays

The post will require a small amount of out of hours working which is reflected in the grade and no additional payment will be made.

Pension: There is a 6% employer contribution with an expectation of 3% employee contribution.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Because of the nature of the work, this post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exceptions) Order 1975. Applicants for the post are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provisions of the Act. In the event of employment any failure to disclose such convictions may result in disciplinary action or dismissal. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to an application for a position to which the order applies.