Service Manager

We’re looking for a compassionate and resilient Service Manager to join our Domestic Abuse service located in Kent. No experience or personal care required, just the right values.

£37,669.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

2 year fixed term contract.

Want to feel in control of your career? You’ll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension – we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff’s commitment and contribution
• Free DBS 

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Look Ahead IDVA Managers provide a high-quality safe service to those at highest risk of domestic abuse.

The post holder will be responsible for leading a team that keeps the safety of victims of domestic abuse at the core of all processes. You will have overall responsibility for all clients accessing the service. The post holder will have good knowledge of the criminal justice system and an understanding of Marac protocols.

The manager will also raise awareness of male domestic abuse.

What you’ll do: 

 
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

• Managing all referrals and allocating to the most appropriate worker according to risk level and current caseloads.
• Co working complex cases.
• Regular attendance at MARAC in order to advocate for clients by the sharing of information and risk management and ensuring Marac research and actions are recorded correctly.

• Ensuring ongoing partnership working with services referring into the IDVA team.
• Ensure the service adapts to work with a diverse cohort of survivors.
• Ensuring all recording is completed including outcomes and closures in a timely manner.
• Developing multi agency partnerships with statutory and non-statutory partners in the sector.
• Carrying out regular supervisions with the team.
• Carrying out regular Casework Management with all staff.
• Completion of monthly case file audit.
• Oversight and management of IDVA caseloads in accordance with Safelives guidance.
• Managing and signing off the recording of safeguarding incidents.
• Oversight and sign off of client Safety and Support Plans and Dash Risk Assessments.
• Managing Commissioner expectations for the service.
• Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes.
• Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues.
• Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times.
• Adhering to all other Look Ahead’s policies and procedures.
• Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills.
• Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Head of Service.

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organized
• Able to apply the right balance of care and support dependant on the needs of the customer
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
• Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
• Ability to adhere to Look Ahead’s professional boundaries policy

What you’ll bring:

Essential:

• IDVA qualification essential
• Have an excellent understanding of domestic abuse and working with male victims and the legal and civil remedies available to victims and survivors.
• Experience of managing a team dealing with frontline high risk domestic abuse clients essential.

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.