Deputy Manager

Job content

BHT Sussex

BHT Sussex is a charity and a registered housing association working in Brighton and Hove, and East and West Sussex.

BHT Sussex’s mission is to combat homelessness, create opportunities, and promote change. It aims to achieve this mission through a network of interlinked projects that provide direct, practical services combined with a commitment to challenge the causes of poverty and inequality.

Project/Department Summary

Respite@Shore is a respite service that aims to prevent escalation of suicidal feelings and self-harm in people living in the Brighton and Hove area who have mental health problems, problematic substance use and/or complex needs. It seeks to provide an empowering and preventative service to those who may without it require hospital admission/use of a statutory crisis mental health services. Having successfully completed a small scale internal initial pilot phase we are pleased to be moving into a second phase working with more clients and introducing a new referral pathway with statutory mental health services in the city.

The service consists of 2 comfortable, non-clinical bedspaces to support guests for up to 7 days. We deliver person-centred support, agree co-produced support and safety plans, and manage the immediate circumstances that have led to the crisis.

The service aims to improve positive outcomes for people experiencing a crisis, by working with them in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm. The service will work collaboratively and pre-emptively to de-escalate crisis, develop individual resilience. Its emphasis will be on proactive approaches to wellbeing and promoting the recovery model approach to mental health.

Responsibilities will include managing referrals, coordinating person-centred support, staff support and management, health and safety, maintenance, continuous improvement, and developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external organisations.

This is a new project; we are committed to learning as we go. We will do this through reflection and actively seeking feedback from and the involvement of our guests, their families, friends and carers, SPFT and other stakeholders in the city both in regard to an individual’s care and the development of the service as a whole. Partnership working and developing effective and trusting relationships with referrers are key elements of the role.

Shore House is an innovative and dynamic service which provides accommodation and intensive support to 20 people, in a social care setting, with a range of mental health diagnoses and people experiencing the effects of complex trauma. People may also present with additional needs such as substance use, and its associated impacts on health, budgeting, and engagement.

The service works collaboratively with clients and their community mental health team to ensure their safety and wellbeing, as well as enabling them to move on to more independent accommodation within an 18-month timeframe.

Job Summary

The Deputy Manager will assist with the day-to-day management of Respite@Shore & Shore House and take responsibility for specific projects in agreement with the Operational Manager.

The post holder will deputise for Respite@Shore for the Operational Manager in their absence.

Salary

The salary is paid monthly in arrears and will be £28,774 per annum, plus an On-call enhancement of £22 per weekday and £45 for weekends and bank holidays. An employer’s pension contribution of between 5.5% is also paid. The level of this contribution is reviewed annually.

Hours of Work

The hours of work will be 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Referrals operate between 9-5pm, Mon-Fri. The service is operational 24/7. BHT Sussex does not pay overtime but will grant "time off in lieu" if agreed by the Project Manager.

Flexibility can be discussed with suitable candidates.

Annual Holidays

The annual leave entitlement will be 25 working days (pro rata in first year of service), and will increase by 1 day on the 1st April each year, until reaching the maximum entitlement of 30 days pro rata. This is subject to being employed with BHT Sussex for 6 months. All public bank holidays are granted with two extra statutory days, to be taken over the Christmas period. The annual leave entitlement is applied on a pro rata basis for part-time staff.

Closing Date

12 noon 30 June 2021

Interview Date

08 July 2021

We regret that we are unable to reply to every job applicant. However, if you are called for interview, you will be notified within seven days of the closing date.

An Enhanced DBS Check (Disclosure and Barring Service) is required on all successful applicants as a condition of employment for this post.

BHT Sussex operates an Equal Opportunities Policy