Centre Manager
| Posting date: | 24 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £30,903 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £38,626 to £41,511 (F.T.E.) - NJC Salary Scale PO2 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 August 2025 |
| Location: | Lancaster, Lancashire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Lancaster & District Homeless Action Service ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | LDHAS_Manager |
Summary
Job summary:
The post holder will operationally manage LDHAS ensuring effective day-to-day management and the delivery of high-quality support to street homeless individuals with complex needs. This role involves leading and managing a team of staff and volunteers and facilitating a hub for a range of services. The post holder will foster strong partnerships within the hub ensuring it operates efficiently, safely and in line with LDHAS's values and policies. The post-holder will also lead LDHAS in the strategic development of its vision as a hub for a range of services. This includes strategy and business planning development and articulating LDHAS's vision and mission in partnership with the Board.
The post holder will:
- Provide strong and effective leadership to the operational team, fostering a positive and collaborative working environment.
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of LDHAS services, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and in line with agreed policies and procedures.
- Manage and support the performance and development of staff and volunteers, including supervision, appraisal, and training.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with partner agencies and stakeholders within the hub and the wider community.
- Ensure the hub operates as a safe and welcoming environment for service users, staff, and volunteers, adhering to health and safety regulations.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of LDHAS's strategic plans and operational policies.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of services, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes as required.
- Manage budgets effectively within the operational remit, ensuring value for money.
- Ensure accurate record-keeping and data collection in line with organisational requirements and relevant legislation.
- Prepare reports for the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders on operational activities and performance.
- Lead on safeguarding matters within the operational team, ensuring adherence to LDHAS's safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Manage risk effectively within the operational areas, implementing appropriate risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
- Respond dynamically to situational changes and risks, ensuring the safety and well-being of service users, staff, and volunteers.
- Develop and monitor plans and processes for ensuring the long-term viability of the organisation and ensure impact reporting is developed.
- Work with the finance manager and fundraising manager to ensure the financial sustainability of the charity by identifying and securing appropriate funding that supports the charity in achieving its objectives.
- Identify and respond to emerging needs and trends within the local homeless community.
- Represent the LDHAS at relevant forums and meetings.
- Respond to media enquiries, manage events, photo calls and visits.
- Produce, edit, proofread, and co-ordinate complex internal and external publications, client leaflets and public advice documents.
- Write press releases, articles; oversee print and distribution.
-Work with the management team to prepare the annual report and annual accounts for authorisation by the Board and then submission to The Charity Commission and Companies House.
- Report to the Board on the organisation's strategic developments and challenges and risks.
- Alongside the Board take responsibility for the legal obligations of the organisation in accordance with The Charity Commission and Companies House.
Personal Specification
Education/ qualifications:
- Professional knowledge of working with vulnerable adults and homelessness.
- Gained through qualification and/or equivalent Bachelor level experiential learning.
- The ability to draw on and apply personal lived experiences appropriately.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Knowledge:
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by homeless or vulnerable people and the difficulties they experience in accessing services that are responsive to their needs.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, and procedures related to homelessness and safeguarding.
Experience:
- Extensive experience in managing services for individuals with complex needs.
- Experience of developing and delivering effective inter-agency working.
- Experience in the development of new roles and services.
- Demonstrable evidence of leading change.
Skills and abilities:
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively in a multi-agency environment.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- High-level analytical problem-solving skills.
- Ability to critically analyse and evaluate service issues to promote service improvement.
- Ability to respond dynamically to situational change and risk.
Personal attributes:
-Reflective practitioner.
-Excellent leadership skills.
-Effective, empathetic communicator.
-Excellent organisation and time management skills.
-Resilience.
-Be committed to the values of LDHAS.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of local resources and services for homeless individuals.
- Experience of volunteer management.
The post holder will operationally manage LDHAS ensuring effective day-to-day management and the delivery of high-quality support to street homeless individuals with complex needs. This role involves leading and managing a team of staff and volunteers and facilitating a hub for a range of services. The post holder will foster strong partnerships within the hub ensuring it operates efficiently, safely and in line with LDHAS's values and policies. The post-holder will also lead LDHAS in the strategic development of its vision as a hub for a range of services. This includes strategy and business planning development and articulating LDHAS's vision and mission in partnership with the Board.
The post holder will:
- Provide strong and effective leadership to the operational team, fostering a positive and collaborative working environment.
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of LDHAS services, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and in line with agreed policies and procedures.
- Manage and support the performance and development of staff and volunteers, including supervision, appraisal, and training.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with partner agencies and stakeholders within the hub and the wider community.
- Ensure the hub operates as a safe and welcoming environment for service users, staff, and volunteers, adhering to health and safety regulations.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of LDHAS's strategic plans and operational policies.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of services, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes as required.
- Manage budgets effectively within the operational remit, ensuring value for money.
- Ensure accurate record-keeping and data collection in line with organisational requirements and relevant legislation.
- Prepare reports for the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders on operational activities and performance.
- Lead on safeguarding matters within the operational team, ensuring adherence to LDHAS's safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Manage risk effectively within the operational areas, implementing appropriate risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
- Respond dynamically to situational changes and risks, ensuring the safety and well-being of service users, staff, and volunteers.
- Develop and monitor plans and processes for ensuring the long-term viability of the organisation and ensure impact reporting is developed.
- Work with the finance manager and fundraising manager to ensure the financial sustainability of the charity by identifying and securing appropriate funding that supports the charity in achieving its objectives.
- Identify and respond to emerging needs and trends within the local homeless community.
- Represent the LDHAS at relevant forums and meetings.
- Respond to media enquiries, manage events, photo calls and visits.
- Produce, edit, proofread, and co-ordinate complex internal and external publications, client leaflets and public advice documents.
- Write press releases, articles; oversee print and distribution.
-Work with the management team to prepare the annual report and annual accounts for authorisation by the Board and then submission to The Charity Commission and Companies House.
- Report to the Board on the organisation's strategic developments and challenges and risks.
- Alongside the Board take responsibility for the legal obligations of the organisation in accordance with The Charity Commission and Companies House.
Personal Specification
Education/ qualifications:
- Professional knowledge of working with vulnerable adults and homelessness.
- Gained through qualification and/or equivalent Bachelor level experiential learning.
- The ability to draw on and apply personal lived experiences appropriately.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Knowledge:
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by homeless or vulnerable people and the difficulties they experience in accessing services that are responsive to their needs.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, and procedures related to homelessness and safeguarding.
Experience:
- Extensive experience in managing services for individuals with complex needs.
- Experience of developing and delivering effective inter-agency working.
- Experience in the development of new roles and services.
- Demonstrable evidence of leading change.
Skills and abilities:
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively in a multi-agency environment.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- High-level analytical problem-solving skills.
- Ability to critically analyse and evaluate service issues to promote service improvement.
- Ability to respond dynamically to situational change and risk.
Personal attributes:
-Reflective practitioner.
-Excellent leadership skills.
-Effective, empathetic communicator.
-Excellent organisation and time management skills.
-Resilience.
-Be committed to the values of LDHAS.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of local resources and services for homeless individuals.
- Experience of volunteer management.