Interim Director of Support - Social Care

Our client, a well established provider of care and support is looking for an experienced Director to lead a large patch of services spread mainly across the South of England, with some in the Midlands. We are looking for an interim who brings significant experience of helping to turn around struggling services, who can demonstrate the ability to work with other senior managers to improve quality.

We are looking for an interim who can start quickly, a lot of the work will be home based but you will also need to be happy to travel. The role will initially be for around 4 months, CVs will be assessed on receipt so if you are interested please get in touch asap.

Head of Business Development (Bids & Tenders) - West Cenral London Mind

West Central London Mind are currently seeking a Head of Business Development (Bids and Tenders) to join their busy Business Development team.

You'll lead on coordinating, writing and submitting applications to win contracts and funding to resource projects, enabling us to both expand and sustain mental health and wellbeing services.

With a track record of successful applications under your belt (in health or social care), you'll bring a sharp eye for detail and exemplary organisation, project management and analytical skills. You'll also be required to create realistic budgets and work well under pressure to deliver within set deadlines.

Each application will involve working alongside a range of people at all levels to ensure that we capture the best data and outcomes to create compelling, innovative and winning bids, so the ability to relate, negotiate and examine will also be key skills that we are looking for.

West Central London Mind is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion throughout all aspects of the organisation’s work. As part of this the charity has made a commitment to achieving greater diversity.

For more information on the role, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at wclmind@vbsearch.co.uk

Trustees - HFT

Life can be complicated for everybody. But sometimes things are harder for learning disabled people, who can feel shut out of the society we all share. With the right care, support, and encouragement, we believe that everyone with a learning disability can find enjoyment, comfort and satisfaction in their lives. Proudly established in 1962, by a group of visionary parents, we’re creating a future where learning disabled people can live the best life possible. HFT has grown over the years and we are proud to support more than 2,000 learning disabled people and their families around England and Wales.

Our trustees have played an integral part in our success to date. We are now recruiting three new board members to help us to continue to develop the charity in supporting more people to lead great lives. We are interested in your skills and experience but also your drive and passion. We are keen to speak to people from a broad range of sectors and professional backgrounds.

• We would like to appoint someone with a background in audit, risk or finance. We are flexible about the sector/s you have operated in, but you are likely to have had exposure to some sort of regulated industry.

• Social Care – we are interested in hearing from people who have experience in a social care provider as a CEO, Operations Director or similar. Alternatively, you may have a background in Local Government at a senior level with a good understanding of the commissioning of services. You may have experience of supporting people with learning disabilities or autistic people but we are also happy to consider other areas of social care.

• People – We will be seeking to appoint an experienced leader of People and culture functions, ideally with significant expertise in organisational design, transformation and EDI.

You will need to bring experience of working at a strategic level, with some Board exposure. That experience will give you the ability to apply your skills and behaviours to an organisation passionate about delivering its mission. Ours is a complex charity and we need Trustees who embrace and enjoy working with organisations which are multi-faceted, challenging to run, yet which deliver amazing and highly rewarding outcomes.

To reflect our ambition and commitment to be more representative at Board level, we particularly encourage and welcome applications from people with a disability, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and people from the LGBTQ+ community.  

For more information on these exciting roles, please click here or for an informal confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654 or by email at hft@vbsearch.co.uk.

Group Board Member - Dimensions

Dimensions is a large and complex organisation supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people, including those with complex needs. We enable thousands of people to have greater choice and control over their lives. The people we support, tenants and their families are at the heart of everything we do, and we want every one of them to have a great life with excellent outcomes.

As one of our long-standing Board Members comes to the end of their term, we are now looking to appoint a new Full Group Board Member. As one of the largest providers of support in England and Wales, our Board Members play a crucial role in ensuring that Dimensions continues to thrive, and to deliver our strategy of Even Better Lives for Even More People. Operating in a highly regulated sector, our Group Board works in conjunction with our Group Executive Team to deliver our Vision and Strategy, they provide scrutiny and challenge and work hard to ensure that Dimensions adheres to its purpose and mission.

The conditions we operate within continue to be challenging. This is a sector that is both undervalued and under invested in. Recruitment is tough. Too many people with learning disabilities and autistic people are living a life that they wouldn’t choose for themselves.

In order to help us to navigate these challenges we are seeking a Board Member with a strong track record of successfully operating at a senior level either in a large social care provider (commercial or not-for-profit) or in Local Government. Your Board level experience (executive or non-executive) in a complex organisation will enable you to provide strategic expertise in areas such as fee negotiations/business development/operational challenges and regulation.

Most importantly, you will share our values and commitment for providing high-quality, person-centred support. You will be driven to use the skills and experience you have developed both professionally and personally to play a key role in the leadership of Dimensions. You will join a talented and well-run Board and Leadership Team to help us to continue to ensure that the people we support are at the heart of all the decisions we make.

Dimensions is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion throughout all aspects of the organisation’s work. As part of this the Board has made a commitment to achieving greater diversity.

For more information on the role, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at dimensions@vbsearch.co.uk.

Independent Committee Member (Audit & Risk) - Dimensions

Dimensions is a large and complex organisation supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people, including those with complex needs. We enable thousands of people to have greater choice and control over their lives. The people we support, and their families are at the heart of everything we do, and we want every one of them to have a great life with excellent outcomes.

As part of effective governance arrangements and Committee member rotation, we are now looking to appoint an Independent Committee Member (Audit and Risk). We are keen to appoint someone with significant experience and understanding of the role the Audit and Risk Committee plays in a large complex organisation.

As one of the largest providers of support in England and Wales, our Independent Committee Members play a crucial role in ensuring that Dimensions continues to thrive, and to deliver our strategy of Even Better Lives for Even More People. Operating in a highly regulated sector, our Independent Committee Members are responsible for exercising independent judgement in ensuring that the Group’s risk management and assurance framework are robust and effective.

The conditions we operate within continue to be challenging. This is a sector that is both undervalued and under invested in. Recruitment is tough. Too many people with learning disabilities and autistic people are living a life that they wouldn’t choose for themselves. In order to help us to navigate these challenges we are seeking an Independent Committee Member, with a successful career in audit management (internal or external). You will need to have a relevant qualification, but we are quite flexible about your sector background. Your experience could be from an audit firm, social care, social housing or a completely unrelated regulated industry. You are likely to have worked in a large employer and will have had significant exposure to the work an audit committee does.

Most importantly, you will share our values and commitment for providing high-quality, person-centred support. You will be driven to use the skills and experience you have developed both professionally and personally to play a key role in the leadership of Dimensions. You will join a talented and well-run Board and Leadership Team to help us to continue to ensure that the people we support are at the heart of all the decisions we make.

Dimensions is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion throughout all aspects of the organisation’s work. As part of this the Board has made a commitment to achieving greater diversity.

For more information on the role, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at dimensions@vbsearch.co.uk.

Head of Mental Health & Complex Needs - Active Prospects

Active Prospects is a well-established not-for-profit organisation. We are Surrey’s leading care provider for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, and in recent years have expanded into West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. We have grown significantly, driven by our passion for providing community-based person-centred support.

Much of our success and growth over recent years has been driven by our strategic push to support people with significant mental health challenges and complex needs to live successfully in the community. We are proud of the number of people we have helped to leave long stay hospital, our success rate of settling them in the community is over 95%. The new role of Head of Mental Health & Complex Needs is absolutely key to our future. Our plans to expand are motivated by our desire to support more people to live happily in the community where they belong.

Our Head of Mental Health & Complex Needs will share our passion for the provision of person-centred support. You will need to be creative, with the determination to work alongside colleagues to overcome challenges. As a leader of a team of around 250 people, managing contract values of around £12 million, you will need to be able to empower and coach resilient teams. You will drive expert practice and embrace learning. You will collaborate with system partners to ensure people can access the community health support they need.

As a leader of CQC regulated services, you will bring experience of managing teams of people to ensure that we are compliant and outcomes focused. You will have experience of supporting people with complex needs, you will need to always be resilient and positive. Most importantly, you will share our commitment for providing amazing support to people with complex needs. Your passion to provide high quality person-centred support in the community will have to match ours. You will be excited by our plans for growth, helping us to change the lives of more people.

We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through our services and wider community impact. Our DEIB strategy, We Belong, for 2024-2027 builds on our initial efforts and outlines an ambitious path forward. We encourage applicants from under-represented communities and welcome an early conversation if you require any reasonable adjustments either at interview or in the workplace.

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at activeprospects@vbsearch.co.uk.

Executive Director of Finance - Certitude

Certitude is London’s leading adult social care provider for people with learning disabilities, autistic people and people with mental health support needs. As a not-for-profit organisation, we are proud to have supported people across London since 1990.  We believe everyone is unique. We support people to develop new skills, meet new people and live the life they want – so they can bring their own unique brilliance to the world. We all experience the world in different ways. We all have our own hopes and dreams, goals and ambitions. We believe there is strength in this diversity – and nowhere is that more evident than in London. 

The retirement of our long-standing Executive Director of Finance (EDOF) presents a rare opportunity to join Certitude’s well-established Team.  Our Executive Team plays a crucial role in ensuring that Certitude continues to thrive, and to deliver our strategy, Being Local. Operating in a highly regulated environment, our Executive Team works in conjunction with our Board to develop and deliver our Vision and Strategy. Our new EDOF will, through the leadership of a team be ultimately responsible for the financial management of a large complex organisation with a turnover c£50 million and 1,400 colleagues.

You will have experience in a senior leadership position and will be accustomed to operating at scale. You will have the proven ability to develop a finance function, creating excellent strategies and delivering them through strong leadership. You will support colleagues across the Group, providing critical challenge to help drive the organisation’s strategy and plans. You will work closely with the Board, providing the assurances required in a highly regulated sector.

Most importantly, you will share our values and commitment for providing high-quality, person-centred support. You will be driven to use the skills and experience you have developed both professionally and personally to play a key role in the leadership of Certitude. You will join a talented, focused and determined Executive Team and help us to continue to ensure that the people we support are at the heart of all the decisions we make.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are core to the values and ethos of the organisation’s work across all activities. Certitude is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please click here or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at certitude@vbsearch.co.uk.

Independent Committee Members - Social Care

Independent Committee Members - Social Care (Home based/online meetings)
Do you have capacity to volunteer around 4 days a year?
Are you interested in helping an amazing, values based charity to provide the best possible support to people with learning disabilities?
Are you interested in learning about governance without becoming a full Trustee?
We are helping a large charity to add skills and experience to their committees, we are looking for 👇
Someone with financial leadership experience (ideally including VAT and Tax)
Someone with Lived experience of being disabled or accessing support services.
Someone with senior management experience in social care.
Someone with accounting/audit experience.
If any of the above sounds like you, please get in touch. This really is a great way to use your skills or lived experience to bring a different perspective to the Board. To help them to provide better support.

Interim Head of Day Opportunities

Our client is a large social care charity with operations all over England and Wales. They are looking for an experienced leader to do a review of their day services/opportunities, an initial piece of work likely to take six months.
Are they modern and outcomes focused?
Are they appropriately staffed and led?
Are they financially viable?
Are they person centred?
The role will a fixed term contract and will be homebased but will require national travel and a flexible approach. Please get in touch asap if you would like to learn more about the opportunity, which will interview and start quickly.

Interim Head of Asset Management

We are working in partnership with a large social care charity to recruit an interim Head of Asset Management. The charity has a relatively small number of properties, dispersed all over England and Wales. You will work with a small team to ensure the properties are well maintained and fit for purpose.
I am particularly interested in speaking with people who have done this type of job in a social care charity or supported housing provider. It is a broad role, the appointed candidate will need to be flexible and driven to improve quality and to get value for money from their contractors. Strong leadership skills will also be required.
The (fixed term) contract is home based with national travel, will pay £60-£65k and will be initially for 3-6 months. The contract could start straight away but as long as you will be available by the beginning of May it is worth getting in touch.

Head of Psychological Support Services - West Central London Mind

West Central London Mind is the exciting result of a recent merger of Brent, Wandsworth & Westminster Mind with Kensington & Chelsea Mind. This strategic merger between two dedicated organisations paves the way for a sustainable and impactful future, creating a stronger organisation with the capacity to support more people than ever before.

We are a leading community-based organisation dedicated to providing outstanding mental health support and clinical interventions across London. Our clinically led models of support are focused on directly addressing a range of mental health needs in the communities we serve. We provide innovative solutions with decades of local community knowledge to empower people to live the lives they choose.

We are seeking to appoint to the brand new post of Head of Psychological Support Services to ensure the effective delivery of our suicide prevention, postvention, bereavement, and psychological therapy services across multiple boroughs. Our services are commissioned by the NHS, Local Authorities and other agencies, you will need a mixture of strategic and operational skills to grow and develop them with a sharp focus on quality and value for money. You will be a strong leader, with experience in managing psychological support or suicide prevention services. You will be committed to leading your teams to deliver the outcomes the people we support deserve.

To reflect our ambition and commitment to be more representative at a senior level, we particularly encourage and welcome applications from people with a disability, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and people from the LGBTQ+ communities as well as other underrepresented and minority communities  

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at wclmind@vbsearch.co.uk.

Interim Head of Quality

We are working with a large not-for-profit to recruit an interim Head of Quality to help them to drive improvement of their services and outcomes for the people they support, for an initial period of six months. The role is home based with the occasional day in London, will be offered on a fixed term contract starting asap. Salary is still to be confirmed but there is potential flexibility in terms of part time working etc.
I am interested in hearing from people who have a background in quality improvement in either learning disability or mental health support services. I would also be interested in speaking to people with significant operational experience in those areas who are interested in doing something slighly different.
CVs will be assessed on receipt so if this sounds interesting, please get in touch asap.

Interim Director of Operational Transformation

Do you have a proven ability to improve services, make them more robust in terms of quality and finance and ultimately improve outcomes for the people supported?
Do you thrive in an environment of change, using your skills and experience across a large geography to drive improvement?
Our client is a large well known charity, the contract will be for 12 months and will start as soon as possible. To learn more, please get in touch ASAP - rob.hilyer@vbsearch.co.uk

Head of Finance - FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics)

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is the world’s largest alliance of national societies of obstetrics and gynaecology, bringing together professionals from more than 139 countries and territories. For over 65 years, FIGO has collaborated with the world’s top health, rights and donor bodies. We are in official relations with the World Health Organization and consultative status with the United Nations.
FIGO is dedicated to the improvement of the health and rights of women and girls and to the reduction of disparities in health care, as well as to advancing the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. We pursue our mission through education, research implementation, advocacy and capacity building with our member societies.

We are recruiting to the exciting Head of Finance position, which will give the appointed candidate the opportunity to have a significant impact on the charity, helping us to be more efficient, more commercial and better informed. Reporting into the Chief Operating Officer this is a crucial leadership role and will be the most senior person in finance in the charity. You will need to bring leadership skills and strategic ability as well as the desire to roll your sleeves up when required. You will need to bring experience of financial management in a charity which receives significant restricted funding (this could be international donors, but not essential). You will also need experience of accounting for traded income. You will be passionate about our mission to improve women’s health and rights around the world.

To reflect our ambition and commitment to be more representative at a senior level, we particularly encourage and welcome applications from people with a disability, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and people from the LGBTQ+ communities as well as other underrepresented and minority communities.

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at FIGO@vbsearch.co.uk.

Head of Quality - Turning Tides

Turning Tides is a single homelessness charity based in West Sussex with a particular focus on people who have slept rough with multiple and compound needs. We have grown rapidly over the last 8 years but within a clearly defined mission to end local homelessness, putting clients and communities at our heart. We employ around 170 staff and have c. 200 volunteers (with a recent Queens Award for Voluntary Services). Social value is not just an add on – community engagement is fundamental to how we operate and see ourselves.

We have created the Head of Quality role to ensure Health and Safety and wider regulatory compliance and continuous improvement in our services. We are looking for someone who knows what good services look like and can translate regulatory requirements into effective policies and procedures, to help staff best direct their energies to provide safe and effective services. This requires excellent and visible leadership, and close collaboration with our Heads of Operations, Finance, HR and Income & Engagement.

We are relatively open minded about your professional background, but it is likely to involve quality and/or operational leadership roles. We are interested in hearing from people who bring experience of housing and homelessness but will also be excited to hear from people who work in similar roles in other regulated sectors particularly social care. Most importantly you will have an instinctive ability to know if a service is providing quality outcomes in a safe, compliant way. You will share our values and passion for supporting homeless people.

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at turningtides@vbsearch.co.uk.

Interim Head of Supported Housing

Our client has a relatively small number of supported housing properties. We are looking for an interim to help review the way the properties are managed, looking at voids, rents etc and making recommendations for future changes in the way the team works. Strong leadership skills are required.
This is a fixed term contract, starting straight away for three to six months. The work is home based with the occasional meeting. If it sounds interesting please get in touch asap as CVs will be assessed on receipt.

Head of Community Services - West Central London Mind

West Central London Mind is the exciting result of a recent merger of Brent, Wandsworth & Westminster Mind with Kensington & Chelsea Mind. This strategic merger between two dedicated organisations paves the way for a sustainable and impactful future, creating a stronger organisation with the capacity to support more people than ever before.

We are a leading community-based organisation dedicated to providing outstanding mental health support and clinical interventions across London. Our clinically led models of support  are focused on directly addressing a range of mental health needs in the communities we serve. We provide innovative solutions with decades of local community knowledge to empower people to live the lives they choose.

We are seeking to appoint to the brand new post of Head of Community Services to lead and develop our non-clinical community programmes, ensuring effective operational, financial and people management across boroughs in which we are commissioned to deliver services on behalf of the NHS, Local Authorities and other agencies. You will need a mixture of strategic and operational skills and experience, gained in community-based service management. You will be engaging, compassionate, driven and innovative. You will be committed to the provision of high quality person centred support, bringing a clear passion for the constant improvement of services and the delivery of high quality outcomes.

To reflect our ambition and commitment to be more representative at a senior level, we particularly encourage and welcome applications from people with a disability, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and people from the LGBTQ+ communities as well as other underrepresented and minority communities  

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please click here, or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at wclmind@vbsearch.co.uk.

Director of Quality, Governance and Lived Experience - Active Prospects

Active Prospects is a well established not-for-profit organisation. We are Surrey’s leading care provider for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, and in recent years have expanded into West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. We have grown significantly, driven by our passion for providing community based person-centred support.

The Director of Quality, Governance and Lived Experience post is a new position which will play a key role in the next stage of our growth plans. Quality is the foundation of everything we do, which is reflected in feedback from people we support and their families, as well as from commissioners and the CQC. We are proud of the quality of our services but are aware that as the organisation continues to grow, we need to constantly innovate and improve our systems and processes to ensure that the people we support are given the best possible chance of leading their lives to the full, in the community.

You will combine drive and passion for embedding best practice in care services, with well developed leadership skills. You will combine a sharp eye for detail with a practical understanding of the type of service which creates amazing outcomes. Your passion for co-production will help you to identify innovative ways to ensure that the people we support are able to use their lived experience to inform service development.

You may currently operate at a similar level or be ready to take on your first Executive Leadership Team role. Your significant experience in quality assurance and performance improvement in a social care, health or other relevant setting will help us to ensure we continue to provide high quality services and outcomes. Most importantly, you will share our commitment for providing amazing support to people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through our services and wider community impact. Our DEIB strategy, We Belong, for 2024-2027 builds on our initial efforts and outlines an ambitious path forward. We encourage applicants from under-represented communities and welcome an early conversation if you require any reasonable adjustments either at interview or in the workplace. 

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please click here or for an informal, confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654, or by email at activeprospects@vbsearch.co.uk.

Interim Deputy Director of Operations - Social Care

Our client, a large well established provider of support for adults with learning disabilities is looking for an interim Deputy Director of Operations. The role covers a large area, mainly in the South and will require some travel. I am keen to speak with people who can bring significant leadership experience in social care, who can start quickly. The contract is likely to be for around a year and will pay in the region of £80k (FTC). For more information, please get in touch asap.

Trustees - Making Space

For more than 40 years, Making Space has been supporting people with care needs and their carers to live independent and fulfilling lives. From Cumbria to Cambridge, we deliver support where people need it — in their homes, local communities, and through specialist services. We cater to people with a variety of health and social care needs, from complex mental health challenges and learning disabilities to dementia and older age. With a talented workforce of 1,000 people and a turnover of c£37 million, we are able to support around 10,000 people every year.

Our trustees have played an integral part in our success to date.  We are now recruiting two new board members to help us to continue to develop the charity in supporting more people to lead great lives.

We are interested in your skills and experience but also your drive and passion. We are keen to speak to people from a broad range of sectors and professional backgrounds. We are particularly interested in speaking with people who bring experience in equality, diversity and inclusion; risk and governance; housing development and management; business growth. We are always keen to welcome people who have lived experience of caring for the people we support or accessing services similar to those we provide. Your approach as a strategic, values-driven leader is ultimately most important to us, whatever sector/s you have worked in

You will need to bring experience of working at a senior level, with some Board level exposure. That experience will have given you an ability to apply your commercial skills and behaviours to an organisation passionate about delivering its mission. Ours is a complex charity and we need Trustees who embrace and enjoy working with organisations which are multi-faceted, challenging to run, yet which deliver amazing and highly rewarding outcomes.

To reflect our ambition and commitment to be more representative at Board level, we particularly encourage and welcome applications from people with a disability, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, and people from the LGBTQ+ community.  

For more information on these exciting roles, please click here or for an informal confidential discussion with our recruitment partners at VBS, please call Rob Hilyer on 07952 316 654 or by email at makingspace@vbsearch.co.uk.