Chief Operations Officer - Aldingbourne Trust

The Aldingbourne Trust is unique and inspiring, with a laser focus on providing opportunities for autistic people and people with a learning disability to live great lives, contributing to their communities and fulfilling their ambitions.

Our model is innovative and evolving, the organisation is complex and multi-faceted and delivers outcomes which we are truly proud of. The new post of Chief Operations Officer (COO) has been created to help ensure that we continue to grow, becoming more efficient and more commercial whilst staying true to our values. We use social enterprises to attract visitors and customers, to drive revenue to the organisation. These enterprises provide training and development for people with disabilities – who are front and centre of everything we do. The more successful they are, the more we can reinvest our profits to create more opportunities.

You will be primarily based at the Aldingbourne Country Centre, which is situated next to the South Downs Park and attracts around 80,000 visitors a year. Looking to the future, you will be part of a team identifying and assessing new opportunities. You will have a proven ability to find solutions to operational challenges, you will be innovative and entrepreneurial. You will have the emotional intelligence to learn the Aldingbourne way, where colleagues are treated respectfully at all times but to challenge where required.

We are very open minded about your professional background, this is a unique role and we are unlikely to find people who have experience in every area, but you will need to learn quickly. You will be heavily involved with asset planning and management, finance, impact, quality, compliance and health and safety, marketing and development. Through the people in your teams and across the organisation as a whole you will drive innovation and improvements. Most importantly, you will share our values and passion for creating community based opportunities for the people we support.

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+ community.  

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 aldingbourne@vbsearch.co.uk.

Assistant Director of Information Technology - National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people. Since 1962, we’ve been transforming lives, changing attitudes and helping to create a society that works for autistic adults and children.

We transform lives by providing support, guidance and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers. Autistic people turn to us at key moments or challenging times in their lives, be it getting a diagnosis, going to school or finding work.

We are and should be very proud of the positive impact we are having on the people we support, their families, their friends and their communities.  However, the climate for social care providers is challenging and as part of our response we have restructured our leadership group to create the exciting position of Assistant Director – IT.  Reporting into the Chief Operating Officer, you will be the most senior leader of IT in the organisation, creating and driving our technology strategy for years to come. Your leadership skills will, combined with your understanding of technology enable you to drive the changes and developments we need to stay competitive and secure in an ever-changing landscape.

We are open minded about the experience required for this role and where it has been gained. You may have prior/current experience of social care or an associated area but you may well not do. You may be the most senior leader of technology in a smaller organisation or reporting into a CTO (or similar) in a larger organisation. You could have been responsible for the IT strategy for many years, or this could be the first time. You will need to demonstrate a passion for serving internal customers well, to drive the efficiencies and improvements needed to help us better serve the people we support.

We are passionate about supporting autistic people into work, and particularly welcome applications from autistic people. We help autistic people from all backgrounds and strive to represent the same diversity in our staff and volunteers. We particularly encourage applications from people from all minority groups, who are currently under-represented in our workforce. Together, we can create a society that works for autistic 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 NAS@vbsearch.co.uk.

Transformation Director - Wilf Ward Family Trust

The Wilf Ward Family Trust supports adults with profound learning and physical disabilities to live in safe and homely environments that focus on delivering personalised support and active involvement with local communities. Operating in Yorkshire, we currently employ 850 colleagues, to support around 290 people. We are proud of our CQC ratings, our financial position is solid but, as an organisation we know that we will need to innovate in order to continue to provide the outcomes that the individuals we support deserve.

In line with our commitment to develop and grow the charity, we are currently recruiting for two pivotal Director positions, a Transformation Director, and an Operations Director.  Whilst the Operations Director vacancy is a replacement for a departing colleague, the Transformation Director role is newly established. Both roles will provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to influence, guide and remodel service delivery, ultimately focusing on better outcomes for our workforce and the individuals we support.

The Transformation Director will be a highly visible leader who will work with colleagues from across the Trust to scope, plan and deliver the strategic change needed to transform the systems, approaches and policies used across the Trust to achieve our Target Operating Model and our wider strategic ambitions.

The Operations Director will lead our services across Yorkshire, continuing to develop and improve our existing provision. As the organisation evolves, they will work closely with the senior leadership team, and colleagues from across the Trust to help drive the innovation that the Trust needs to adapt to the changing world of social care.

We are interested in hearing from people who operate currently at a senior level in a similar organisation or in an associated sector. You may be an experienced Director, or you could be looking for the next step up in your career. You will need to be excited by leading change and transformation, your innovative approach will ultimately have a huge positive impact on the individualswe support. You will need to share our values and passion for person-centered active support.

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+ community.  

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 wwft@vbsearch.co.uk

Operations Director - Wilf Ward Family Trust

The Wilf Ward Family Trust supports adults with profound learning and physical disabilities to live in safe and homely environments that focus on delivering personalised support and active involvement with local communities. Operating in Yorkshire, we currently employ 850 colleagues, to support around 290 people. We are proud of our CQC ratings, our financial position is solid but, as an organisation we know that we will need to innovate in order to continue to provide the outcomes that the individuals we support deserve.

In line with our commitment to develop and grow the charity, we are currently recruiting for two pivotal Director positions, a Transformation Director, and an Operations Director.  Whilst the Operations Director vacancy is a replacement for a departing colleague, the Transformation Director role is newly established. Both roles will provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to influence, guide and remodel service delivery, ultimately focusing on better outcomes for our workforce and the individuals we support.

The Transformation Director will be a highly visible leader who will work with colleagues from across the Trust to scope, plan and deliver the strategic change needed to transform the systems, approaches and policies used across the Trust to achieve our Target Operating Model and our wider strategic ambitions.

The Operations Director will lead our services across Yorkshire, continuing to develop and improve our existing provision. As the organisation evolves, they will work closely with the senior leadership team, and colleagues from across the Trust to help drive the innovation that the Trust needs to adapt to the changing world of social care.

We are interested in hearing from people who operate currently at a senior level in a similar organisation or in an associated sector. You may be an experienced Director, or you could be looking for the next step up in your career. You will need to be excited by leading change and transformation, your innovative approach will ultimately have a huge positive impact on the individualswe support. You will need to share our values and passion for person-centered active support.

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+ community.  

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 wwft@vbsearch.co.uk

Managing Director of Adult Services - National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people. Since 1962, we’ve been transforming lives, changing attitudes and helping to create a society that works for autistic adults and children.

We transform lives by providing support, guidance and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers. Autistic people turn to us at key moments or challenging times in their lives, be it getting a diagnosis, going to school or finding work. Our Adult Services directorate provides a mixture of person centred residential and day services, as well as supported living, often for people with complex needs.

We are and should be very proud of the positive impact we are having on the people we support, their families, their friends and their communities.  However, in 2022/23 Adult Services made a significant and unsustainable operating loss and a turnaround plan was initiated. We are looking to appoint a new Managing Director of Adult Services to continue to drive the changes needed to ensure a financially viable, quality driven provision for the people we support. You will focus on the business turnaround, continually assessing the viability of our services. You will provide strong leadership to ensure that your teams evolve and innovate, making sure that they have a clear understanding of and passion for person centred support.

You will bring experience of leadership in a large complex social care provider. You will enjoy transforming services and will be excited by the challenge of continuing with our change programme. Your knowledge of what a high quality service looks like will be essential, as will your focus on creating and developing an operation which is sustainable and modern.

We are passionate about supporting autistic people into work, and particularly welcome applications from autistic people. We help autistic people from all backgrounds and strive to represent the same diversity in our staff and volunteers. We particularly encourage applications from people from all minority groups, who are currently under-represented in our workforce. Together, we can create a society that works for autistic 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 NAS@vbsearch.co.uk.

Chief Financial Officer - 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.

In line with our determination to develop and grow Dimensions, we are looking to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer to our Executive Team. We are one of the largest providers of support in England and Wales, our Executive Team plays a crucial role in ensuring that Dimensions continues to thrive, and to deliver our strategy of Better Lives for More People. 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 CFO will, through the leadership of a large team be ultimately responsible for the financial management of a large complex organisation with a turnover of £230m pa and 7,000 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 Dimensions. You will join a talented, focused and determined Leadership Team and help us to continue to ensure that the people we support are at the heart of all the decisions we make.

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+ community.  

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 dimensions@vbsearch.co.uk.

Interim Operations Specialist - Social Care

We are delighted to be working in partnership with a well established provider of person centred support for adults with learning disabilities and autistic people. The organisation has grown significantly recently and is looking to appoint an interim operations specialist to help them to assess their services, to ensure they are high quality and put the people they support at the centre of all decisions.
The appointed candidate will spend time in services, assessing their quality and where required helping the organisation to develop plans for improvement. Worth noting the interim will be making recommendations but won't ultimately be responsible for the service improvement work.
We are keen to speak with people who have a blend of operational and strategic experience. You will instinctively know if a learning disability service is good, bad or somewhere in between. You will have the ability to gain the trust of colleagues in operations, to really find out how well people are being supported.
The contract will be for a year, a lot of the work will be in London but some of it can be done remotely. There is flexibility around number of days/week etc. Ideally, we would like someone who can start quickly but if you are coming to the end of a contract and will be available within a month or so it is still well worth getting in touch.

Interim Head of People

We are working with a large social care provider to find an experienced Head of People. Keen to speak with interims who have a demonstrable ability to improve processes and procedures in a large complex organisation. It is likely that the appointed candidate will have experience in social care or a closely related sector.
The role will be home based and starting ideally within the next couple of weeks. For more information, please get in touch asap.

Interim Social Care Operations Consultant

Our client, a medium sized charity in Sussex is looking for an interim social care operations specialist to add capacity to a care home at a time of change. We are interested in speaking with people who are immediately available, who can demonstrate the ability to drive efficiencies and improve quality in a CQC regulated environment. Excellent leadership skills and a passion for improving the support provided are essential.

If you don't live in Sussex, accommodation could be made available. Please get in touch asap for more details - interim@vbsearch.co.uk

Interim CFO

Our client, a national social care not-for-profit is looking for an interim CFO on a contract of around 9-12 months. They are a complex organisation, going through times of significant change and transformation. I am keen to speak with finance leaders who operate at a strategic level, but who are also happy to get involved with the detail when required. Some prior experience in social care or a similar area would be helpful. I am interested in hearing from people who are available immediately, or within the next 4-6 weeks.

The organisation is based in London, and would like to appoint someone who can be in the office at least one day a week. The role is likely to be 4 days a week with some flexibility and will be offered as a competitive fixed term contract.

Please get in touch asap for more details - interim@vbsearch.co.uk

Interim Head of Business Development

Our client, a large national social care charity is looking for an experienced Head of Business Development to join their leadership team for six months. The charity is large and well established, but keen to add capacity to their business development function. You will initially assess and evaluate current processes for retaining and winning contracts, before working with the team to improve all areas of business development.

The successful candidate will be appointed on a fixed term contract, the role is completely home based and could potentially be extended beyond the initial six months. You will need to have previous experience of developing business in a social care setting, you will understand how commissioners work and you will be a capable leader in a time of change.

For more information, please get in touch asap.

Interim Systems Implementation Project Manager

Our client, a large national social care charity is looking for an interim PM to help implement their new electronic quality and compliance system. If you have experience of system implementation or project management in social care, health or a similar area please do get in touch.

This is an immediate vacancy, mainly home based and could be outside ir35. Please get in touch asap for more details.

Interim Project Manager - Process Mapping (Social Care)

Our client on the south coast is a medium sized charity supporting older people. To be able to improve efficiency and to better measure and demonstrate impact they are looking to appoint an interim/consultant on a short-term contract (outside IR35).

The interim will spend time with their specialist services team, analyse their current processes and make recommendations to make them leaner and more successful. The ultimate aim will be to eradicate mistakes, make the service more customer friendly/focused and better at demonstrating impact.

It is likely that the interim will have had some exposure to social care, will have process mapping experience and will be able to work with colleagues to help them to understand and embrace a different way of working.

This is an immediate piece of work, around 15 days initially and outside ir35. Please get in touch asap for more details.

Interim Recruitment Project Lead

Our client, a large national charity is looking to appoint an interim to lead a project to drive efficiencies in their in house recruitment function. The aim of the project is to improve the quality of the support they are able to provide by significantly reducing their reliance on agency staff.

I am interested in speaking with people who bring significant expertise in high volume recruitment, some of which will have been gained in social care or a related area. This is an immediate vacancy, initial contract is likely to be for 6 months and could be either a fixed term contract or a daily rate. The role will be home based.

Trustees - ExtraCare Charitable Trust

Better Lives for Older People – join our Board and make a difference

ExtraCare is a registered Charity established in 1988. Our vision is better lives for older people and our mission is creating sustainable communities that provide homes older people want, lifestyles they can enjoy and care if it’s needed. We were the pioneers of supported independent living in the UK and our ambition is to remain innovators: providing best-in-class integrated retirement communities and advocating on behalf of older people. Our unique homes, lifestyle, care model is much admired and really does change people’s lives for the better.

We are focused on delivering our ambitious Corporate Plan (2022-27) which has a strong focus on Operations alongside a continuation of our journey to become greener and more digital, supporting our residents to live independently and our staff to operate more efficiently. As a Trustee you’ll have an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of older people: We are ambitious and actively challenge the status quo.

We are looking for two new Trustees, one of who may also Chair our Development Committee. 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. One of the Trustees is likely to bring a good understanding of social housing management and housing regulation, ideally gained in an organisation which provides care and support. We are also keen to speak with people who can demonstrate the ability to understand business cases including an understanding and curiosity around opportunities, risks, and the related finances. This broad experience could come from any background and we are open minded as to where you may have gained your skills. Your approach as a strategic, values-driven leader is most important to us, whatever sector/s you have worked in.

You will need to bring experience of working at Board level, either as an executive or non-executive Director. 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. We operate a unique model and that is what differentiates us. We ultimately wish to appoint Trustees who are excited by the prospect of doing something different to help create better lives for older people.

ExtraCare is committed to equity, fairness and transparency and we actively encourage applications from people with diverse experience and backgrounds who will bring to the Board the skills and commitment to help drive progress on diversity and inclusion.

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 316654 or by email at extracare@vbsearch.co.uk

Interim Operations Director

Interim Operations Consultant/Director - Social Care
Our client, a large social care charity is looking for an interim with solid turnaround experience at a time of change and transition. Interested in initial expressions of interest from people with a demonstrable ability to drive change at pace.
If this sounds like you, please get in touch - we are looking for someone to start quickly.

Interim Resourcing Consultant - Social Care

Interim Resourcing Consultant - Social Care
Our client is a national provider of support for adults with learning disabilities and autistic people. They are looking for a consultant on a short term basis to help them to assess the efficiency of their recruitment function.
The consultant will assess their processes for recruitment, onboarding, retention etc and will write a report to show them what they are doing well and what could be improved.
The appointed consultant is likely to have done something similar before and will bring in depth knowledge and experience of recruitment in social care or a closely related area.
The contract will be outside ir35 - for more information please get in touch asap - interim@vbsearch.co.uk

Dimensions - Group Board Member (remunerated)

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 our ongoing programme of Board rotation we are now looking to appoint a 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 Better Lives for More People. Operating in a highly regulated sector, our Board works in conjunction with our 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.

A key priority of our strategy is to continue to improve the quantity and quality of the homes that we can provide to the people we support. We are committed to the ongoing development of the properties that we own; we will also continue to work in partnership with housing providers to source accommodation which gives people a home that they can be proud of.

We are seeking a Board Member with a strong track record of successfully operating at a senior level in Social Housing. Your Board level experience (executive or non-executive) in a complex organisation will enable you to provide strategic expertise in areas relating to supported housing/care, social housing regulation, asset management, development and/or partnership working with other landlords.

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.

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 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.

Interim Head of Governance

Our client, a large national provider of housing and care is looking for an interim Head of Governance for a contract of 6 months. Complex organisation, working in a heavily regulated sector. We are keen to hear from experts in charity governance, some experience of working in social housing would be a distinct advantage.
The contract will start in November, but will interview in the next week or so. The appointed candidate will be able to work remotely some of the time, but will need to spend at least one day a week at the head office in the Midlands.

For more information, please email interim@vbsearch.co.uk

Interim Consultant (Social Care)

Interim Consultant (social care, day rate outside ir35)
This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to work with a large social care provider on post merger project work. We are looking for an interim manager, with a proven ability to lead and develop supported living services for people with learning disabilities. The interim will help to assess the quality of the newly merged services, ensuring that they are compliant, delivering great outcomes but that they are also truly person centred.

The contract is likely to start at the end of September/early October (but with the appointment made asap) and will be on a 3 day week for up to 6 months. It will be on a daily rate (outside ir35).