Job Description

Community Leader (Director) - L'Arche London

ABOUT THE ROLE

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week (occasional evenings and weekends).

Salary: £57,000 - £60,000 per annum (including London weighting).

Place of work: L'Arche London Community Office, West Norwood, SE27.

Some travel and overnight stays will be required within the UK.

Contract type: Permanent.

Closing date: Sunday 29 September, 11:59pm

As well as joining a friendly Community, where you will be well supervised and supported, and benefit from L’Arche’s mentorship programme, these are some other benefits you get by working for us:

Paid sick pay, up to a maximum of 7wks (depending on length of service)
Enhanced Maternity, Adoption/Surrogacy, and Paternity Pay (depending on length of service, details available on request)
Interest free loans and salary advances available
Free eye tests and a contribution towards the cost of glasses if you need them for work
Free DBS / PVG checks
Free SSSC registration
Free Blue Light Card
Professional membership fees paid if they are directly relevant to your role
Free Employee Assistance Programme available to everyone
Up to 5 days paid compassionate leave
Up to 6 days paid (pro rata) for time off for emergency dependents leave
Carer and Childminder costs available in some circumstances to facilitate attendance at residential meetings
Paid mileage costs at HMRC rate
Working from Home Allowance for those in office-based roles but for whom no office is provided
Specialist bereavement counselling for employees and their family members
Free Life Assurance up to 4 times gross annual salary
Access to the Bike to Work scheme
Joining shared meals since cooking and having a meal together is what we are all about

Main purpose of the role:

The Community Leader (Director) leads the Community in living the mission of L’Arche in our community life, by providing outstanding, person-centred and financially sustainable care and support services, by support for shared community and spirituality, and by engagement with the wider community around us.

Are you a leader who can:

Inspire and lead a diverse and talented community of over 100 individuals with and without learning disabilities - people we support, employees, volunteers, long-term friends and members.
Oversee and develop £2.5 million worth of registered care, supported living, and day services, ensuring compliance with CQC requirements, alignment with the L’Arche vision and values, and maintaining financial sustainability.
Lead a team of 70 employees through strategic direction, effective processes and service delivery, and emotionally intelligent, collaborative, forward-thinking people management.
Represent L’Arche London externally in fundraising efforts, outreach to build local partnerships, and participation in L’Arche UK leadership and governance forums.
Embody and advocate for the L’Arche ethos of cultivating deep, long-term, and mutually transformative relationships between individuals with and without learning disabilities.
The L’Arche London Community includes nine supported living services, one registered care home, and two day workshops, serving 34 individuals—all located within a mile of West Norwood Station.

The Role:

Lead an intentional community that responds to the needs, choices and context of our members, and is faithful to the L’Arche UK Vision and Values, and Mission statement, and to a co-created Community Mandate and plan.
Maintain and enhance high-quality, person-centred care, support, and housing for people with learning disabilities, both at home and in our day services.
Ensure the Community’s financial sustainability through robust financial planning and management.
Foster a culture that maximises the voice and power for people with learning disabilities, and builds listening and collaboration between Community members with and without learning disabilities (including through an active Community Support Group, Community Council, Community Gatherings, listening circles, and other forums).
Lead and manage a diverse, committed, and engaged leadership team to achieve objectives, set a positive culture, and support the personal and professional growth of our leaders.
Cultivate an open, creative, and inclusive spiritual life, inviting everyone in the Community to deepen their collective growth. Support and encourage events that build community belonging.
Model, advocate for, and embrace the L’Arche ethos of deep, long-term, and mutually transforming relationships between people with and without learning disabilities.
Be a visible representative of L’Arche locally, developing relationships with community houses, surrounding neighbourhoods, local authorities, professional organisations, schools, faith communities, and L’Arche worldwide.
Contribute to the national work programmes of L’Arche UK, and collaborate with Community Leaders of other L’Arche Communities, to share skills, best practice and resources.

About you:

Senior leadership experience in support to adults with learning disabilities (or transferable skills and experience in a closely-related field).
Experience leading and managing an organisation to deliver results, and to change in response to risks and opportunities.
Experience leading and developing diverse teams to flourish, individually and together.
Good financial planning skills and experience successfully managing a substantial budget.
Evidence of the ability to think strategically, and work collaboratively to turn strategies into deliverable and measurable plans.
Passionate about person-centred support, authentic relationships, and full opportunities for people with disabilities.
Enthusiastic about the values, and mission of L’Arche, with the wisdom to combine our different needs, voices and priorities into an inclusive, dynamic, and nurturing community.
Collaborative and resilient leader, skilled in setting culture and direction, coaching people, addressing under-performance, and adapting to various people and styles.
Emotionally intelligent, with compassion, self-awareness, courage, integrity, and humility and a readiness to be present and visible to people across the Community.
A good listener, able to reflect and lead others in reflective practice, receptive to mentorship and seeking help.
Organised and capable of prioritising, delegating, and working autonomously. Able to listen to the whole community, and foster free speech, innovation, creativity, collaboration and consensus.
Effective communicator, adept at adapting to diverse groups and individuals, including those with learning disabilities.
Committed to build a diverse community that includes people of different ages, abilities, cultures, nationalities, sexualities, faith perspectives, and life experiences.
Dedicated to ongoing professional and personal development, with a commitment to acquiring new knowledge and skills relevant to the role.
Knows how to have fun.

About us

L'Arche London is an intentional and inclusive community of more than 100 people, with and without learning disabilities. One of the flagship L’Arche UK communities, we’re re part of an federation that includes over 150 communities across 37 countries and 6 continents.

Our community includes over 30 people with learning disabilities, with lots of different support needs, who we support at home and in our workshops. Alongside them are dedicated community members, volunteers, friends and neighbours, all integral in fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere. Our team of employed assistants provides further support and care to our core members.

We have lots of diversity and lots of opinions. We love people, we love our busy, vibrant city, and we welcome everyone to build a community that values each individual and embraces the beauty of differences. Since 1977, our mission has been to create an environment where diversity is celebrated, creativity cherished, and independence nurtured. Together, we want a more inclusive, compassionate world.

A full job description and person specification can be found in the Recruitment Pack.

The closing date is midnight on Sunday 29 September 2024.

First round interviews are expected to take place between 10 and 16 October.

To apply, please read the full job description and person specification and answer the questions on our online application form.

Please also read our privacy notice for job applicants.

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