Join to apply for the Head of Services role at Bolster Community
Pension:6% employer pension (under review subject to Ts &Cs)
Hours: 32 hours per week (flexible/hybrid)
Health Care:AXA Health Business Plan (terms & conditions apply)
Reports to: CEO
Contract: Permanent
Role Purpose
As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Services will lead the strategic development, performance, and impact of all operational programmes and frontline services.
This role ensures that our services deliver measurable outcomes, meet the highest quality and safeguarding standards, and respond effectively to identified community needs.
The postholder will drive continuous improvement and innovation in service design and delivery, ensuring our programmes remain quality focused, evidence-based, person-centred, and aligned with the organisation’s mission and strategy.
The Head of Services ensures that the organisation’s operational delivery consistently achieves excellence, impact, and sustainability.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic and Operational Leadership
* Provide clear leadership across all service delivery areas, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and values.
* Lead the implementation of operational plans that translate strategic goals into measurable service outcomes.
* Contribute to strategic planning as part of the Senior Leadership Team, offering data-driven insight on service performance and emerging needs.
* Champion a culture of excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across all service teams.
2. Service Performance, Quality, and Impact
* Ensure services meet contractual, KPI, and quality standards, with robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
* Embed impact measurement and learning into all service delivery, ensuring data informs decision-making and improvement.
* Lead quality assurance frameworks and ensure compliance with safeguarding, health & safety, GDPR, and relevant legislation.
* Oversee the effective management of complaints, feedback, and incidents in a transparent, learning-focused way.
3. People and Culture
* Line manage and develop Service Leads and delivery staff, promoting a high-performance culture.
* Provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities that empower staff to deliver to their full potential.
* Model values-led leadership that promotes inclusivity, collaboration, and wellbeing.
* Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, providing strategic oversight of safeguarding across all services.
4. Financial and Contract Management
* Lead service budget planning, monitoring, and forecasting to ensure financial sustainability and value for money.
* Oversee commissioning and contract compliance, ensuring all deliverables are achieved and risks are managed effectively.
* Work collaboratively with the Corporate Services Manager to ensure financial reporting, procurement, and compliance processes are robust and efficient.
5. Collaboration and External Relationships
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with commissioners, funders, and partners to sustain and enhance service delivery.
* Work with the leadership team to identify opportunities for service development, innovation, and partnership delivery.
* Represent the organisation at relevant networks and forums, promoting our impact and best practice in service delivery.
6. Governance and Reporting
* Provide regular reports to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Board on service performance, outcomes, and emerging risks.
* Ensure policies, procedures, and operational frameworks remain compliant, up to date, and effectively implemented.
* Contribute to organisational governance, risk management, and strategic decision-making as part of the Senior Leadership Team.
Person Specification
Essential Experience and Knowledge
* Degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline such as social care, community development, health, management, business development or education.
* Significant leadership experience (minimum 5 years) managing multi-service delivery in the voluntary/community, health, or social care sector.
* Proven record of achieving excellence in operational delivery, quality assurance, and impact measurement.
* Strong understanding of commissioning, contract management, and public funding frameworks.
* Demonstrable experience of leading safeguarding practice at organisational level.
* Solid understanding of data protection, equality, and regulatory compliance within service environments.
* Experience in budget management, financial planning, and value-for-money oversight.
* Proven ability to lead and motivate high-performing teams through change and growth.
* Experience working with statutory agencies, funders, and cross-sector partners.
* Knowledge of quality assurance frameworks and outcome-based reporting.
* Postgraduate or professional qualification in management, health, social care, education, or community services.
* Understanding of research, evaluation, and user engagement methods.
Skills and Attributes
* Strategic thinker with operational acumen — able to translate vision into delivery.
* Outstanding leadership, people management, and interpersonal skills.
* Excellent analytical, organisational, and problem-solving abilities.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, including reporting and presentation.
* Collaborative, resilient, and committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Other Requirements
* Full, clean driving licence and access to a car (travel between four organisational sites is essential).
* Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Seniority level
* Executive
Employment type
* Part-time
Job function
* Management and Manufacturing
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