CEO RECRUITMENT PACK

Contained within the application pack is the following:

• Chairs Letter

• Agency/services Information

• Job description

• Person Specification

Attachments:

• Application Form

• Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form

Application Process: Completed application forms (we do NOT accept CV's) and equality & diversity form must be emailed to: jean@thefirststep.org.uk by midday 7th August 2020 For an Informal chat about the role please contact Angela Cholet at: 07803007385 or angela@thefirststep.org.uk Thank you for your interest In this role.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

APPLICATION PACK

CHAIR’S LETTER

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for getting in touch with us.

The First Step is a local Domestic Abuse Charity, providing a refuge staffed 24/7, an Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy service, and a self-referral community service. The organisation started twenty-five years ago, with our current CEO.

Over the past quarter of a century, we have built a culture with a strong set of values, and we are looking to continue to provide the highest standards of service for our beneficiaries. We are excited about the new perspectives and skills you can bring to the organisation. An in-depth knowledge of the issues around domestic abuse, while useful, is not an essential requirement for the post: it is more important that we find someone with strategic vision and leadership qualities who is willing to learn.

As you read the information in our recruitment pack, you will learn more about our history and our values. We are conscious that we are a ‘lean’ organisation, having come through the period of austerity by making sure that services are managed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Over the next few years, the aim of the trustees would be to explore digital innovation, find additional funding streams, and develop new services. Throughout the organisation’s history, we have been led by the users of our services, enabling their voices to be heard, so that whatever we do, it is done with them, not to them.

As our new CEO you will be working with a skilled and dedicated team of 17 staff and a cohesive Board of Trustees with a diverse range of experience. If you share our values and are up for the challenge, we look forward to hearing from you!

With Best Wishes,

Mary Weston

Chair

ABOUT THE FIRST STEP

The First Step is a Knowsley-based charity that was established 25 years ago to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse. At the very start of the agency was research into what the victim/survivors themselves wanted from us, and the overwhelming answer was that they wanted somewhere where they could go to be listened to, and get holistic support at their own pace, and this has been at the heart of our values and work ever since. Even the phrase ‘victim/survivors’ which we use is as a result of consultation as to what they prefer.

Currently, we work across two sites to provide community based support for victim/survivors at all levels of risk, as well as an award-winning refuge for women and children escaping domestic abuse. Our staff team of 17 responds to approximately 1000 enquiries each year with access methods ranging from open door, appointments, outreach, telephone and referral from other agencies. Our community based services operate from the Old Schoolhouse in Huyton, and our purpose-built refuge is the only one in the borough of Knowsley.

OUR VALUES

We regularly consult with the people we work with when we have significant decisions to make. Last year, we spent some time codifying the values that drive us, including consultation with the victim/survivors, staff, and trustees. We believe that these are the values that we work to.

We at The First Step put victim/survivors at the heart of everything we do and our key values are:

• Non-judgemental We are accepting of all differences and choices

• Empowerment We support survivors to make informed choices

• Trust We build honest and open relationships in a safe space

• High Quality Service We are always improving and embracing positive change

These values are best illustrated by a quote from a user of our services in last year’s annual report:

‘They actually sit with you and say “Well, where would you want to go with your life, if you could do anything, what would you want to do?” And they try their hardest to make that possible for you’ .

OUR SERVICES

COMMUNITY SERVICES

First Step project – provides support tailored to the needs of the individual who self-refer into the service assessed at low/medium risk via face to face, phone, drop in and outreach. Group work is available including the accredited Recovery Toolkit and the Freedom programme. Service is currently funded by The Henry Smith Charity.

IDSVA – Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate service for victim/survivors at high risk of serious injury or murder. The service is part of

the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process meeting fortnightly to discuss new clients, agree actions and review cases. The IDSVA service provides short to medium term case work focussing on the safety of the client and any children. Service is funded by a grant from KMBC via the Safer Knowsley Partnership.

ACCOMMODATION SERVICES

Ross House – a 36 bed accessible refuge for women and children. Staffed 24/7 with support staff and children’s workers, the building is a suite design providing flexibility to accommodate single women and women with up to 9 children. Service is funded by a contract with KMBC, Housing Benefit and Ineligibles.

Refuge Children’s Service – provide a service to the children living in Ross house via 1-1 support, group work and day trips. Funded via a grant from Children In Need.

CORE SERVICES

We have a very lean structure, and our core services are part-funded by the Lloyds Foundation.

PAST SERVICES

In the past, the agency has run a community-based children’s and schools’ service, a youth project, a domestic abuse training programme and a perpetrator’s course.

PARTNER AGENCIES

We work closely with a variety of partner agencies from the public and voluntary sectors including healthcare, social care, police, housing providers, local authorities, counselling services, etc. Staff have had training to access and contribute to local cloud based case management systems.

OUR ORGANISATION

We aim to make The First Step a rewarding and inspiring place to work. We invest in staff training and development, provide an Employee Assistance Programme, offer Clinical Supervision to front line workers, and hold regular staff meetings and consultations on important issues. Last year, we achieved the Investors in People accreditation. We actively encourage staff to develop their services, and several projects over the years have been initiated by staff members identifying a need and developing a project.

We have invested in research into our services, most recently commissioning a report from Dr. Emma Katz at Liverpool Hope University into our ‘Survivors to Thrivers’ Big Lottery Fund project.

OUR STRUCTURE

Staff Structure January 2020

Chief Executive

Officer

First Step Project

Snr. Domestic Abuse Worker

Refuge Manager

CEO Personal

Assistant

Snr. Independent

Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate

Senior

Children’s Service Worker

Finance / Admin

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6 x Refuge Workers (3 x night 3 x day)

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Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate

Children’s Service

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Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate

Board of Trustees

OUR FUNDING

The services we provide would not be possible without funding and support. TFS has a budgeted turnover of approximately £650,000 per annum.

Most of our funding is a mixture of commissioning and grants, with a relatively small volume of direct fundraising. Current funders include: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Safer Knowsley Partnership, Henry Smith Charity, Lloyds Foundation, Children in Need.

We receive good feedback from funding reports, such as this from Children in Need:

‘The outcomes were described really well with lots of case studies throughout, the tools you used to improve healthy and positive relationships were really interesting and the monitoring techniques you've

mentioned are robust and appropriate for measuring each difference.

‘The case study was great and captured your joined up approach to each family in a really detailed way, especially when working with partner organisations. I am so pleased for [Lottie], thank you for sharing her story. The training you described in the learning section sounds really beneficial and it is great to hear that

it's informing your work going forward. Thank you and good luck in year 3.’

OUR GOVERNANCE

The First Step (TFS) is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. As such, our Trustees are accountable to the Charity Commission for proper compliance with the Charities Act 1993 (amended 2006) and to Companies House for compliance with Company Law. Board meetings are held 4-6 times per year, with the CEO in attendance, and receive the CEO’s report, as well as financial, service, H&S, and safeguarding reports and service data.

The board of Trustees also have responsibility for governance and informing strategic direction. We worked with an external consultant in 2017 to produce a strengths review and strategic plan, which focused on six key actions: staff development, effective governance, succession planning, premises review, internal communication, and funder relationships. Over the past three years, we have created more opportunities for staff to meet and support one another, develop their own skills, and learn from different parts of the agency. The board of trustees has been strengthened through recruiting new trustees, and we appointed a new chair in anticipation of the recruitment of a new CEO. Our premises continue to work well for us, and our relationships with our funders are good.

We were planning to update this work in 2020 but have had to pause the process due to the Covid-19 crisis. We envisage this as being a key piece of work over the next 12-18 months.

This work led to the summary document, ‘The First Step on a Page’.

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OUR AFFILIATIONS AND NETWORKS

As an organisation The First Step are members of Women’s Aid, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Civil Society, while the Lloyds Bank Foundation pays for membership of ACEVO for the CEO. On a local basis we are members of One Knowsley (formerly Knowsley CVS). We are signed up to the fundraising standards of the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB).

To assist TFS some support services are outsourced as follows:

• Personnel/Health & Safety – consultancy support and advice is provided by Ellis Whittam. Following appropriate training a staff member based at each site is the Health & Safety lead.

• Financial Services – North West Housing Services provide day to day financial management together with quarterly management accounts. End of year statutory accounts are produced in conjunction with DSG auditors providing our Independent Examiners report. DSG also provide the payroll service.

• IT Solutions – ensure our IT is maintained and up to date.

• Employee Assistance Programme – available for staff 24/7 this service ensures staff have access to advice and support for issues related to employment and/or personal matters.

• Clinical Supervision – monthly clinical supervision is available for staff to discuss their practice.

OUR CONTACT DETAILS

Further information can be found on our website: www.thefirststep.org.uk

For an informal chat about the post or the organisation, please contact Angela Cholet on 07803 007385

For information about the application process, please contact Jean Evans via email in the first instance on jean@thefirststep.org.uk

APPLICATION TIMELINE

Application deadline: 12 noon, Friday 7th August via email to: jean@thefirststep.org.uk

Shortlisting: Friday 14th August

Interviews: Friday 21st August (Face to face in Huyton if possible, but relevant government advice will be followed)

If you haven’t heard from us by this date, your application has not been successful. Thank you for your interest in the post.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Area of work: Knowsley, Merseyside

Location: First Step Centre, Huyton

Responsible to: Board of Trustees

JOB PURPOSE:

To lead, develop and manage The First Step providing strategic vision in order to ensure that effective, appropriate and quality services are provided to people affected by domestic abuse.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Shaping the organisation’s strategy and keeping abreast of developments in the law, local authorities, statutory agencies and the charitable sector

• Leading on income generation and maintaining funding streams

• Overseeing the management and reporting of financial resources

• Maintaining relationships with stakeholders, partner agencies and funders

• Monitoring services for quality, user involvement and effectiveness

• Leading, managing and motivating the staff team of 17

• Developing and implementing policies and procedures

• Initiating and spearheading digital change

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1) STRATEGIC

a) To provide strategic advice and guidance to the Board of Trustees and act as Company Secretary

b) To provide strategic leadership to senior managers and service leaders

c) To keep the Board of Trustees, senior managers and service leaders updated on developments within the sector, both internal and external development affecting the agency

d) Ensure appropriate policies are developed and implemented to meet The First Step vision, aims and objectives and to comply with all relevant statutory and other regulations

e) Ensure preparation of a rolling 3 year business plan and annual work plan; monitor progress against these plans to ensure the organisation attains its objectives as cost effectively and efficiently as possible

f) The post holder will lead the organisations response in generating income opportunities and will be responsible for ensuring that funding initiatives introduced by potential funders are fully explored.

g) The post holder will promote and encourage development of the values of The First Step.

h) Undertake an external ambassadorial role for The First Step for the purpose of maintaining ongoing positive relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders, including representatives of the media, at all levels

i) The post holder will be responsible for both initiating and spearheading digital change.

2) FINANCE

a) Ensure the proper management of all financial resources in conjunction with the financial services provider and Treasurer

b) Ensure the preparation of annual detailed budgets. Ensure detailed budgets are prepared for services as required and adhered to

c) Ensure Trustees are aware of all significant variances against agreed budgets.

d) Ensure that adequate and accurate financial information is submitted in all funding applications including grant and contract funding applications.

e) Ensure The First Step meets all its obligations to funders by monitoring, evaluation, review and reporting of funds used.

3) SERVICES

a) Establish and maintain effective formal and informal links and partnerships with stakeholders, relevant local authority departments, statutory agencies and key decision makers to ensure The First Step is providing quality, appropriate services

b) To ensure that all services are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis, looking at quality of service, user involvement, equality of opportunity, best use of resources and overall effectiveness.

c) Ensure services comply with all record keeping requirements, operational policies and procedures, health and safety guidance and safeguarding children and adults procedures

d) Ensure compliance with any agreed quality standards and funding requirements

4) HUMAN RESOURCES

a) Lead, manage and motivate an integrated staff team to ensure all services are delivered as agreed.

b) Ensure the agency meets its legal and statutory obligations as an employer.

c) Take overall responsibility for the proper implementation of grievance, disciplinary and appeals procedures in association with senior staff and Trustees as necessary

d) Develop and direct the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all health and safety and other statutory regulations.

e) Ensure access to adequate training for staff that is appropriate to their post and all staff receive regular support and supervision

5) EXTERNAL RELATIONS

a) Ensure services are effectively marketed to reach other service providers and ensuring appropriate levels of public awareness for the purpose of encouraging referrals across all sectors of the wider community

b) Represent The First Step in negotiations with stakeholders, suppliers, local authority departments and other key contacts to secure the most effective contract terms/service level agreements

GENERAL

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly and the exact nature of the duties described above is subject to periodic review and is liable to change.

The job description is a representative document. Other reasonably similar duties may be allocated from

time to time commensurate with the general character of the post and it’s grading.

All staff are responsible for the implementation of the Health & Safety Policy as far as it affects them, colleagues and others who may be affected by their work. However, the post holder is expected to monitor the effectiveness of the health and safety arrangements and systems to ensure appropriate improvements are made where necessary.

The post holder will receive confidential information relating to clients of The First Step. This information must be dealt with discreetly ensuring that the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations are observed in respect of personal data.

Undertake and participate in training, coaching and development activities as appropriate.

The post holder will promote diversity across the organisation and actively seek opportunities to ensure an effective equality and diversity response which goes beyond legal compliance and seeks to add value to the organisation, contributing to employee wellbeing and boosting staff morale.

This post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. You are therefore not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for any other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provisions of the ACT and any failures to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by The First Step. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to the positions to which the Order applies.

CONDITIONS

Salary range: £42,000 to £45,000 per annum paid monthly plus 7% pension contribution

Travel/mileage allowance

35 HOURS PER WEEK, 30 DAYS ANNUAL HOLIDAY AND STATUTORY BANK HOLIDAYS.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

Three years experience in a senior strategic leadership role in the charity sector

Proven track record of successful fundraising from major donors and sound understanding of fundraising streams

Evidence of strong and effective financial management and governance

Desirable:

Experience of working in a Domestic Abuse setting

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential:

An empowering and consultative leadership style

Strong negotiation and influencing skills to work with a wide range of stakeholders and funders

Proven track record of successful fundraising from major donors and sound understanding of funding streams

The ability to design, update and uphold Policies and Procedures appropriate for the organisation

Confidence in exploring digital innovation and development

Comfortable using current IT and web-based systems

Desirable:

Skills in communicating with the wider public as well as with staff, beneficiaries and stakeholders

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential:

Passionate about combatting Domestic Abuse and committed to helping victim/survivors

Integrity and self-awareness

Resilience, strength of character, flexibility and ability to prioritise in complex situations

Desirable:

Driving licence and use of own car

OTHER

Due to the nature of this role we will be considering female applicants only for this post in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Requirement (Equality Act 2010, pursuant to Schedule 9 part 1).