Job Description

JOB VACANCY

Essence Service Manager

Permanent Contract
35 hours per week, 33,168 per annum

We seek an enthusiastic, motivated self-starter to oversee the management of Age UK Sunderland's Essence Service. A minimum of 3 years management experience is essential with substantial experience of working with people with dementia and their carers.

The successful candidate must have excellent I.T. and communication skills and the ability to effectively promote the service. You should also have a good standard of education, preferably to degree level as well as experience of partnership working and staff and volunteer management. Candidates are required to have a full clean driving licence and have access to a car for work.

Age UK Sunderland


Post: Essence Service Manager
Location: Doxford Park
Responsible to: Operations Manager

Job Purpose
To develop and provide direct management to Age UK Sunderland's Essence Service; which is designed to provide practical, social and emotional specialised support to individuals who are living with a mild to moderate diagnosis of dementia and their Carers.


To oversee the management of The Essence Service to ensure the provision of innovative interventions and continuous practical, social and emotional support to those living with a mild to moderate diagnosis of dementia and their Carers.
To manage and oversee the delivery of other services or developments as required by Age UK Sunderland including our Social Focus project.
To ensure clear and effective referral pathways are maintained with the Sunderland Memory Protection Unit and other key partner statutory organisations in the City including the liaison with social work teams.
To lead, motivate, supervise and manage a staff team including direct line management and appraisals.
To effectively recruit, train, support and develop volunteers involved in the delivery of the Services.
To ensure the implementation of a person centred approach for people living with mild to moderate dementia diagnosis and their carer; to create a supportive environment to retain confidence, personal interests, wellbeing and independence.
To ensure the continuous monitoring of assessment tools and support plans for the Essence Service to ensure robust operational processes and systems are sustained and implemented.
To ensure the Essence transitional pathway is adhered to and higher support services are sought for the person with dementia and their carers where appropriate.
To ensure the implementation of a varied programme of activities that are responsive to the needs of the client groups.
To monitor the service KPIs and Risk Register including risk management.
To provide written and verbal service reports/summaries as required. This will include operational reports, evaluations and the contribution to strategic leadership reports on developing and maintaining the Essence and other services of responsibility in Sunderland.
To ensure a robust referrals pathway VCS support across the City.
To keep an accurate training matrix ensuring the provision of appropriate training and support to staff and volunteers.
To oversee the input of data onto the client information management systems to update client details, and periodically produce detailed accurate reports ensuring client details are correct in line with GDPR requirements.
To ensure the Doxford Park Essence Building is kept to an excellent standard and a dementia friendly environment is maintained at all times.
Be aware of Health and Safety issues involved in the management of a building and the delivery of this service.
To actively promote, develop and market the Essence service liaising with partner agencies appropriately as an Age UK Sunderland representative.
To ensure effective communication and joint working with the wider Age UK Sunderland teams.
To abide by and implement all policies and procedures of Age UK Sunderland, including being aware of and responsible corporately and as an individual for Health and Safety policy.
To act as a responsible person within Age UK Sunderland's safeguarding policy and procedure.
To undertake all reasonable tasks, in keeping with the level of responsibility of the post, as requested by the Director.
This post is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced check.

Age UK Sunderland
Person Specification

Post: Essence Service Manager
Location: Doxford Park
Responsible to: Operations Manager

Essential Criteria:
A minimum of three years management experience of leading and managing a diverse staff team
Extensive experience of supporting people with dementia, their carers and older people with low level mental health issues.
Experience of implementing the provision of services to people living with dementia and their carers.
Proven track record of managing the logistics of a multi operational and multi partner service.
Exemplary partnership/multiagency working experience and skills.
Extensive experience of client assessments, evaluation processes and working within a person centred approach.
Ability to manage a busy workload and prioritise appropriately.
Previous experience of working with vulnerable people.
A good track record of developing and maintaining successful services.
Possess excellent communication skills to deal with highly sensitive and emotional issues on a frequent and unpredictable basis.
Excellent report writing skills and ability to tailor communications to different audiences.
Have a good understanding of volunteering and demonstrate evidence of the ability to recruit, train and retain volunteers.
Commitment to working in the voluntary sector.
Be innovative and take on new challenges.
Be a dynamic self-starter.
Demonstrate a flair for organising.
Ability to respond effectively to unplanned/ emergency situations.
A flexible approach to work.
Maintain confidentiality at all times.
Educated to Degree level (although consideration may be given to candidates who are able to demonstrate a track record of managerial achievement and experience).
Sound understanding of GDPR principles and safeguarding processes for vulnerable adults
Have excellent IT skills, with ability to produce reports, databases and other key IT project management tools.
Possess a full, clean driving licence and have access to a car for work.

Desirable:
Management qualification of level 4 or above.

This post is subject to a DBS Enhanced Disclosure check.

To request an application pack you can email or download one directly from our website www.ageuksunderland.org.uk. Alternatively send a large SAE for 93p to Age UK Sunderland, Bradbury Centre, Stockton Rd, Sunderland. SR2 7AQ. Tel: 0191 5141131. CV's are not accepted for this role.

Closing date: Thursday 4th September 2025 by 9.00 am
Interview date: Monday 15th September 2025

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 33,168.00 per year

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 04/09/2025