The Thalidomide Trust is seeking a collaborative, inspiring and empathetic leader to join as our next Director of Health & Wellbeing, providing leadership to a committed and expert team as we work to deliver the best possible support to thalidomide survivors as they enter older age.
The Thalidomide Trust was established as a registered charity in 1973 to support individuals living with disabilities caused by their mothers taking thalidomide during pregnancy. Today, our support encompasses financial grants and guidance, together with comprehensive health and wellbeing support (including emotional support). We also undertake research to better understand the needs of our beneficiaries and provide vital information resources for professionals working with them. Secure funding means we can focus entirely on how to improve the lives of our beneficiaries.
We assist 430 beneficiaries, most of whom the Trust has worked with since they were children. We are often the first port of call for any issues they face. As our beneficiaries are now in their 60s, we must continue to evolve to meet their changing needs. The Trust is approaching a crucial transition point - effectively becoming an older person’s charity over the next 10-20 years, as the group’s needs become ever more complex and diverse. We must ensure we are ready to provide much-needed support to our beneficiaries as they face the typical challenges of aging that impact them more as thalidomide survivors, as well as the unique impacts and accelerated aging caused by thalidomide damage.
Our current Director of Health & Wellbeing is taking on the Joint Chief Executive role with our existing Executive Director. This means we need a new Director of Health & Wellbeing to join in October this year to lead our fantastic, 12-strong team of health & wellbeing professionals though this transition period. They will ensure they have the resources and skills to support our beneficiaries into this next phase of life, maintain and build on our award-winning culture, contribute to the development of the Trust’s next Five-Year Strategic Plan, and lead the implementation of the health and wellbeing objectives and deliverables within the plan.
Key details:
Role: Director of Health & Wellbeing at The Thalidomide Trust
Salary: £80,000 - £85,000
Contract: Permanent, full time with flexible working
Location: St Neots, Cambridgeshire, with hybrid working (2-3 days per week in the office). The role also requires regular travel to meet beneficiaries in their homes (including for Holistic Needs Assessments)
As well as a strong alignment with our vision, values, culture and strategic goals, you will demonstrate:
Significant senior management experience in health, social care, or voluntary sectors
Proven ability to establish and maintain partnerships
Effective leadership of multidisciplinary teams
Innovation in designing and implementing new models of support with the goal of delivering holistic support
Sound financial skills with budget management experience
Data analysis proficiency for strategic improvement
Up-to-date knowledge of UK health and social care
Experience with older people and/or people living with disabilities
Understanding of the changing needs of individuals as they age
Adult safeguarding experience
Involvement of service users in development and planning
Understanding of research principles
Evaluation and project management skills
Empathy and ability to build rapport with beneficiaries
Enabling approach and service-user empowerment
Self-motivated with workload management skills
Sound judgement in handling sensitive issues
If you would like to receive an Appointment Brief for this Director of Health & Wellbeing role with full details, including how to apply, please send an expression of interest and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile in confidence to our consultant, Jenny Hills at Harris Hill, executive@harrishill.co.uk.
For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny at the above address with suitable times to talk.
Closing date for applications: 9am Monday, 10th June 2024.
The Thalidomide Trust particularly welcome applications from members of the BAME community and people living with disabilities.
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
