Service Manager - Dementia Support Bucks

Published on 14 November 2025 10:00 AM

Salary: £35,000 FTE

Hours: Full Time (with flexibility for part time)

Contract: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Services

Location: Age UK Buckinghamshire Head Office - 145 Meadowcroft, Aylesbury, HP19 9HH (map)

Closing Date: 21st November 2025

Dementia Support Bucks is designed to improve the support and guidance available to someone with memory concern or a diagnosis of dementia, and their carers. Buckinghamshire has over 4,500 residents living with a dementia diagnosis and working alongside many local organisations, our service is developing strong relationships with existing referrers and professionals, including the Memory Assessment Service, working with local support groups and communities for whom dementia represents especially problematic challenges. We are also building online resources to share information and activities that are relevant to clients and professionals.

The service is delivered by a team of Dementia Support Workers (DSWs), whose role is to be a consistent support to those living with dementia, and their carers - through assessments and support plans to help manage the evolving nature of the condition, to end-of-life planning. It's a challenging and demanding role, but one that we know will bring rewards, professional development, and job satisfaction. This role manages the service and the DSWs, as well as volunteers, and will oversee and lead it's effectiveness, development and growth.

The role of the Service Manager
In this role you will provide operational leadership and management to the Dementia Support Bucks team and service, ensuring the delivery of a high quality, safe dementia support service aligning to a clear set of KPI’s. You will ensure baseline service specifications are achieved consistently and effectively, managing resources, recruitment and volunteers, and help build the capacity and community of dementia support across Bucks, working with delivery partners and community groups.

Job purpose
Establish and develop the service’s presence and consistent delivery, so that those living with memory concern and dementia feel more supported on their dementia journey, and are able to access vital information and services at the right time to help manage the condition as it evolves. Use the service and our reach into communities and work with partners to support the wider dementia ‘ecosystem’, including dementia friendly support and activities, and overall system capacity and collaboration.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Effective team management and development

Support, line-manage, supervise, recruit and retain Support Workers, Triage Coordinator and other members of the Dementia Support team
Develop your team to grow skills and experience relevant to the service and ensure adherence to training requirements
Provide support to the team on complex cases, and management of capacity in a hands-on, flexible and adaptive manner.

Day to day service delivery

Responsibility for the management of the day-to-day operation and delivery of the service as defined by the service specification and contract KPIs
Ensure a strength-based, person-centred approach to service delivery, both for our clients/service users and internal teams and external partners
Support the team and lead the way in delivering an appropriate level of support for individuals and their carers across Young Onset dementia, adults with learning disability and ethnically diverse groups
Manage the service budget and staffing establishment to achieve operational objectives, maintain financial control and optimise performance
Develop, implement and maintain robust systems and processes, including developing the service manual, and manage governance, quality, and risk
Oversight and development of key materials, resources and information used across the service

Improve quality and impact reporting

Oversee the collation and reporting of qual/quant data for the service and maintain CRM systems (Salesforce) to capture the full impact on beneficiaries and insights for continuous improvement
Uphold or obtain quality assurance standards and adhere to service standards, policies and procedures
Uphold and develop our safeguarding, data protection and risk management focus and culture
Gather ongoing feedback from service users through diverse methods, including case studies and compelling stories about our impact

Service development and new opportunities

Support the development of a new volunteer network
Increase the presence and awareness of the service in public and professional channels/networks, inc. website and communications, and in-community
Work with delivery partners and others to seek new ideas and best practice
Ensure appropriate signposting and referrals into and from the Dementia Support Bucks service by working collaboratively with partners
Lead ongoing learning and research to stay informed about local and national developments in dementia care and support.

Influence on our wider culture and strategy

Contribute to the senior leadership team and Trustee Board as necessary, looking at wider organisational issues and needs
Help build a culture that aligns to our strategy
Represent the service, and our organisation, where appropriate, at events and key meetings
Consider and implement ways in which we can improve and grow our income through the service and through wider fundraising opportunities

Such other duties and projects as may be required.

Person Specification Essential

Leadership experience with direct line management and performance management experience
Experience of working with/supporting people who live with dementia
Experience of managing services in a health and social care context
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Experience of working collaboratively and in partnership with other organisations
A team player, able to foster a positive, solution-focused culture
Excellent knowledge of relevant compliance and governance requirements, such as data protection and safeguarding
Ability to travel independently around the county

Desirable

Coaching skills to develop autonomy in the team
Experience of ensuring services are inclusive and accessible
Monitoring and improving performance against KPIs

Principles
The service is committed to the following principles:

Kindness
We lead with compassion and care — in every interaction, with clients, carers, colleagues and partners.
Belonging
We create safe, inclusive spaces where people feel valued and connected — across communities, cultures, and organisations.
Collaboration
We work side by side — building trust, sharing knowledge, respecting expertise and learning from one another to give joined-up support.
Ambition
We strive to do better — challenging ourselves and the system to improve support for people living with dementia and their carers.

Equal Opportunities

We want our services to be more representative of the community we serve. We encourage equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourage applications from our wonderful rainbow of talent in Bucks and from people of all ages.

How to apply:

If you have any questions about the role, or for an informal discussion with the recruiting manager please contact recruitment@ageukbucks.org.uk

Please send your completed Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form to hr@ageukhhb.org.uk. Please note we do accept CV's but it will need to be accompanied with a completed Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.

Application Documents

We are very grateful for your interest in working with our organisation. We try to respond to all applications within 2 weeks of the deadline but sometimes the amount of interest means that this just isn’t possible. If you have not heard from us within this time period, it will unfortunately mean that you were not successful in this application but please do apply for other roles with us. Thank you.

AGE UK HILLINGDON, HARROW AND BRENT

1 role available

Service Manager - Dementia Support Bucks