Culture & Engagement Manager – St Johns House

Kirk Hammerton

Hours: Full Time

Salary: c£36.5K

1Pension 1Holidays

The Culture & Engagement Manager is the heart and pulse of the home – ensuring every resident, family member, and colleague feels valued, supported, and connected.

They are the cotton wool ball of the service – the calm, compassionate connector who cushions challenges, notices details, and keeps things running smoothly. They hold the home together through empathy, humour, and heart, ensuring that everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.

They ensure that every corner of the home thrives – from culture and engagement to compliance and communication. They work closely with the Home Operations Manager, deputising in their absence, and are responsible for maintaining operational flow, assurance, and team morale.

They bring to life our constant commitment: Where People Matter.

Leadership & People Act as deputy to the Home Operations Manager, providing visible, confident, and emotionally intelligent leadership. Be a daily presence on the floor, reading the energy of the home, supporting where needed, and leading by example. Notice and act on what matters – whether that’s ensuring someone gets home on time, offering a hand on a difficult shift, or recognising someone’s personal milestone. Lead and champion the home’s weekly “Our Culture, Our Care” sessions — а 30- minute protected time each week for all staff to come together and reflect on practice using the Nourish Interaction Ensure that these sessions are meaningful, inclusive, and used to drive improvement, alignment, and pride in the home’s values. Build trust and accountability through fairness, kindness, and clarity. Support staff supervisions, appraisals, and reflective sessions to build capability and confidence. Foster a culture of belonging – where people feel connected, proud, and supported to deliver their best. Culture, Engagement & Belonging Be the custodian of culture, ensuring every action, tone, and decision reflects Constantia’s ethos: Where People Matter.

Lead the You Said, We Did – and Here’s Why (or Why We Couldn’t) process:

Capture feedback from residents, families, stakeholders and staff. Celebrate where action has been taken. Communicate clearly and honestly where change is not possible and explain why, maintaining trust and transparencу. Champion recognition and reward through meaningful, timely gestures and visible appreciation. Deliver engagement initiatives that strengthen teamwork, communication, and pride. Uphold the principle that culture is created in the moments no one else sees. Challenge behaviours that undermine teamwork, professionalism, or dignity – regardless of role or seniority. Ensure the outcomes, reflections, and themes arising from the Our Culture, Our Care sessions feed directly into the home’s continuous improvement and governance plans. Resident Experience & Wellbeing Ensure every resident’s day is filled with purpose, dignity, and choice. Lead the planning and delivery of activities and events that reflect the individuality of residents and the community they live in. Ensure documentation on Nourish fully captures each resident’s preferences, wellbeing goals, and outcomes. Maintain consistent visibility across lounges, dining areas, and communal spaces to ensure the experience feels warm, professional, and homely. Encourage colleagues to bring energy and connection to care delivery. Be a visible advocate for residents’ rights, independence, and happiness. Quality, Governance & Assurance Support the Home Operations Manager to maintain full compliance across all CQC domains. Lead and coordinate a rolling local assurance programme, covering: Care documentation Medication Infection control Dining and hydration Health and safety Environment Engagement and wellbeing Staff practice Ensure every audit delegated is completed by a competent colleague who understands the standard required and can interpret findings accurately. Track all delegated audits to completion – no audit left pending, no assumption of closure without evidence. Where gaps or shortfalls are identified, ensure action plans are clear, owned, and followed through to full resolution. Ensure all findings, actions, and progress updates are recorded within the Governance Workbook with responsible persons and deadlines. Follow the “No Amber” principle – actions are either open (Red) or fully evidenced and embedded (Green). Uphold the “Find it. Fix it. Own it.” ethos – no waiting for others to act; accountability sits with you. Support in completing and assuring care plans, risk assessments, MCA/DOLS documentation, and incident reviews. Participate in internal audits and compliance checks, providing assurance and evidence of improvement. Role-model diligence and accuracy: if it isn’t evidenced, it isn’t done. Systems, Data & Accountability Champion consistent, accurate use of all systems: Nourish, Sona, Found, QCS, BrightSafe, YourHippo, and Rehab My Patient. Ensure data is current, meaningful, and reflective of live practice – using insights to drive improvement. Train, support, and coach colleagues to use systems confidently and accurately. Monitor training compliance, ensuring mandatory learning remains ≥90%. Ensure all governance evidence, audits, and documents are uploaded to the correct system folders and accessible for verification. Workforce & Operational Support Support the Home Operations Manager in ensuring the home is safely and effectively staffed at all times. Contribute to rota planning, absence management, and agency reduction, ensuring fairness and stability. Participate in recruitment, interviews, onboarding, and induction of new starters. Oversee completion of right-to-work, DBS, and reference checks before new staff commence. Conduct follow-up reviews at 2 and 4 weeks for all new starters to identify early support needs. Deliver return-to-work interviews for all absences, promoting fairness and attendance consistency. Support capability, conduct, and grievance processes with professionalism and documentation. Monitor morale, retention, and workforce trends – act early to resolve emerging risks. Partner with the Chief People Officer to sustain workforce resilience and zero agency use. Environment, Front-of-House & Presentation Lead daily environmental walkarounds, checking all communal and resident areas for cleanliness, functionality, and presentation. Ensure lounges, bedrooms, and dining spaces are safe, uncluttered, and inviting. Oversee the dining experience – food presentation, temperature, IDDSI compliance, and mealtime dignity. Work closely with maintenance and housekeeping to ensure the building feels like a home, not an institution. Ensure front-of-house areas, noticeboards, and visitor spaces reflect professionalism and pride. Verify stock control and supply levels for consumables, PPE, and engagement materials. Lead by example – everyone, regardless of role, contributes to the home’s presentation. Operational Continuity & On-Call Deputise for the Home Operations Manager during periods of leave or absence, ensuring the home continues to operate safely and effectively. Participate in the on-call rota, providing leadership, escalation management, and support to colleagues. Lead handovers and ensure communication between shifts is clear, complete, and action-focused. Respond to incidents, complaints, or emergencies with calm professionalism. Maintain leadership continuity, ensuring the team always feels supported and guided.