Deputy Strategic Director of Children's Services

Old Moat; Manchester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Manchester City Council seeks a Deputy Director of Children's Services, driving high-quality social care and striving for systemic improvements. This leadership role involves overseeing the entirety of children's services, enhancing partnerships, and ensuring equitable service delivery to the youth of Manchester.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension scheme

Enhanced parental leave

Access to discounts (MCR+)

Diverse learning opportunities

Volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Experience in children's services leadership required.
• Demonstrated strategic capabilities in managing social services.
• Ability to manage high-quality child-centred services.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the range of social services for children in Manchester.
• Direct and support service reform initiatives.
• Collaborate with education and integrated services teams.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Partnership Development

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

About The Role

Working Hours:35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type:Full-Time, Permanent

Salary: up to £119,255 (higher for an exceptional candidate)

Closing Date: 15th June

In-person interviews: 1st July

Manchester is a thriving, modern metropolis renowned throughout the world for culture, leisure and sporting success, as well as its incredible diversity. A city brimming with confidence, we attract international interest and investment, and deliver ambitious programmes for our communities to ensure all our residents can share in our growth

We at Manchester City Council are determined to deliver growth that benefits everyone and tackle inequalities. We are focused on continuously improving our services to children and see the Deputy Director of children's services as a key role in designing and delivering our response to the range of reforms recently announced by Government, directing and supporting service reform, supporting the strategic development of our partnerships and further developing professional practice of all our staff.

We are determined to continuously improve services to Manchester's children and are looking for a suitably experienced strategic child centered, values-based leader who shares the same drive as members, children's services leaders and young people to deliver high quality child centred services. The role oversees the whole range of social services and will require a strategic thinker focused on high quality social care practice and partnerships to make the difference to Manchester's children, many of whom require that “extra mile”.

You would be joining a stable and high functioning children's services senior management team and a Directorate that works with colleagues in Education in a truly integrated manner and a Council committed to children's services best evidenced in our whole Council support to obtain UNICEF child friendly status.

Should you wish to discuss the role please email [e-mail]

If you have any questions about the application process please email [e-mail]

For further information please visit:Home - Leading in Manchester

About the Candidate

This role is subject to -

2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

A professional qualification: Qualified Social Worker

Casual Car Documentation- The successful candidate will be a designated Casual Car User which means that car journeys may be necessary on an occasional basis, but are not essential to the role. If you do drive, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work, as well as provide all the appropriate documentation. You will receive an allowance per mile of business use.

Driving Licence – The successful candidate should hold a full clean driving licence as you will be required to drive a vehicle adhering to council regulations.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard/ an Enhanced [delete as appropriate] Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request

About Us

We’rethe local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchesterisn’tjust a job –it’san opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whetherit’sstrengthening communities or driving innovation in public services,you’llplay a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchesteris our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester.Itguides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ andwe’renot afraid to try new things
• We’reproud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance-Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You canpurchaseup to twoadditionalweeks.
• A buzzing pension-You’llbe enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave-Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed toprovide ample time for youto bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliantperks-Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+.Plusdiscounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow-We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member-Weare committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave-Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council,we’rededicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabledpeopleand young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments todemonstrateyour suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats:OurReciteMetoolcan be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top ofourcareers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size andcolourto make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet theminimumshortlistingrequirementsfor the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of theArmed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’rea Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support,adviceand guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplacesare accessible anddisability-friendly.

What we will need from you ifyou’resuccessful

In accordance withHome Office guidance, successful candidates mustevidencetheir right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not arole we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checksrequiredwill depend on the roleyou’veapplied for.As a guide, these checksmay include:

• Proof of Right to Work:You’llneed to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References:We’llrequire references from your current andpreviousemployer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will berequired.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof ofManchesterResidency: For some roles, you may need todemonstratethat youresidewithin the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting:Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving,we’llneed evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

Calculate your take home pay.Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.

Privacy Notice