Head Of Service

Akhirah Ltd; Highgate; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's services organization is seeking a Head of Services to oversee social work areas and manage multiple teams. The role requires strong leadership skills, a commitment to children's welfare, and the ability to develop strategic business plans. Candidates should have a relevant management qualification and experience in social work. This position is based in Highgate, United Kingdom, offering opportunities to make a real impact in children's lives.

Qualifications

• Experience managing social work services
• Proven leadership in a children's services context
• Strong understanding of safeguarding requirements

Responsibilities

• Lead a service area with up to 9 Team Managers.
• Develop and implement strategic business plans.
• Manage compliance with legal and regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership

Performance Management

Partnership Building

Education

Relevant management qualification

Social work qualification

Job description

Job Title: Head of Services

Grade: GR7

Reporting to: Assistant Director

Context

Birmingham Children's Trust employs circa 1,900 staff and has an operating budget of approx.
£200m per annum.

• Local population: 1,100,000.
• 32.4% of children are living in poverty (against an England average of 20%).
• Infant mortality is significantly higher than the average (in Birmingham it is 6.7 per 1,000 live births compared to the England average of 4.1 per 1,000).

Our Vision for Birmingham Children's Trust
‘Working Together to make Birmingham the greatest city to grow up in’

‘We give our best, so young people achieve their best’

Values

• ONE TEAM
• ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
• QUALITY AND INNOVATION
• RELATIONSHIPS
• HIGH SUPPORT HIGH CHALLENGE

Leadership Team

Birmingham Children's Trust Leadership team comprises four non Executive Directors; Chief Executive, Director of Practice, Director of Commissioning & Corporate Parenting and Director of Finance & Resources who are responsible for managing and leading the Trust to be an autonomous and high performing organisation, ensuring services are aligned to deliver the Trust's strategic objectives, business plan and for providing expert advice to the Board.

Scope and Purpose of Role

1. To support Assistant Director in leading and managing a service area. This could be an area based service i.e. Assessment and Short Term Intervention, Safeguarding, Children in Care or a city wide service such as EDT, CASS/MASH, Fostering, Adoption, Child Protection & Review or Practice Hub.

1.2 To work alongside your Assistant Director, being clear on priorities and managing them collaboratively to ensure high quality services.

1.3 To contribute to and develop strategic business plans relevant to and required by the service area that support BCT priorities.

1.5 To build partnerships with and between local agencies including Family Support Services, Early Help, schools, statutory agencies, private, voluntary and community sectors and deliver collaborative partnerships that improve services and outcomes for children.

1.6 To influence and support the delivery of excellent practice, demonstrating positive improvements in outcomes.

1.7 To demonstrate positive leadership that reflects a clear belief, positive commitment and determination to secure good outcomes for children and young people.

General Duties and Responsibilities

1. To contribute to the delivery of performance management to ensure timely, effective and good quality outcomes for children and young people.
2. To directly manage a group of Team Managers and, through them, social work services.
3. To supervise Team Managers.
4. To build capacity and manage risk.
5. To ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and ethical requirements.
6. To promote equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion in the service area.
7. To build and support a culture of good practice.
8. To build and manage a culture of effective professional challenge.
9. To develop processes and practice which ensures consultation and engagement with children, young people and their carers in service planning and delivery.
10. To develop and manage business processes and related relationships such as procurement.
11. To contribute to and manage HR processes and procedures alongside HR colleagues.
12. To effectively manage resources; meeting demand; developing individuals, monitoring and challenging performance as necessary.
13. To use all recording systems as procedures requires.
14. To be responsible for leading specific service areas that are changeable depending upon business need.
15. To offer coaching and mentoring across the service as required.
16. To undertake ongoing supervision and review of direct reports through the PDR and reflective supervision process and ensure this is embedded across your service.
17. Commensurate to the grade of Head of Service to undertake other duties that may arise from time to time as determined by the Assistant Director.

Supervision & Management Structure

Supervision Received: Assistant Director

Level of Supervision: Plan own work to ensure the meeting of defined objectives.

Team Managers (Up to 9) - GR6.

Special Conditions:

• This vacancy is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
• A Disclosure and Barring Services/ISA checks will be undertaken.

Equal Opportunities

Birmingham Children's Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Observance of the Birmingham Children's Trust Equal Opportunities Policy will be required.