Head of Service - Children's Services

Ne. Ba. servizi sas; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 78,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading local council seeks a Head of Service for the Front Door and Assessment Service within Children's Services. This pivotal role aims to drive transformation and enhance the welfare of vulnerable children. The qualified candidate will inspire teams and uphold high standards in safeguarding practices while effectively managing service delivery in a politically sensitive environment. The position offers a competitive salary, a relocation package, and the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Relocation package

Free Parking at Central Swindon Campus

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Head of Service or Service Manager is required.
• Experience in children's social care and the ability to manage at a senior level essential.
• Registered Practitioner with SWE England necessary.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all functions of Contact Swindon and manage safeguarding partnerships.
• Lead and improve services for vulnerable children.
• Champion the voice of children and families in decision-making.

Skills

Influencing

Negotiating

Team Leadership

Strategic Planning

Child Protection

Education

Professional social work qualification (degree or diploma)

Management qualification

Job description

Panoramic Associates are exclusively working with Swindon Borough Council with the key and critical hire of a Head of Service to manage the Front Door and Assessment Service for their Children's Services, as the push forward and continue on an ambitious transformation journey

Swindon Borough Council

Head of Service, Front Door & Assessment

Salary: £77,517 per annum

Benefits package (including a relocation package if required)

37 hours per week

Hybrid working

Free Parking At The Central Swindon Campus If Required

This an exciting and critical senior role, fundamental to the welfare of vulnerable children across Swindon. You will inspire, give confidence and be committed to supporting children to achieve their potential.

Swindon's Front Door - Contact Swindon - provides support and guidance for parents, carers, members of the public, young people and professionals.

Details

• You will oversee all functions of Contact Swindon and will play a key role in Swindon's safeguarding partnership
• You will be adept and driven to working in a challenging and demanding role to the greater good
• You will need to be an exceptional team player with a track record of forming good strategic relationships
• You will be be confident in managing the threshold for child protection and be confident in getting things right, irrespective of the time of day.
• You will champion the voice of the child and their family, ensuring that the decisions we make are informed by their experiences.
• You'll able to lead and influence, winning hearts and minds far beyond our organisational council boundaries.
• You will understand the power of data and use you experience alongside it to continuously improve the service
  
  

Key

• Previous or current experience as a Head of Service, or a Service Manager with the right experience looking for a step up
• Experience of working at a senior level in a political environment to provide assurance and effect change.
• Strategic experience of leading and managing complex projects and programmes to improve and transform services.
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills to secure collective responsibility both internally and across the partnership to develop efficient, effective and impactful services with strong influencing skills to challenge partners and stakeholders critically and constructively, using respect alongside negotiation to drive change.
• Extensive experience of working within Children Social Care services and leading teams.
• Budget management and utilising a best value approach to council funding and grants.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and guidance and latest research on social care matters that affect children, young people and families.
• Experience of writing strategies, plans, policies, business cases and reports, liaising with other departments where needed e.g. Finance, Legal, Human Resources.
• Experience of delivering presentations along with being skilled at presenting complex issues in to a range of different audiences.
• Experience of developing and using quality assurance systems and processes for monitoring and evaluation
• Experience of facilitating co-production and capturing lived experience within quality and performance feedback.
• Professional social work qualification (degree or diploma) - essential
• Registered Practitioner with SWE England - essential
• Management qualification or significant experience managing in a social care setting- essential
  
  

Next steps

Please drop me a call or get in contact if you would like to know more about this position and have a further discussion on it.

1st stage interviews will be held week commencing 30th June, with a face-to-face interviews happening the following week.