JOB DESCRIPTION
Service Manager – Fostering, Looked After Children and Early Support
JOB PURPOSE
To support the Head of Children’s Services in driving forward the strategic agenda of the authority and be responsible for delivering in their service area:
· Strategic Planning
· Annual Service Improvement Plan and Improvement Objectives
· Service efficiency and value for money
· Duties and obligations identified in children’s legislation and other associated legislation and guidance
· Planning with the Head of Children’s service to; lead, inform and influence the council response to strategic, cross cutting, children’s social care issues to ensure the council is best positioned to meet future challenges
To provide service management and operational management for the Fostering, LAC and Early Support work streams of children’s services. Ensuring resources are deployed effectively to meet performance objectives, and being vigilant to ensure the highest quality of practice through the robust development of quality assurance.
To develop and maintain successful joint working arrangements and partnerships with other councils, internal and external service providers, and regional and local agencies to deliver high quality, cost effective services.
Enhance the Council’s reputation by promoting a positive image of the organisation to customer, partners and national and regional bodies acting as an ambassador for services.
OBJECTIVES
1. To provide clear leadership and operational focus in the development, delivery and monitoring of the strategies, objectives and priorities for Children’s Social Care, ensuring effective management and delivery of high quality Children’s Social Care services and to be accountable for protecting, planning and implementing children’s various plans.
2. To ensure day to day operational management, contact and cover across the services within the remit of the Service Manager Fostering LAC & Early Support role, including providing management cover out-of-hours. (Please note that operational responsibilities are subject to regular review)
3. To work pro-actively and closely with colleagues within the Directorate Management Team and across the organisation to identify, create and embed the necessary, sustainable changes in culture and practice to meet the strategic and transformational needs and aspirations of the Council.
4. To develop a positive model of valuing and developing staff, effective communication and engagement, a ‘healthy’ organisational culture and high personal commitment and motivation on the part of all staff to achieve the best possible outcomes for our customers.
5. To ensure that all employees are aware of the aims, objectives and achievements of the Council and the standards of behaviour and performance expected.
6. To manage and maintain a coherent framework of performance management, which ensures that staff are able to perform to the best of their abilities to achieve business objectives and performance management standards.
7. Ensuring that service planning and delivery takes account of nationally and locally agreed performance standards and that there is effective preparation for and response to external inspection.
8. To ensure that Children’s Social Care staff participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal.
9. To develop and maintain constructive relationships between the Council and other local authorities, central government, the business and industrial sector and principal community and voluntary organisations and agencies.
10. To ensure the Council is able to demonstrate compliance with all policies and procedures, and robust management of health and safety, equal opportunities, customer care, emergency and business continuity planning, security and work standards.
11. To avoid/manage any conflicts which may arise as a result of the strategies, policies and activities of the Council and its political leadership.
12. To deputise for the Head of Children Services as required.
13. To undertake any such duties and responsibilities determined by the Head of Children’s Services.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To lead the Child Care teams, providing leadership, supervision, support and appraisal to the managers of those teams.
2. To ensure that the quality of service provided is of the highest standard in terms of customer focus, professional competence and timeliness. This to be achieved by audit work completed and review of service delivery.
3. To ensure that practice within Pembrokeshire is compliant within current legislation.
4. To ensure that learning from complaints and reviews is embedded into operational practice.
5. To contribute to the strategic development of operational services within Pembrokeshire in line with Welsh Government circulars and guidance.
6. To ensure partnership working is promoted, ensuring the appropriate levels of governance and integrate services with partner agencies.
7. To provide relevant management information and reports as required by the Direction, Head of Service, elected members and CSSIW.
8. To address health and safety policies and arrangements in a proactive manner to ensure that a high standard of safe working practices are maintained.
9. To actively support and implement the principles and practices of equality of opportunity as laid down in the Council’s Equal Opportunity Policy.
10. To ensure management cover for all services to ensure safe levels of staffing.
11. To chair Children’s Services meetings as required.
12. To undertake any other specific tasks as requested by the Head of Service.
13. To ensure the active participation of children, young people, parents and carers in the design, delivery and monitoring of services.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications and Training
1. Professional qualification in Social Work (CQSW/DipSW) or equivalent.
2. Management qualification NVQ4 or equivalent.
3. Good record of continuing professional development.
4. Valid driving licence and use of a car for work.
5. The ability to speak welsh is desirable.
6. Registration with the Care Council for Wales or ability to be registered.
Experience and Job Related Knowledge
1. Substantial experience of managing children’s social care teams and services.
2. Sound knowledge and experience of the statutory, regulatory and legislative framework applicable, together with the key operational issues relevant to safeguarding and Fostering, Looked after Children and Early Support.
3. Extensive knowledge of Children’s Social Care practice and able to apply that to complex situations. Lead the embedding of evidence based practice within the service.
4. Ability to lead change, improve the quality of service delivery and support a culture of continuous development, ensuring appropriate levels of governance.
5. Proven skill in budget management and an ability to analyse complex information to plan and deliver service, quality assurance, supervision and team building.
6. Experience of complex partnership working with other disciplines and organisations.
7. Ability to lead complex meetings in relation to children, young people and staff.
8. Experience of developing managers within the service develop skills and competences in their role e.g. in relation to safeguarding; Fostering, Looked after Children and Early Support.
9. A thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Suite of software.
Job Related Aptitudes and Skills
1. Strategic awareness.
2. Child and young person focus.
3. Ability to communicate actively and effectively.
4. Ability to improve the performance of individuals and teams by sound leadership skills.
5. Ability to motivate staff and influence the organisation beyond the immediate span of managerial control.
6. Effective decision making skills.
7. Ability to delivery results.
8. Personal effectiveness.
Safeguarding Requirements
Requirement to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Flexibility Statement
The developing and rapidly changing nature of the organisation and legislative requirements will require considerable flexibility from the postholder. This job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities for the post and is not intended to be fully inclusive list and the duties and responsibilities specified in this job description are subject to change as the needs of the Local Authority evolve.