Head of Service - Children's Social Care

Description

-Directorate: Children and Family Services
-Section: Childrens Social Care
-Grade: SM4
-Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to both Internal and External applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Councils diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on why work for us

Join Our Children and Families Service

We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation. We are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.

We are seeking experienced and credible senior leaders who can provide clear strategic direction, drive high-quality practice and deliver positive outcomes across the three following areas of Childrens Social Care:

-Integrated Front Door, Multi-Agency Child Protection Team and Emergency Duty Team
-Quality Assurance
-Adoption and Sufficiency

These roles will play a vital part in strengthening services and improving outcomes for children, young people and families across Stoke-on-Trent.

About You

You will have:

-A recognised social work qualification, current Social Work England registration and substantial senior management experience within children's social care.
-Detailed knowledge of children's legislation, statutory safeguarding responsibilities and the regulatory framework within which local authorities operate.
-A strong track record of providing strategic leadership and delivering high-performing services within complex environments.
-Proven experience of leading service transformation, managing change and delivering sustained improvements in practice, performance and outcomes.
-Experience of leading and motivating large, multidisciplinary teams within a complex and high-pressure environment.
-Significant experience of managing substantial budgets, resources, performance and service delivery effectively.
-Excellent communication, partnership and influencing skills, with the confidence to work alongside senior leaders, elected members, partner agencies and external organisations.
-A clear commitment to safeguarding children and improving the life chances of children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

-Provide strategic and operational leadership to deliver high-quality, effective and financially sustainable services for children and families.
-Drive continuous improvement and ensure services comply with statutory duties, council policies and national standards.
-Lead, motivate and develop teams, fostering a culture of excellence, learning, accountability and collaboration.
-Manage budgets, resources and performance effectively, ensuring the best possible use of public resources.
-Champion relational, child-centred and relationship-based practice across service design and delivery.
-Influence and deliver the council's transformation agenda, achieving measurable improvements in practice and outcomes.
-Build strong partnerships with children, families, colleagues, elected members and external agencies.

Why Join Us?

-Lead transformational change that has a genuine impact on children, young people and families.
-Join a supportive, ambitious and forward-thinking Children and Families leadership team.
-Help shape the future of children's services across Stoke-on-Trent.
-Benefit from a competitive salary and comprehensive employee benefits package.

What we offer:

-A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
-Hybrid and flexible working options
-An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
-Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here - https://recruitment.stoke.gov.uk/rewards-benefits?categoryId=3

If you would like to discuss the role further please email

Jane Stuart FFP Manager - Children & Families - Jane.Stuart@stoke.gov.uk

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

-Right to Work in the UK
-Proof of address
-Satisfactory references
-Occupational Health Clearance
-Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
-DBS check at the appropriate level

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Your career matters here.

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we're committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know they're our greatest asset. We're building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.

To Apply

Please create / log into your account and then click 'apply'. If you have any queries or want an application form in another format, please email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call us on 01782 238189.

In order to apply for this vacancy, you must be able to supply the required answers to the following questions:
-Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?