Job Description

Head of Statistics and Surveys

June 2017

Job Title / Head of Statistics and Surveys
Responsible to / Director of Evidence
Purpose of the job / This post will lead work in the Children’s Commissioner’sOffice to improve the availability of data to enable robust, accurate and up to the minute reporting on children’s well-being and welfare. This will involve improvements to the collation, linking, matching and collection of data.
This post will ensure deliveryof high profile reporting on trends and issues for children, particularly the most vulnerable. The postholder will use the Children’s Commissioner’s power of data collection to shed light on critical issues and support work to improve the use, accessibility and legitimacy of local and national data to improve outcomes and experiences of children.
This postholder will lead on gathering and holding data in secure ways. You will be an expert in issues of security, ethics and safeguarding and ensure that policies and procedures for holding data are fit for purpose, credible and delivered in practice. You will lead and support colleagues in designing and commissioning data collection. You will develop a strong working knowledge of all official datasets pertaining to children’s welfare and wellbeing at individual, local, national and international levels, and support work to ensure they are used to maintain public understanding of key trends and issues, and that gaps in data are addressed.
You will support supervision and collaboration with government statisticians, leading charities, academics, think tanks and local government.
Specific duties / •Lead within CCO on data collection, particularly through the design and use of surveys and other means to collate and collect quantitative data systematically and rigorously from major agencies working with children, in ways that best meet the needs of the Children’s Commissioner and CCO.
•Support or lead the design, implementation and/or supervisionof data gathering to deliver the business planand support internal research projects and consultation responses.
•Work closely with the Business Team to deliver high quality externally commissioned data collection that is secure, ethical and provides value.
•Work closely with leading statisticians across national and local government and in the third sector, academia and elsewhere to ensure that the CCO is represented in discussions about improvements to national and official statistics and can collaborate closely with leading agencies in the interests of improved data to monitor the welfare and wellbeing of children.
•Build a strong and credible network with groups such as ADCS and others who provide data on children to deliver high responsiveness to CCO surveys and lightning reviews, ensuring that data providers understand the purpose and rationale of data collection, and are consulted and engaged as necessary to ensure that data collection is effective.
•Review, improve and rollout policies and practices within CCO to store data in ways that maximise security, meet ethical requirements, minimise burdens and add value through the best possible use of data, including in the development of new standards.
•Support the Director of Evidence and CCO in ensuring the security, ethics and value of all holdings of information assets in the CCO, with particular responsibility for the security of holdings of quantitative data.
Date / June2017
Essential / Desirable
Knowledge / •Possess good degree in a quantitative social science including statistics and survey design.
•Rich knowledge and understanding of social science research methods including substantial experience of survey design, sampling and data collection approaches.
•Sound data analysis skills.
•Good understanding of data protection law and ethics / •Possess PhD or Masters level degreein a quantitative social science including statistics and survey design.
•Knowledge of or experience working in children’s services and/or on children’s and family policy.
•Knowledge of child safeguardingprocesses and procedures.
•Advanced statistical methods and analysis
Experience / •At least 3 years’ post-education, working in a “real world” research environment with successful experience of:
ocollating, managing and holding data, including sensitive data, with good management of risk;
oconducting research with impact;
omanaging individuals and teams;
oleading delivery of projects to time, quality and budget. / •Experience of either working directly with or engaging in research with children and young people, particularly with vulnerable children and young people.
•Experience of commissioning projects from external providers to time, budget and quality.
•Experience of conducting research involving complex information sources and multiple stakeholders.
•Experience of successfully using quantitative data to inform policymakers and/or practitioners to deliver on strategic priorities.
Skills and abilities / •Leadership skills
•Good knowledge and competence with information systems and IT tools and software for the collection, management and analysis of data.
•Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to communicate clearly in different styles and for different audiences, including presentations and papers for non-academic audiences.
•Good interpersonal skills, able to relate to colleagues, counterparts, etc., in a pleasant and confident manner and able to work and maintain good working relationships in a team.
•The ability to form strong external partnerships and manage links within the statistical community inside and outside government.
•A strong and proven ability to innovate and solve problems.
•Methodical and able to pay close attention to detail.
Personal qualities / •Passionate about helping vulnerable children.
•Flexible and calm and efficient under pressure.
•Need to be able to travel within England as required.
•Committed to the Children’s Commissioner’s principles in relation to equality and diversity and to operating with integrity at all times.