Permanence and Provision

HEAD OF SERVICE

PERMANENCE AND PROVISION

Salary package of up to £63,869

[subject to Job Evaluation and possible market supplement]

Job reference: CVP506

Contents

1.Letter from the Human Resources Manager

2.The council’s vision and objectives

3.Job description

4.Person specification

5. Underpinning Behaviours

6.Conditions of service

7.Pension contribution rates

8. Information on exempted posts

9.Equality and diversity sub groups

Dear Applicant

Post of Head of Service – Permanence and Provision

This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act which means you must provide details of any convictions (including those which are ‘spent’), in addition to any cautions and bindovers orders that you have received in the last 12 months.

Thank you for your enquiry about the post at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Please find enclosed further details about the post and an application form for you to complete and return byMonday, 20 July 2015. You canfind out more about Knowsley Councilfrom our website at

Interviews will take week commencing 17 August 2015. If you have not heard by then you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful. If you would like receipt of your application to be acknowledged, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope with your completed form.

The council places great importance on maintaining high levels of attendance at work and all Directorates operate under well-established guidelines to monitor and control absence. If you are successful at interview, the council willbe seeking references and your present or last employer will also be asked to give details of your sickness and attendance record over the last three years.

If you require any assistance during the selection process due to a disability, please contact us as soon as possible on telephone number 0151 443 3434. For example you may need a sign language interpreter, require an accessible interview room, or need help completing a written application (taped applications may be submitted by prior agreement).

Please note that the Council will disqualify any applicant who directly or indirectly seeks or canvasses the support of any Councillor for any appointment with the Council.

The council is working jointly with the trade unions to implement a fair and equitable pay and grading structure in line with the 1997 Single Status Agreement. This will be achieved by reviewing every post within the council through the job evaluation exercise which is currently being conducted. All posts are subject to the review and therefore advertised grades are provisional and will not be confirmed until the outcome of this exercise. You should note that you are applying for posts with the council on this basis.

You should email your application to:

I look forward to receiving your application and thank you for your interest in this post.

Yours sincerely

Jaci Dick

Human Resources Manager

Our shared vision - to make Knowsley: The Borough of Choice

“We want Knowsley to have a sustainable and diverse population with successful townships that provide a sense of place and community.”

Our Council Values

CORE VALUES:
Act with integrity / Being accountable / Openness and transparency / Respect for people
Demonstrates honesty, reliability and trustworthiness
Does the ‘right’ thing
Demonstrates consistency
Acts according to a consistent set of morals, values and principles at all times / Acknowledges and assumes responsibility for actions and decisions
Takes ownership and responsibility for resulting consequences and does not seek to apportion blame on others / Makes decisions in an open and transparent manner
Shares information whenever possible
Explains when information can’t be shared
Is open to new ideas and new ways of working / Champions equality and diversity with all people at all levels
Treats people in the way they would like to be treated
Values people and their contributions
Shows consideration for others through thought and action
Job description
Job title / Head of Service – Children’s Social Care
Grade / PMG 3 / 4
(subject to Senior Managers Review)
Directorate / People’s Services
Section/team / Job description applies equally to Child Protection & Children in Need and Permanence & Provision
Accountable to / Director of Safeguarding and Social Care
Responsible for / The effective delivery of the core service in relation to child protection and children in need or permanence and provision, ensuring compliance will statutory and regulatory requirements, Council strategies, safeguarding policies and quality standards.
Date reviewed / March 2014

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To provide operational management responsibility for the delivery of services in relation to Children in Need, Child Protection, Children in Care services (including adoption, care leavers and Regulated Services) ensuring the Council fulfils its statutory duties.Principal responsibilities will also include: -

Providing strategic leadership for Children’s Services through a collaborative framework with Officers, Members and Stakeholders.

Providing a significant contribution towards the achievement of the vision of the Council.

Supporting the Senior Management Team to develop and deliver Knowsley MBC’s corporate policies and objectives to an excellent standard.

Supporting the Senior Management Team in strategically commissioning services from internal and external partners, identifying appropriate patterns of service provision to meet community needs at a high level and shaping these requirements in line with corporate priorities.

Supporting the Senior Management Team in translating strategic leadership into tangible outcomes within Children’s Services and across the wider organisation.

Providing the link between front line operational services and staff and the Senior Management team and strategic development.

Promoting a learning culture within operational services.

Reporting on the views and experiences of front line staff to all levels of Management and Members.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This is not a comprehensive list of all the tasks, which may be required of the post holder. It is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the work to be undertaken.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES

To support the Council’s Senior Management Team working with elected Members and Executive Directors to deliver the Council’s vision, priorities and core values.

To support the Council’s Senior Management Group, to assist the Chief Executive and Executive Directors to realise the Council’s objectives, with particular emphasis on Children’s Servicesand linking service provision across KMBC and partner organisations.

To carry out specific corporate roles and assignments as allocated by the Service Directors.

To support change management and promote clear, effective and transparent communication at all levels, both in and outside of the Council.

In collaboration with public, voluntary and private sector partners drive the Council’s agenda for excellent customer service.

PEOPLE’S SERVICES RESPONSIBILITIES

To lead and strategically manage the delivery of children’s services across all levels of the Children in Need Framework and in accordance with the Council’s statutory duties as outlined in legislation.

To maintain operational oversight and leadership across children’s social care services.

To be accountable for the quality of practice and service delivery in relation to your designated area of responsibilities. This will be either for Children in Need and Child Protection or Children in Care, Care Leavers, Adoption and Regulated services (including fostering and children’s residential units).

To ensure direct link to and communication with front line staff and service delivery.

To encourage learning and development to ensure quality practice across the workforce.

To ensure that all staff are sufficiently qualified, skilled and experienced to undertake their duties and responsibilities, and to monitor the workforce on a regular basis.

To facilitate and foster a supportive organisation for all staff, encouraging their direct communication and contribution with regards to improving culture, service delivery, service user experience and organisational development.

To provide clear vision and goals to staff within the organisation.

To facilitate opportunities for staff to communicate directly with the Principal Child and Family Social Worker, embed a culture of listening, learning and communication, linking reality and strategy.

To take a lead responsibility for practice in the Local Authority across Child Protection, Looked-after Children and Regulated Services and communicate the views and experiences of front line staff to all levels of management.

To support the borough’s preventative approach to delivery of children’s services by ensuring the correct use of agreed information sharing and assessment frameworks.

To promote cross directorate working and innovation.

To work closely with colleagues in the Directorate, including commissioners and those in the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Unitin the commissioning of appropriate services for children and young people.

To contribute to an intelligence-led approach to service delivery and agreed performance monitoring and management structures.

To promote and implement the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all aspects of employment and service delivery.

To develop effective working partnerships and relationships with Members, directorates, local, regional and national organisations.

To influence decisions relevant to Children’s Services at a national level as required.

To represent the Council as required in the national, regional and local media ensuring that the reputation of the Council is effectively managed.

To ensure all Council Standing Orders and Financial Procedure Rules are upheld, both personally and within the Directorate.

To ensure that service users and carers are fully appraised of their rights and responsibilities within the relevant legislation and statutory complaints and representation procedures and that they are involved in the planning and delivery of services.

To ensure (in collaboration with others) that continuous improvement, value for money and best value are delivered by all areas of the Council by challenging existing practices, setting targets for improvement and intervening as necessary.

To support the Senior Management Team in the development and implementation of strategies, plans, policies, procedures, relevant to the work of Children’s Services.

To ensure that all legislative, regulatory and national guidance relating to Children’s Services is adhered to and reported on as appropriate.
To promote the duty to co-operate between organisations in order to improve the quality of life of all residents.

To promote Children’s Services as a fundamental design aspect of service delivery.

To fulfil any other duties as reasonably directed by the Service Director – Transformation and the wider Leadership Team.

To deputise in the absence of the Director for Children’s Safeguarding.

ETHICAL CONDUCT

To demonstrate an understanding of issues of diversity and difference and their impact on service users.

To represent the council to the public in such a way as to ensure quality of service and information is in line with Knowsley Councils Corporate Vision and objectives and values through Knowsley Councils Senior Management behaviour framework (the post holder will be expected to display the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined in the Underpinning Behaviours Framework for Managers/ Person Specification (see attached).

To operate at all times within the professional ethics and disciplines of social work as described in the Health and Care Professionals Council Standards of Practice and standards of proficiency.

To represent the council to the public in such a way as to ensure quality of service and information is in line with Knowsley Councils Corporate Vision and objectives.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

To regularly monitor and review services to ensure they are provided effectively and in accordance with level of need/risk.

To promote and enforce the Council’s Health and Safety policy and maintain safe working practice to self and others.

To ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out taking into account employees capabilities.

To use equipment as instructed and trained.

To highlight and manage any health and safety issues, which could place individuals in danger.

To monitor sickness absence levels and identify work related trends, capacity/vacancy rates which would place the Local Authority at risk.

DATA PROTECTION AND INFORMATION SECURITY

Implement and act in accordance with the Information Security Acceptable Use policy and Data Protection Policy.

Protect the council’s information assets from unauthorised access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference.

Report actual or potential security incidents.

GENERAL

This job description is a representative document. Other reasonable similar duties may be allocated from time to time commensurate with the general character of the post and it’s grading.

In addition to his/her principal duties the post holder will be expected to contribute more widely to the overall development of the Service and the Council. You may be required to be available to contribute to the Out of Hours Service.

All employees are responsible for the implementation of the Health and Safety Policy so far as it affects them, their colleagues and others who may be affected by their work. The post holder is also expected to monitor the effectiveness of the health and safety arrangements and systems to promote appropriate improvements where necessary.

All employees are expected to be committed to the Equality and Diversity policy and assist in removing the barriers to service delivery and employment to enhance a positive equality culture.

This post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. You are therefore not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for any other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provisions of the Act and any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to the positions to which the Order applies.

Person specification
Post title / HEAD OF SERVICE –CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE / Grade / PMG 3 / 4
[subject to Senior Managers Review]
Directorate / PEOPLE’ S / Section/team / Equally across Child Protection & Children in Need & Permanence & Provision

This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act – applicants must disclose all criminal convictions including those which are ‘spent’, in addition to any cautions and bindover orders received in the last 12 months

Please read the guidance notes before completing your application form. Please demonstrate, with examples, how you meet the criteria for the post, as set out below

Criteria /

Essential requirements

/ * M.O.A
Skills, knowledge, experience etc
1 / Experience and proven track record as a manager with involvement in front line delivery of services to children and families / A/I
2 / Ability to demonstrate creative thinking and innovation in services / A/I
3 / Ability to manage and drive through change / A/I
4 / Experience of working in a multi-agency environment, including partnership working in a multi-disciplinary organisation / A/I
5 / Ability to develop effective partnerships and respond to internal and external pressures / A/I
6 / High level of communication skills. Ability to work effectively with others / A/I
7 / Experience of supervising social workers and other social care professionals / A/I
8 / High level experience of managing the performance of others / A/I

Qualifications / Registrations

9 / A recognised academic and/or management qualification (Level 5 or above) and / or a recognised professional qualification in a relevant discipline, with significant evidence of continuous professional development / C
10 / MA degree or evidence of post graduate study at MA level / C
11 / CQSW/Dip SW/CSS / C
12 / Evidence of current CPD / C
13 / Current HCPC Registration / C
Health and safety
14 / Ability to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out taking into account employees capabilities / A/I
Personal attributes and circumstances
15 / Ability to demonstrate effective leadership and management skills including detailed knowledge of organisational policies / A/I
16 / Ability to demonstrate strategic thinking / A/I
17 / Advanced theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge across the relevant legislative and statutory frameworks that underpin social work practice / A/I
18 / Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the legal framework relating to managing allegations, contained in Working Together 2013 and Looked After Children and Care leavers, including knowledge of the National minimum standards and the Adoption Agency regulations 2005 IRO Handbook and Care Planning Standards / A/I
19 / Demonstrates a clear understanding of Working Together to Safeguard Children / A/I
20 / Knowledge of effective Quality Assurance management systems and the ability to design plan and deliver systems / A/I
21 / Knowledge of effective management practices, particularly as they relate to planning to achieve agreed outcomes and leading and developing others / A/I
22 / Knowledge of the management of performance within social care / A/I
23 / Ability to plan and organise own time, create work schedules and prioritise and set schedules for self and others / A/I
24 / Ability to apply solution focused approaches to problem solving and make decisions of a highly complex nature with consideration of associated risk factors / A/I
25 / Ability to apply effective conflict resolution skills using appropriate approaches to sustained improvement including coaching / A/I
26 / Ability to research, cascade and incorporate new guidance and procedure into work quickly and effectively and use to inform professional decision making / A/I
27 / Able to communicate effectively and present information to a wide range of audiences / A/I
28 / Ability to work in partnership and develop trust, respect and co-operation of a broad spectrum of partners / A/I
29 / Ability to take advantage of, and effectively use information technology including ICS and to ensure and manage the consistent use across the team / A/I
30 / Ability to work within professional and ethical standards including the HCPC Code/Standards of Conduct and ethics and Standards of proficiency / A/I
31 / Ability to demonstrate commitment to own continuing professional development and to support and motivate that of other colleagues / I
Special Requirements
32 / This post is registered as exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and in accordance with the Police Act; the successful candidate must be able to obtain satisfactory Enhanced Criminal Record Disclosure in order to be appointed to the post. In this respect a criminal record check will be undertaken prior to confirmation of appointment
33 / Access to a car with full driving licence valid for usage in the UK / or equivalent mobility
34 / Ability to be able to work outside of normal office hours if required
Other
35 / Ability to understand and demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity / A/I
36 / Must be legally entitled to work in the UK / C
37 / The Council operates a no smoking policy. Employees are not allowed to smoke in the workplace or to take smoking breaks during work time

*Method of assessment (*M.O.A)