Informal Enquiries: Trevor Owen Tel – 0114 2735495

SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL

JOB DESCRIPTION 2009

DIRECTORATE:
/
Children and Young People (CYPD)
SERVICE: / Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB)
DIVISION/SECTION: / Safeguarding Children Service
POST TITLE: / INDEPENDENT CHAIR - SSCB
GRADE: / 72 days p.a. - £40k p.a.
RESPONSIBLE TO: / Executive Director CYPD
RESPONSIBLE FOR: / N/A
HOLIDAYS AND SICKNESS RELIEF: / For:
By: Vice Chair
PURPOSE OF THE JOB: / To chair the SSCB and ensure the effective operation of all its functions, consistent with prevailing guidance and statute; to secure the positive engagement of all member organisations, whilst offering a degree of challenge; to secure an independent voice for the Board and maintain productive reporting relationships (including Scrutiny and Inspectorates); to represent and promote the image and reputation of the Board and City at a regional and national level.

1

WORKING FOR SHEFFIELD

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. All duties and responsibilities should be carried out in accordance with agreed Council policy and procedures, in particular the Council policies on Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety.

GOVERNANCE

  1. To independently Chair Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) in

accordance with its Prospectus (constitution) and ensure that the Board fulfils its statutory functions as outlined in the Prospectus.

  1. To attend and ensure the SSCB works effectively with Sheffield’s 0-19+ Partnership Board (Children’s Trust) and to ensure that safeguarding issues are properly represented within the Partnership and the CYPP.
  1. To ensure the Executive Director, Children's and Young People’s Directorate, and the Lead Member for Children’s Services are kept informed of all matters relating to safeguarding children and SSCB business through briefing meetings at an agreed frequency.
  1. To report on the work of the SSCB and safeguarding issues to the Scrutiny Committee, as and when requested, at least annually to present the SSCB Annual Report + Business Plan.
  1. To annually review SSCB Terms of Reference and membership to ensure that they are compliant with statutory requirements; to monitor the attendance and contributions of constituent agencies and address any continued absence (2 successive meetings)
  1. To communicate and liaise with senior managers in order to promote and facilitate inter-agency work at a strategic level; to provide independent arbitration should conflicts of interests or differences arise at the Board.
  1. To performance manage SSCB activity and ensure that audit of compliance with S11 of the Children Act 2004 is regularly carried out, rigorously reviewed and closely monitored.
  1. To represent the SSCB at national and regional events and to provide public statements to the media, for example upon publication of Serious Case Review Executive Summaries, in consultation with the Executive Director CYPD, and with the advice/support of the City Council Communications Team.
  1. To support and contribute to any external inspection of safeguarding children

services in Sheffield.

OPERATIONAL

  1. Chair meetings of the SSCB (3x p.a.) and Operational Executive (6x p.a.)

1

WORKING FOR SHEFFIELD

  1. Chair additional/extraordinary meetings of the SSCB as need dictates, e.g. to

enable the Board to receive a Serious Case Review within required timescales.

  1. Represent SSCB at meetings of the 0-19+ Partnership (6x p.a.) and Policy,

Practice Advisory Group (6x p.a.)

  1. To meet periodically (as a group) with the chairs of the Sheffield Safeguarding

Children Board sub-groups.

  1. To ensure that the Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board agrees a 3 year

Strategic Plan and produces an Annual Business Plan and Report.

  1. To ensure that the Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board agrees an annual

budget sufficient to meet its obligations and fulfil agreed objectives; to engage

with senior managers in constituent agencies to negotiate and agree levels of

contribution.

  1. To refer appropriate cases to the Serious Case Review Consideration Panel and

to make decisions regarding the initiation of Serious Case Reviews based on the

recommendations of the Panel.

  1. To contribute to the content of the Annual Report and SSCB Newsletters.
  1. To attend regional LSCB chairs network meetings organised by Government

Office Y&H.

  1. To attend Conferences from time to time representing the interests of the

Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board.

  1. To ensure that key issues / national developments are brought to the attention of

the Board

GENERAL

  1. To represent and promote the positive image and reputation of the Board and City at aregional and national level.
  1. To consistently exercise the highest standards of probity in professional and personal life.
  1. To keep up to date with current legislation, research and guidance relating to developments in safeguarding arrangements.
  1. To champion best practice in relation to the strategic and operational aspects of safeguarding children

THIS POST IS SUBJECT TO AN ENHANCED CRB ‘DISCLOSURE’ CHECK UNDER THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1974.

POST TITLE: Independent Chair

SheffieldSafeguarding Children Board

PERSON SPECIFICATION 2009

MINIMUM ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Qualifications
  • A degree level (or equivalent) academic and/or professional qualification relevant to any of the disciplines represented by the SSCB statutory membership, (i.e. Police, Health, Social Care, Education, Probation).
/ A
Experience
  • Significant experience at a strategic, senior management (director) level in one of the LSCB statutory agencies enabling the post-holder to provide robust advice and guidance to the SSCB membership based on personal knowledge and past experience.
  • Extensive experience of chairing complex professional meetings at a senior level.
  • Substantial direct experience of the operational context of child protection/safeguarding work, at both practice and strategic/managerial levels.
  • Evidence of contributions at a senior level to working with the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.
  • A proven track record in the establishment, development, successful delivery and management of services in line with statutory requirements.
  • Familiarity with relating and responding to Inspectorates and government offices in the regions.
  • Experience of dealing with the media: responding to enquiries, fronting issues on behalf of an organisation, promoting messages/campaigns and enhancing image/ reputation.
/ A
A/I
A/I
A
A/I
A/I
A/I
Knowledge
  • Knowledge of the legislation and research base which underpins safeguarding and child protection activity.
  • Knowledge of contemporary developments in health, policing, social care, education and public protection arrangements, including the Every Child Matters agenda.
  • Knowledge of the operational and strategic arrangements required within agencies to ensure effective arrangements are in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
  • Knowledge of the nationally disseminated lessons learnt from serious case reviews and their relevance to strategic and operational safeguarding practices.
  • A clear understanding of information sharing and confidentiality issues, in relation to individual cases and cross-cutting organisational matters
/ I
I
I
I
I
Skills
  • Skills in chairing complex meetings involving senior managers.
  • Proven leadership skills.
  • Proven skills in negotiation, including an ability to facilitate conflict resolution.
  • Ability to develop effective working relationships with key senior managers/Board members and to challenge unsatisfactory practice when appropriate.
  • Demonstrate an ability to work in a way which commands the respect and support of member agencies.
  • Self motivating with excellent time management and organisational skills.
  • Proven communications skills to enable effective engagement with a range of professional disciplines, to confidently undertake public speaking and to represent the SSCB effectively to the media.
/ A/I
A/I
I
I
A/I
A/I
Other
  • Ability to work in a multi-racial, multi-cultural context and to respect and value diversity.
  • Ability to recognise and challenge discrimination in its many forms and to promote equal opportunities policies within the operation of the SSCB.
  • Flexible availability / time commitmentto accommodate unexpected demands or set timescales e.g. serious case reviews or complaints procedures.
  • A willingness to travel outside of Sheffield.
/ I
I
A/I
A/I

1

WORKING FOR SHEFFIELD