DONCASTER CHILDREN SERVICES TRUST JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION. Head of Service, Placements

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1 DONCASTER CHILDREN SERVICES TRUST JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION Post Title: Post Number: Service: Section: Grade: Responsible to: Responsible for: Finance: Head of Service, Placements Looked After Children s Services (Provider) Looked After Children s Services Director of Children s Social Care Services Responsibility for all staff within residential, family services, fostering & adoption Budget management responsibility for all residential services, family services, fostering & adoption. Job Purpose: To provide strategic leadership, management and advice on all issues related to services to Looked after Children, namely:- Fostering & Adoption Residential homes for children. Family Time Centre Outcomes for looked after children To provide effective leadership, co-ordination and management of the services. To ensure the highest possible standards of care and security for looked after children and young people. To make a positive and effective contribution to the corporate management of Doncaster Children s Services Trust. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Ensure the provision of timely and accurate advice and information to the Trust Board, Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer on the development and review of policies and strategies related to looked after children issues. Ensure that these are integrated with the Trust and Partner Agencies strategies. 2. Provide strategic management and professional advice to the Trust on all matters of strategy and policy relating to child protection, safeguarding and looked after children service issues. 3. Ensure that all relevant action plans, policies and statutory requirements are effectively developed and implemented. 4. Ensure that legislative and procedural standards are adhered to and that actions identified in inspections and during external scrutiny visits are responded to and acted upon appropriately and that the appropriate inspection body is told of any significant changes, developments or significant incidents within the service.

2 5. Determine the most effective utilisation and deployment of resources (Human, Physical and Financial) within the Trust in order to implement the Trust s priorities and statutory responsibilities within allocated budgets in an imaginative and innovative way. 6. Ensure that all associated budgets are managed efficiently and effectively to provide the best value for money and the optimum possible level of service. Contribute to the preparation of capital and revenue spending plans. To be accountable for expenditure against allocated budgets, ensure effective spend against priorities and targets and comply with financial regulations. 7. To ensure that the fabric, content and security systems of the buildings are maintained, developed and operated in accordance with relevant guidelines and standards. 8. Ensure the provision of robust mechanisms for establishing and monitoring the standard and effectiveness of child protection and looked after children strategies, policies and practices. 9. Establish and maintain effective management and communication systems and processes within the Looked After Children Service and, in conjunction with senior colleagues, ensure that employees at all levels are fully aware of their respective roles, functions and responsibilities and changes to legislation or Trust policies. 10. Provide strategic leadership and direction to managers within the areas of responsibility so as to promote performance management initiatives and systems. 11. Promote the support and development of staff through supervision, appraisal, training and development programmes ensuring the development of high professional standards of practice in working with looked after young people. 12. Ensure that recruitment, selection, capability and disciplinary matters are undertaken to the required standards and in accordance with legislation and Trust policy. 13. Promote and maintain a positive relationship with all employees and their respective trade unions in the interests of developing a climate of harmonious and constructive employee relations. 14. Actively promote the role of the Trust in relation to its Children s Social Care Services activities and policies at local, regional and national level as appropriate. 15. Ensure effective joint working and planning with all relevant external agencies, so as to maximise the Trust s role, function and influence in relation to all aspects of Children s Social Care Services provision. 16. As a Member of the Children s Leadership Team, to fully participate in the corporate planning and management. 17. Ensure full compliance with corporate policies and processes by management and staff within the Looked After Children Service and actively promote and encourage where appropriate the adoption of Trust policies and initiatives to external bodies. 18. Promote good relations with all other parts of the Trust with a view to achieving the most effective performance of its functions to achieve a co-ordinated approach to the development and provision of Children s Services.

3 19. Ensure the active participation of children, young people and parents in all levels of service development, delivery and review. 20. To ensure effective joint working and planning with relevant external agencies, so as to promote effective collaboration and maximize the Trust s role, function and influence in relation to all aspects of service provision, This will include promoting the role of the service and the Trust at local, regional and national levels. 21. To ensure robust mechanisms are continuously developed to establish and monitor the effectiveness of service related strategies, policies and practices. 22. To seek funding opportunities including EU and other sources through marketing and development of new services. 23. To actively promote and represent the interests of the Trust in relation to service activities and policies at a local and national level, as appropriate, particularly through the participation in relevant programmes, showcasing good practice and contributing to professional networks. 24. To interpret, explain and enforce statutory and Trust regulations, ensuring appropriate procedures are followed, that parties have a proper understanding of their position and attempt to reach mutually agreed solutions through negotiation. 25. Any other duties consistent with the nature, level and grade of the post as may be assigned by the Chief Operating Officer. Standard statements: 1) As appropriate, to the post holder s duties must be carried out in compliance with the following: DCS Trust s Equal Opportunities Policy and Strategy, Information Security Policies, Financial Regulations and Standing Orders, Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) (and subsequent health and safety legislation) DCS Trust s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Participate, support and comply with Trust arrangements for responding to emergencies and or business interruptions. (All people managers). 2) These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exclusive nor exhaustive as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities, commensurate with the grading of the post, without changing the general character of the post.

4 PERSON SPECIFICATION ATTRIBUTES/REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL HOW IDENTIFIED Education, Qualifications and Vocational Training Relevant Experience Knowledge And Skills Education to Degree level or equivalent Diploma in social work or equivalent professional social work qualification HCPC registered (D) Relevant management degree or post-graduate diploma e.g. MBA, DMS. Substantial experience of working at middle and senior management level in local government, education or the NHS Experience of managing change in social care Experience of working in partnership to commission and/or deliver services Experience of engaging young people and stakeholders in planning and development of services Experience of successful management of complex budgets Experience of successful management of projects Knowledge of key strategy and policy issues relating to Children s Services, and particularly young people Ability to think strategically and contribute to strategic planning for integrated services for young people, as well as own services. Application / Interview /Test /Test

5 Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills, capable of managing internal and external relationships with sensitivity Ability to develop positive working relationships with individuals, teams and organisations to achieve transformation in Children s Services Ability to work in a political context both within the Trust and its partnerships and in the wider community. Ability to both lead and support staff in moving to new ways of working and making a positive contribution to the development of the new services for young people. Knowledge of the legal and policy framework and best practice for services for young people, including youth services and youth justice Ability to inspire, motivate and develop staff, build successful teams and provide effective leadership and clear vision Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to negotiate effectively in complex environments Ability to manage complex budgets, projects and programmes Ability to demonstrate evidence of commitment to inclusion and equality of opportunity and delivery of improved outcomes for disadvantaged groups Ability to engage children, young people, carers and communities in commissioning and strategic planning processes Ability to monitor and evaluate performance, impact and /Test Application Interview Interview/Test

6 outcomes Ability to adhere to the Trust s Dignity for All policy (D) Knowledge of secure care. (D) Knowledge of delinquency management and related systems, e.g. Courts, sentencing policies, diversionary and alternative strategies to maintain young people in their communities Leadership Dimensions Inspiring shared purpose valuing a customer service ethos, curious about improvement Leading with care having the essential personal qualities for leaders in social care; understanding the unique qualities and needs of a team; providing a caring, safe environment to enable everyone to do their jobs effectively. Interview/Test Evaluating information Seeking out varied information, using information to generate new ideas and make effective plans for improvement or change; making evidence based decisions that respect different perspectives and meet the needs of all users of the service. Connecting our service Understanding how social and health care services fit together and how different people, teams or organisations interconnect and interact Sharing the vision Communicating a compelling vision and credible vision of the future in a way that makes it feel achievable and exciting and compelling to be part of. Engaging the team Involving individuals and demonstrating

7 that their contributions and ideas are valued and important for delivering outcomes and continuous improvements to the service Holding to account Agreeing clear performance goals and quality indicators; supporting individuals and teams to take responsibility for results; providing balanced feedback. Developing capability Building capability to enable people to meet future challenges; using a range of experiences as a vehicle for individual and organisational learning Influencing for results Deciding how to have a positive impact on other people; building relationships to recognise other people s passions and concerns; using interpersonal and organisational understanding to persuade and build collaboration Additional Factors This post requires an enhanced level of Disclosure & Barring At Interview