Job specification. Her Majesty s Inspector (HMI), Social Care. Grade: HMI (Civil Service equivalent: Grade 7) Section 1: Job description.

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1 Job specification Her Majesty s Inspector (HMI), Social Care Grade: HMI (Civil Service equivalent: Grade 7) Section 1: Job description Context Ofsted believes that all children and young people deserve the best. Across the whole range of education, further education and skills, and social care inspections, our frameworks are raising expectations and raising the bar. Our work is complex, high profile and demanding. We re determined to make a greater difference: to raise standards and improve lives. It is of paramount importance to all of us in Ofsted to put the interests of children and learners and their protection first. We are looking for experienced senior social care professionals with the skills needed to understand and report objectively on practice, standards and outcomes for children. To do so requires the capacity to analyse and make sound judgements on the basis of evidence gathered during inspection activity. Overall purpose Social Care HMI undertake inspections of local authorities, Cafcass, and other children s social care services. Local authority children s services inspections focus on the contribution of local authorities and their partners to the protection and improvement of outcomes for vulnerable children. Inspections may be undertaken jointly with other inspectorates. All HMI work to support and promote improvement in those services that Ofsted inspects and regulates thereby developing a critical understanding of provision and an understanding of what it takes to work effectively with senior leaders and stakeholders. Key accountabilities The key accountabilities of the role are outlined below. However, this is an overview of the role and is not exhaustive. Ofsted reserves the right to assign other duties commensurate with the HMI grade as required. Undertaking lead and team inspector roles in the inspection of a variety of children s social care providers, including local authority children s services functions and Cafcass. Undertaking lead and team inspector roles on thematic surveys and other additional inspection activity including targeted inspections.

2 Title: Job specification 2 of 8 Ensuring that all judgements are rooted in firm evidence and are defensible against challenge; being a role model for Ofsted s values, acting at all times in the pursuit of better outcomes for children. Providing information and expertise, undertaking complex analysis of inspection evidence and reaching secure judgements based on sound evidence. Develop and deliver improvement support and challenge authorities who are not yet good or better. Providing specialist expertise to colleagues in other inspection remits. Leading or contributing to the development and delivery of projects. Contributing to national reviews or surveys. Undertaking complaint investigations. Undertaking briefings for HMCI and Ministers on key social care issues and contributing to the evaluation of government initiatives and strategies. Contributing inspection-based advice to HMCI and to government; writing and making contributions to reports, including HMCI s Annual Report and publications, and undertaking dissemination on a wide range of social care topics. Representing Ofsted locally, regionally and nationally as required. Ensuring the protection of children and young people is paramount and at all times leading by example. Demonstrating and embedding Ofsted s core values of putting children first, achieving excellence, behaving with integrity, and valuing people s differences at all times. More information about Ofsted s core values can be found at Additional requirements of the role The role of HMI is home-based and will require a significant amount of travel to providers around the country, sometimes with overnight stays. The HMI role attracts an annual pensionable allowance for improvement related activity that is in addition to the core role outlined above. It is expected that all individuals who are fully trained and performing to a good standard will be eligible for this extra responsibility. The role descriptor outlining this additional activity and further accountabilities includes: working flexibly to promote and drive demonstrable improvements in children s social care through inspection, monitoring, and sharing best practice

3 Title: Job specification 3 of 8 providing support to authorities and providers, advising leaders on the impact their work is having on improving the quality and standards in children s social care providing critical challenge to authorities and providers, ensuring that progress towards improvement is rapid and that support is targeted, cohesive and has sufficient impact reporting local concerns, escalating issues to Senior HMI and Directors, signalling when improvement is not happening rapidly enough, ensuring that action is taken where appropriate by Ofsted and advising other bodies on action to be taken identifying the most successful practice through detailed analysis of inspection data trends and examples monitoring and quality assuring inspection practice and the quality of inspection reports brokering links between weaker providers and outstanding providers preparing and delivering best practice workshops and seminars to a range of audiences on aspects of practice, leadership, management and governance for authorities and providers.

4 Title: Job specification 4 of 8 Section 2: Person specification Competency Qualifications Social Work degree or an equivalent professional social work qualification for example a CQSW or DIPSW. Current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Knowledge and experience A minimum of five years experience of leadership at a senior level (eg. head of a service) in children s social care. A detailed knowledge and understanding of current social care issues and legislation gained in a suitably wide range of settings. An awareness of the current changes taking place in children s social care and inspection and the ability to keep up to date across a wide range of professional matters. An understanding of the key stakeholders in children s social care including the operational context of each. Experience of working in a political environment and/or a complex organisational governance arrangement Experience of preparing and delivering written reports and presentations to senior forums and boards / desirable Tested by Application form Application form/ assessment/

5 Title: Job specification 5 of 8 Competency - Leadership Demonstrates honesty, integrity and objectivity Is highly credible in their field, authoritative and influential commanding the confidence of others. Is proactive, takes initiative and shows flexibility. Ability to lead projects effectively and manage diverse teams Leads by example, role modelling effective behaviour. Is self-critical, and invites and sensitively offers constructive feedback in support of continuous improvement. Competency - Drive and resilience Ability to appropriately challenge both team and providers to improve. Ability to take responsibility and demonstrate a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people. Ability to hold others to account for priorities and to respond swiftly to changing requirements. Ability to adopt a cost effective approach to the use of resources. Ability to demonstrate resilience, whilst being responsive, open and honest about challenges. Competency - Judgement and effective decision-making Ability to weigh up complex and conflicting evidence to reach robust judgements and record these. Ability to use and analyse complex data and other evidence to formulate hypotheses and questions. Uses their professional judgement about the best course of action

6 Title: Job specification 6 of 8 Well-developed political antennae, seeing the big picture and demonstrating an ability to notice things and understand their importance. Ability to prepare effectively and meet deadlines. Evidence of impact on service improvement showing outcomes for children and young people and young people. Competency - Collaboration, communication and influencing A role model for Ofsted values; able to hold discussions on challenging topics sensitively but with no room for ambiguity. Is engaging and able to build positive working relationships. Ability to establish partnerships and to communicate and establish high expectations of self and others. Ability to command confidence through being authoritative and influential. Ability to actively build constructive and open relationships with networks of colleagues, contacts and organisational partners. Excellent communicator, able to identify and use appropriate styles and methods, including digital channels appropriate to the audience. Skilled in communicating effectively with children and young people. Ability to produce clear written records and reports expressing judgements cogently and precisely in writing.

7 Title: Job specification 7 of 8 Section 3: Terms and conditions Job title: Grade: Salary: Location: Basis: Hours: Travel requirements: HMI, Social Care HMI 64,972 per annum + 5,000 annual allowance for improvement work on successful completion of probation. Opportunity for further annual recompense for National Lead responsibility on successful completion of probation. Performance related pay and awards also available for outstanding achievement. Home-based Permanent Full-time Significant national travel and some overnight stays Successful candidates should expect to be allocated to regions dependent on business need. The post holder will also be entitled to an annual home-based working allowance. You must ensure that broadband of sufficient bandwidth is available in your existing home, or any home you subsequently move to, in order to enable you to carry out all your required duties from your home. You will be responsible for any installation and/or equipment costs above the standard provision. Please note: Whilst this post is currently based at home, future changes may require the post holder to be based at another location. This is a non-reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules and is therefore open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals and certain non EEA members subject to immigration requirements. For the most upto-date information on the requirements of working in the UK, please go to the UK Border Agency website: Section 4: Benefits Ofsted is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities, 32.5 annual leave days per annum (plus eight days public holiday) and counselling and advisory services for you and your family.

8 Title: Job specification 8 of 8 Section 5: Application and selection Application Applications must be made using our online application form. Please note that your statement of suitability should not exceed 500 words. Your statement of suitability should address all essential knowledge and experience criteria as outlined in Section 2: Person specification. The essential competencies will be tested at assessment and only. The closing date for submission of applications is 12 midnight on Thursday 30 April 2015 but earlier receipt would assist us. Late applications will not be considered so please ensure they reach us by the closing date. If you have any questions about the recruitment process please contact us on or by ing inspectionrecruitment@ofsted.gov.uk. If you have a query specifically about the role and wish to discuss this, please contact us using the same details to arrange for a member of the Senior Management Team to call you. Selection All applications will be considered by the selection panel. The panel will consider the relevant qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrated in the application form. We will inform you whether or not you were successful at each stage. The most suitable candidates will be invited to complete an assessment centre late March Interviews for those shortlisted after assessment centre will take place mid-late April Civil Service Recruitment Principles Ofsted s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, which can be found here. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact: Director, Human Resources, Ofsted, 6 th Floor, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD. If you are dissatisfied with our response and you believe that our recruitment practices may have breached the Recruitment Principles, you have the right to refer the matter to the Civil Service Commission.