JOB DESCRIPTION. To actively encourage family participation in Children s Centre and partner services.

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Section: Children s Centre Manager Locality Team Directorate: Children, Families & Adults Service Reports to: District Manager Grade: Location: Hours: MB1 Ely Children s Centre 37 hours per week Job Purpose To lead the management and delivery of an agreed Children s Centre service specification in line with national objectives, the Ofsted Framework for Children s Centres and locally specified service needs, to meet the needs of children under 5 and their families, in an identified geographical area. Ensure effective management, supervision and development arrangements are in place for all of the Children s Centre staff team to ensure the team delivers high quality services To work proactively with internal and external partners through existing partnership agreements with regard to the provision of joined up services for families. To actively encourage family participation in Children s Centre and partner services. To work proactively with Children s Centre reach area communities, developing engagement with the Centres and Locality Teams to build community capacity. Principal Accountabilities 1. Children s Centre Management: 35% Lead, manage and take overall responsibility for the Centre(s) in a way which: Enables all staff (including volunteers) to work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children and families; Ensures compliance with relevant legal requirements, statutory frameworks, regulations, Centre policies and procedures and Ofsted procedures; Ensures that assessed needs and targets are identified and met, within available resources; Ensures that the day-to-day running of the Children s Centre(s) building(s) runs smoothly and within agreed guidelines; Takes overall responsibility for managing Health and Safety within Children s Centres. Effectively manages the Centre s buildings and resources and works to an agreed budget held within the locality team in line with financial regulations. Ensures compliance and delivery of integrated and inclusive services as agreed within County wide Partnership Agreements and Contracts. To undertake delegated management responsibilities as determined by the manager of the Locality Team.

2 To represent the Centre/s on working groups and appropriate meetings within CFA and partner agencies as required or directed. 2. Staff Management: 20% Ensure effective management, supervision and development arrangements are in place for all of the Children s Centre staff team to ensure the team delivers high quality services Actively prioritise the work load of staff ensuring a rapid and effective response to the early identification of need To line manage Senior Family Workers providing robust and effective professional supervision to ensure safe and effective delivery of targeted family work within agreed caseload management guidelines. To lead on the involvement of volunteers in service delivery for the Children s Centre, including recruitment and supervision. To manage the Funded 2s Support Officer where they are based in the staff team To provide matrix management with the area Business Support Officer to the Children s Centre Business Support Assistant. To support staff on a day to day basis particularly in relation to safeguarding concerns. Liaise with the Locality Manager around complex cases and issues relating to safeguarding. Where necessary ensure emergency cover is put in place for key worker responsibility for children and young people and their families in the event of a Senior Family Worker being unable to temporarily deliver the intervention. 3. Service Delivery: 20% Analysing available data to ensure that Children s Centre resources are targeted to provide services to families in greatest need within the agreed Children s Centres service framework Ensure that families are signposted to other services where appropriate Promote the work of the Centre and resources for families in the reach area Ensure that families who find it hard to engage are encouraged and enabled to do so Community Engagement Develop opportunities for extending the use of Children s Centre buildings with other services Lead on the development of opportunities for extending the use of Children s Centres in the wider community Working with partners and individuals within the reach area lead on the extension of opportunities for building community capacity with the Children s Centre at the heart of developments 4. Performance Management: 20% Complete and regularly update the annual Children s Centre selfassessment and quality framework processes as required by the Local Authority and Ofsted. Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the Children s Centre in delivering activities and interventions to children and families within the reach area. Take action, where necessary, to improve performance and address gaps in provision. Work within established systems to ensure Children s Centre activity is recorded accurately and files are maintained. Report on Children s Centre activities and interventions with families to provide evidence of effective interventions, using the ONE system and other locally held data sources.

3 Prepare and present reports to the locality/area managers, the Advisory Board and other relevant forums as required. 5. Governance: 5% Be responsible for the continuing development of the Children s Centre Advisory Board; as detailed in the Terms of Reference and guidance documents provided. This will include the production and presentation of regular progress and monitoring reports.

4 Person Specification Children s Centre Manager The following criteria are appropriate for this post. You must meet the essential criteria in order to be shortlisted for the post and it would be advantageous to meet the desirable criteria. Education, Qualifications & Training Key Skill Level 3: 2 A levels (4 AS Levels), ONC, OND, BTEC, NVQ level 3 or equivalent; and Work history/experience which clearly demonstrates the ability and aptitude to work in a management capacity Desirable: Bachelor s degree or equivalent relevant qualification i.e. NVQ Level 4 Management qualification Management experience in early years education and childcare Evidence of personal development Willingness to undertake further professional or personal development Knowledge & Experience Experience of developing and managing effective partnerships across a range of early childhood service providers. Knowledge of relevant legislation Children Act 1989 and the Childcare Act Understanding of the legal Framework associated with safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults to minimise the risks to their welfare and maximise positive. Proven ability to analyse data. Up-to-date knowledge and understanding of Children s Centre guidance and the core designation criteria Experience of Step Up /Step Down Protocols and experience of effective relationships with Social Care Proven ability to produce high quality written and oral reports and presentations Experience of working with school leadership teams and governing bodies. Line management and or experience managing teams. Desirable Local area knowledge of schools, private, voluntary and independent providers of early years and childcare provision. Practical knowledge of specialist systems for recording and monitoring Children s Centre data and achievement of targets Experience of chairing LARM meetings

5 Knowledge of lone working procedures Skills & Attributes Proven ability to demonstrate effective leadership Effective verbal and written communication skills across diverse disciplines along with strong interpersonal skills. Strong negotiating skills to ensure that barriers to delivery of an integrated service specification at operational level can be resolved in a positive manner. Ability to support and lead staff through periods of change and restructuring. Commitment to best outcomes for children and families and implementing evidenced based effective practice. Commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice. Confident in challenging oppressive and discriminatory practice if identified. Proven word processing skills and general ICT skills. Special Requirements Ability and willingness to travel around the County Attendance at and contribution to evening/weekend meetings Cambridgeshire Behaviours Working Together You work with others to reach a common goal tackling objectives innovatively and with particular regard for shared objectives. Proactively, you share information and search out expertise from relevant partners and/or the communities we serve. Thinks creatively about opportunities to work together, building rapport Delivers results across team and organisational boundaries Integrity You carry out your duties openly, fairly and honestly and demonstrate reliability and transparency at all times. You are an active listener and communicator and strive to work in a say what you do, do what you say ethic in delivering what you promise, taking responsibility for your actions. Focuses on outcomes and is self-motivated Able to think and plan strategically to deliver services that are based on colleague and customer feedback and input, with decisions being made openly and transparently Respect for others and public resources You are aware of your impact on others and public resources. You identify and consistently demonstrate a commitment to working for everyone in our communities, promoting the value of

6 diversity and opportunities for all. This extends to your use of resources, minimising harm to our climate, and our natural and built surroundings. Identifies areas for improvement to meet the diverse needs of customers and colleagues. Challenges poor use of built and natural resources, delivering improvements. Excellence With enthusiasm, you work to meet personal, organisational and customer expectations. You pursue a can-do attitude in all of the work you deliver, ensuring it meets the needs of all current and potential customers. Consistently reviews current practice both in the work you do and the work of your team Identifies and delivers best practice