Description

The Opportunity: Deputy Director, Children’s Services

This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Devon County Council’s Children’s Services leadership team as we embark on a journey of improvement and innovation. In Devon, we are committed to working with children, young people and their families in a restorative way. A way that promotes health, well-being and good life chances for all, while focusing on protecting children and young people from harm. We’re raising the bar in terms of ambition and expectation and we’re excited about what can be achieved.

As an integral part of this, we’re seeking a highly experienced Children’s Strategic lead who has the vision, ideas and practice to help us to deliver the best possible outcomes for our children. Reporting to our Director for Children’s Services, Melissa Caslake, you will be involved in shaping and delivering a new, strategic approach to commissioning, partnerships, sufficiency, improvement and quality assurance that is strengths based, relationship focused and works with families to bring about positive change.

As well as embedding strategic change, you’ll be the Council’s lead for children’s commissioning, partnerships, children’s public health nursing, improvement and quality assurance. You will lead Children’s Services externally facing relationships, including working with all partners on improvement strategies for social care and SEND, and supporting further development of child friendly Devon. Your leadership will ensure that Devon is a strong and effective corporate parent and will make certain that the voice of the child is heard in all that we do.

The role will require you to work collaboratively with internal and external partners to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families and to continue to build on the strengths of Devon’s Children and Families Partnership.

About you

We are looking for an individual who will be a driving force in improving Children’s Services in our County. This must include doing the basics consistently right, creating the conditions for success through strategic commissioning, planning and improvement. This will include supporting transformation, intervening as early as possible to enable families to care successfully for their children, improving our sufficiency of placements for children who need our care, and ensuring our strategic partnerships and commissioning arrangements are highly effective.

We’re looking for a strategic thinker with an evident track record of translating strategic vision into operational action and tangible improvements. And, in return, you’ll get to work with a council that will give you the support and backing to innovate and to make a real difference.

You will be able to demonstrate how you have led improvements in children’s services in previous organisations. It is also imperative that you understand the social care and SEND agenda, but also the wider children’s services agenda in education and health.

You’ll be both a team player and a leader. Being able to influence and build strong relationships is a prerequisite for this role. You’ll be incredibly passionate about the challenge that comes with this role and in supporting children, young people and families in Devon to thrive.

If you have what it takes to deliver on a demanding, change-driven, high profile role where you have the scope to shape the future for children and young people in in a truly unique County, we’d love to hear from you.

To find out more about the role, contact Laura Thistle to arrange a suitable time to speak to Melissa Caslake (Chief Operating Officer for Children's Services) on 01392 382485

Closing date: Midnight on 1st September 2022

• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on ourEquality and Diversity webpages.
• The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working.
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
• This role requires a DBS disclosure.

Post source:jobs.theguardian.com

Posters Information:

Name:DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL

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