Interim Strategic Manager – Families First & First Contact Services

Job Ref: Durham 1002633813562292

Enhanced DBS required for this role

Hybrid model (minimum 1-2 days in the office per week)

To provide strategic leadership for the delivery of high-quality social work practice within the south locality of the Families First Service. This area of service includes responsibility for several Families First teams (statutory social work teams responsible for the assessment; planning; support and review of the arrangements for children in need; children subject to child protection plans and those children subject to processes within the family justice system) and the First Contact and MASH service. The post holder will contribute to a culture of learning and improvement which puts children and families at the centre of the Council’s work and their work will be aligned to Corporate and Service priorities. They will play a crucial role in contributing to the children’s social care senior leadership team and will lead by example in terms of embedding the vision, values and behaviours of the council.

Key accountabilities:

• Lead, develop, improve and manage a range of connected and inter-dependent services for vulnerable children, the provision of services to children in need, those who need protection and those who become looked after by the Council.
• Effective management of cases that are the subject of care proceedings in the family court.
• Effective management of the First Contact and MASH (Multi agency Safeguarding Hub) service within children’s services.
• Strategic lead responsibility for delivery and improvement of a range of thematic work including for example, private fostering.
• Consistent and safe operation of the safeguarding procedures in the South of the County including regular collaboration with senior representatives of other lead agencies such the police and NHS bodies.
• Support successful embedding of the Signs of Safety model of social work practice across the service.
• Systems leadership across Children’s Services and beyond to maximise the potential of key providers and other statutory bodies in securing improved outcomes for children and families.
• Strategic oversight of legal meetings which scrutinise the care arrangements for children who are out of parental care and/or placed in local authority care and subject of a statutory legal framework and make management decisions for children entering Public Law Outline (PLO).
• Provide leadership oversight, direction and decision making for emergency care proceedings and children entering into the looked after system.
• Delivery of high-quality services for all children and families ensuring that standards linked to safeguarding and best practice are met and key responsibility for ensuring successful outcomes to regulatory and other broader OFSTED inspections.
• Lead on contract management for Children’s Services and commissioning services for partnership working i.e. NHS partner, drug and alcohol services.
• Lead and participate in relevant policy and decision-making forums and influencing policy at a local, regional and national level.
• Directorate cover to discharge the duties of the Director of Children’s Services on the Out of Hours Emergency Senior Management rota for Children and Adult Services.

“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:

Qualifications:

• Final provisional qualification in Social Work.
• MBA or management qualification.
• Social Work England Registration.

Experience:

• Senior Management experience in statutory Children’s Social Care.
• Substantial and extensive experience of the practice and management of children and family social work.
• Experience of managing complex change within a children’s services environment.
• Experience of leadership in a complex organisational environment.
• Substantial experience of performance monitoring, reviewing and improvement planning.
• Experience of managing people and teams.
• Experience of managing multi agency services and developingexcellence within and across partnerships.
• Experience of managing complex projects and matrix management.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of health and social care systems including modernisation and inclusion agendas.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and regulatory frameworks relating to children and young people.
• Knowledge of contemporary models and best practice theories that underpin social work practice.
• Up to date knowledge of the research that informs evidence-based practice.
• Knowledge of the ethical standards of the regulatory body.
• Knowledge of national policy framework in respect of children’s services.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and regulatory frameworks.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to analyse complex information and data to achieve results and drive improvement.
• Problem solving and budget setting skills
• Understanding of LEAN methodology

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