Service Development Officer

Job Description

Service Development Officer - Whole Systems Approach

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families? Do you thrive in collaborative, improvement focused environments where your ideas can shape real change? Do you thrive in collaborative, improvement-focused environments where your ideas can help shape real change? Are you motivated by partnership working, evidence-informed practice and improving systems so children and families receive the right support at the right time?

We are seeking a Service Development Officer (Whole Systems Approach) to play a key role in strengthening holistic, early intervention and youth justice practice across Aberdeenshire. This is a varied and influential role at the heart of service improvement, partnership working and continuous learning.

About our Performance Team

You will be part of a supportive and collaborative Performance Team, made up of Service and Strategic Development Officers who work closely together, share learning and actively support one another.

• A culture of trust, kindness and mutual support.
• Space to test ideas, learn, reflect and adapt.
• Strong links across Children’s Services, wider council services and partnership groups.
• A genuine commitment to continuous improvement rather than “tick-box” compliance.
• A focus on using data, evidence, audit, participation and practice learning to support meaningful change.

You’ll be trusted to lead but never expected to do so alone. The team values curiosity, practical problem-solving and working alongside others to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

Informal enquiries to Lindsey Anderson – 01467 534922

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Requirements

This post has a minimum requirement of one reference, which must be your current or most recent employer.

A Privacy Notice giving you information on the data we hold on you, what we do with that data, who we share your data with and your rights under GDPR is available here. Alternatively we can send a copy if you ask us to by emailing askhr@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Lead and participate in single and multi-agency project groups to identify and deliver improvement priorities linked to Whole Systems, youth justice, early intervention and transitions.
• Ensure service developments align with The Promise, GIRFEC, the principles of the Whole Systems Approach and relevant local and national guidance.
• Support the review and improvement of processes and practice for young people who may present with, or be affected by, risk, vulnerability, offending behaviour or exploitation.
• Work with operational staff and partners to capture relevant data, evidence and learning, ensuring this informs service development and improvement activity.
• Promote person-centred, rights-based and trauma-informed approaches when working with children, young people and families.
• Analyse and evaluate progress against agreed aims, outcomes and performance measures, preparing reports and briefings for project groups, governance groups and senior leaders.
• Contribute to wider service developments within Social Work continuous improvement in Children’s Services.
• Identify and secure appropriate funding streams and resources to support project activity where required.
• Strengthen multi-agency practice across Aberdeenshire and maintain links with local and national improvement forums.

You will help drive forward local and national priorities linked to The Promise, GIRFEC and Scotland’s Whole Systems Approach, supporting children and young people to thrive, reducing unnecessary formal intervention and strengthening joined-up support across services.

About the role

Working as part of our Performance Team, you will lead and support service development activity across Whole Systems, youth justice, early intervention and transitions for young people. You will help ensure practice is evidence-informed, outcome-focused and aligned with local and national priorities.

You will work closely with frontline teams, Community Justice, Education, Health, Police Scotland, third sector partners and national networks to design, deliver and evaluate improvements that make a practical difference for children, young people and families.

The role combines strategic development with a strong connection to frontline practice, using data, evidence, participation and learning to support better planning, stronger partnership working and improved outcomes.

The Individual

About you

You will bring:

• Experience of service development, quality improvement or performance activity within children’s services, community justice, VAWG or related fields
• Strong partnership working and facilitation skills
• An understanding of child protection and/or gender based violence policy and practice
• The ability to translate strategy into practical, deliverable improvement
• A commitment to trauma informed, rights based and person centred approaches

Most importantly, you will share our commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and women across Aberdeenshire.