Head of Children's Services - Complex Safeguarding

Head of Children's Services - Complex Safeguarding
Waverley Court

Salary: £94,901 - £106,811
Hours: 36 per week

To be primarily responsible for the performance, efficiency and development of a major children's service:

* Early Intervention
* Corporate Parenting
* Social work practice
* Complex Safeguarding
* Performance, Quality and Compliance

• Manage a major service area of the Council.
• Responsible for the effective delivery of statutory services for either of the above service areas.
• Ensure that services are improving outcomes to those in need of essential quality of life services across the city.
• Undertake regular practice evaluations and address and improvements in practice where required.
• Lead on the development of initiatives, strategic plans and policy development within own area of expertise and across the department and council, as required.
• Work effectively with partners including the Third and voluntary service.
• Manage and monitor the performance of external consultants and contractors.
• Effectively lead and develop team-working within own area of expertise and across the wider environment in which the post-holder operates.
• Deputise for the Service Director, other service managers, or represent the Corporate Director and/or the Council as required.
• Work closely with Chief Officers, Elected Members, senior officers and external agencies to represent the Council's interests.
• Take personal responsibility for the development of sustainable strategic plans, service delivery and development
• To initiate, develop and manage the implementation of major innovative projects.
• Secure funding packages and ensure delivery to budget and within timescale.
• Responsible for the preparation and content of reports, strategic plans, other documents, briefings, presentations and FOIs for Council meetings, external agencies, senior officers, including the Corporate Leadership Team and the relevant committees as well as business and stakeholder groups.
• Ensure and demonstrate the services under their control provide best value.
• Set standards, policies and procedures which ensure compliance with statutory responsibilities, national legislation, standing orders, delegated authority, Council policies, aims and objectives.
• Lead on identifying and establishing effective management arrangements for key risks within the service, compliant with the Council's risk management policy and framework.
• Identify opportunities for continual improvement and demonstrate effective management of change within a complex internal and external environment particularly during a time of restructure.
• Present expert evidence and opinion at Public Enquiries, hearings and court proceedings etc.
• Support the Council's democratic process, including scrutiny, local development committees, meetings of the Council and Elected Members.

This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued and able to be their best. We particularly encourage applications from women for senior roles, as well as people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or neurodivergent people, care experienced people, carers and LGBT+ people across all levels of the organisation, all of whom are currently underrepresented. All applicants will be considered fairly based on skills and experience. Disabled and care-experienced applicants who meet the minimum job criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Find out more about our commitment to equalities https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/work-us/inclusive-edinburgh/4

As part of our goal to improve organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure we're recruiting the best people. We're interested not only in your skills and experience but also in your approach to work. Therefore, part of our interview process will be an assessment of how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.

You can find out more on Our Behaviours web page Our Behaviours - The City of Edinburgh Council

Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range.

Happy to talk flexible working.

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