ELC Service Design and Planning Manager

Job Description

The Improvement Service (IS) is a publicly funded company limited by guarantee. We exist to support councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all Scottish people through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services. Working for the IS means joining a small family of professionals, who work together to strive for continuous improvement in the public sector and ultimately, better outcomes for Scotland’s communities. Our company headquarters are based in West Lothian, located conveniently for commuters between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Pay is only one of the benefits of working for the IS, our terms and conditions are progressive and flexible, and employees are rewarded with a generous annual leave entitlement of forty one days per year as well as a flexible working policy. The IS is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all its activities to promote inclusive processes, practices and culture. The IS is a Disability Confidence Committed Employer. We are committed to interviewing anyone with a disability who meets the essential criteria. An exciting opportunity has arisen with the Improvement Service in the role of ELC Service Design & Planning Manager. High-quality Early Learning and Childcare improves the life chances of all children and is vital to ensuring communities and families can thrive. Join our team and you’ll play a key role in supporting councils to deliver high quality, sustainable ELC services across Scotland.

Requirements

High-quality Early Learning and Childcare improves the life chances of all children and is vital to ensuring communities and families can thrive. Join our team and you’ll play a key role in supporting councils to deliver high quality, sustainable ELC services across Scotland. The Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Team at the Improvement Service work with the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and their partners to strengthen, enable and assure the delivery of high quality, sustainable ELC services across Scotland - bridging the gap between national policy and local service delivery. Through engagement with the sector the team provides advice, support and critical friend challenge across all aspects of ELC service delivery. This includes general support across all councils around thematic issues identified, as well as intensive, targeted support for councils and groupings where required.

This post will focus on providing support and advice to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector, primarily the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and their partners in the design and planning of improved ELC services, underpinned by clear success measures. Working as part of the team but also independently at times, the postholder will use service design, planning and project management approaches to:

• Provide consultancy support for Local Authorities and Scottish Government to improve how ELC benefits the youngest children, and evidence how the positive outcomes of funded ELC are felt across Scotland.
• Be comfortable in making use of data, structuring how information is presented, analysed and reported in such a way as to give insight that informs how ELC services can be improved, before using this insight to suggest and support service changes.
• Work with Local Authorities to understand the stakeholders and processes involved in maximising uptake amongst the youngest children to meet the needs of families, identifying and understanding good practice and giving direct support to authorities in implementing good practice and service improvements.
• Building a network of contacts across all local authorities and offer challenge, support and advice on ELC service design and forward planning.

This requires the post holder to be empathetic and to understand the local context in which ELC services are being delivered and developed in order to understand appropriate actions to improve their services, mitigating risks and capitalising on opportunities.

The post holder will need to be comfortable in making use of data and evidence, structuring how information is presented, analysed and reported in such a way as to give insight that informs how ELC services can be improved, before using this insight to suggest and support service changes.

The Individual

Location : 

The office base will be West Lothian Council Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, EH54 6FF.

The role will involve a blended model of office and home working. This flexible approach will be agreed between employee and line manager.

The post-holder will also spend some of their time working with the wider Scottish Government Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) team, and working in local authorities across Scotland, therefore travel across Scotland is anticipated.  

Duration :

Fixed Term until 31 March 2025

Hours of Contract :

Standard working week is 36 hours Monday to Friday.

Hours can be worked flexibly in agreement with the Line Manager.

Closing Date :

23 July 2024

Interviews :  

Competence based interviews will take place in weeks commencing 29^th July and 5^th August (shortlisted candidates will be advised by email in advance of the interview). 

For more information about competency-based interviews, see our 'Guide to Competency-based Interviews'. You may also find it useful to read our current Business Plan 2023-24