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Director of Children's Safeguarding and Care 

Employer
Gloucestershire County Council
Location
Gloucestershire
Salary
Up to £116,391, plus relocation support
Closing date
26 Sep 2021

Gloucestershire is a thriving county, a special place to live and work, and we are committed to investing in its’ future. This means placing children at the heart of everything we do. What we achieve today in making Gloucestershire a place where children and young people can thrive, develop and reach their potential will shape and influence our communities for generations to come. That’s why we want to make Gloucestershire a great place for children to grow up and lead remarkable lives.

We are looking to fill this vital role at a very important time for us.  Our children’s services team is on an important journey of change and improvement and, whilst there is more to be done, we are building on significant investment and clear signs of improvement. We are confident that when Ofsted visit us for our first full inspection since 2017, they will see a much improved service. In fact, during the most recent visit in October 2020 Ofsted noted that “there has been a change of tempo….much of it is now more purposeful, more rigorous, more child-focused and more clearly sighted on impact and effectiveness.…”

The recently strengthened and energised children’s service leadership team is ambitious for our children and young people, and we believe that this role will provide you with the scope to help us continue to shape children’s services across all functions and could provide a stepping stone to future career development.

We are looking for an experienced, passionate and strategic leader who really understands the complex and dynamic landscape within which we are working right now. We want an ambitious and talented individual who knows what good looks like, who understands how to bring their team on a journey of improvement and who can motivate and inspire from the front.

Overall we are a high performing council, with well-managed resources and finances and strong political support. We have invested heavily in children’s services (£41M over the last 3 years alone) and will continue to do so to sustain the momentum of improvement. Our senior leadership team is energised and committed, and change is underway. Our interest is in sustainable change rather than quick fixes and our imminent re-inspection is a point in time on the journey to “good”. We offer very good ongoing professional programmes of training and development, from the front line right through to leadership programmes.

The post holder is accountable to the Director of children’s services for the leadership and delivery of all aspects of the children’s services Improvement Plan relating to the quality and impact of practice across social care.  You will also be responsible for ensuring the council’s compliance with its statutory duties to children in need, including children in need of protection, children in care and care leavers, and for the outcome of Ofsted visits, inspections and reviews of its safeguarding and care services.

As a key member of the children’s services strategic leadership team and corporate leadership team, you will ensure the achievement of the Council’s strategic and service outcomes through an effective, efficient and high performing delivery model.  The director of safeguarding and care  provides practice leadership for all aspects of children’s social care through an integrated delivery model from early help and targeted support to children in need and child protection, to children in care and care leavers.   A high degree of flexibility is required across the role, within the delivery function.

We encourage confidential conversations with our recruitment partner, The Resourcing Solution to further your interest.

Our young people deserve nothing less than the very best. Apply now by clicking on the Apply Button below.

Close Date: 26th September

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