Head of Service Looked After Children and Care Leavers

This permanent, full-time position has a starting salary of £77,260 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

The role will involve hybrid working with the expectation of being office based for a minimum of two days per week at different locations and engaging in face to face meetings with the workforce, partner agencies and children and care leavers.

Following realignment of our Looked After Children and Care Leavers teams to a new service model in July 2023, we are excited to be hiring a new Head of Service to join our fantastic service, reporting to the Assistant Director.

The role is based in our Guildford office but will require travel throughout Surrey given the location of our teams in Guildford, Woking, Weybridge and Reigate. We are a committed and passionate workforce, dedicated to creating the best outcomes for children and care leavers, striving to be the best that we can be in all that we do. We are outward facing, keen to learn and maximise all opportunities for our young people, reflected in the many projects we are currently involved with.

Rewards and benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• Access to car lease scheme
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the team

The Looked After Children & Care Leavers Service sits within the Corporate Parenting area of the Children's, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate.

Our North West Care Leavers Team recently won 'Team of the Year' at the National Care Leavers Benchmarking Forum Awards, a reflection on the supportive and empathetic culture we are seeking to create with children and young people at its heart.

Activity within the teams support the service to ensure that care experienced young people develop the skills necessary to go on to secure positive education and employment and lead healthy fulfilling lives. We are committed to ensuring all services are delivered within our Equalities framework and the individual voices of children are heard and their unique characteristics are respected.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced leader with a thorough understanding of Corporate Parenting services and an ability to hold the child at the centre of all that they do.

The role will involve developing strong relationships with leaders and key stakeholders, supervisory responsibilities, oversight of a number of projects within Corporate Parenting, responsibility for the development and implementation of relevant policies, deputising for the Assistant Director and chairing resource panels to ensure good value and financial accountability in the context of an overall focus on quality of practice and services. Where required you will be able to evidence a proven ability to progress changes within the service in a manner which is collaborative and remains strengths based.

Shortlisting criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• A relevant professional social care qualification and registration with Social Work England
• Thorough understanding of relevant legislation and practice standards and the implications that changes to legislation may have, including Inspection Regulations and what it means to be Inspection ready
• Good awareness of the local and national context within which Children's Services operates
• Ability to prioritise and manage a high volume of work effectively
• Significant experience of working in leadership roles with Looked After Children and Care Leavers
• A relentless focus on securing the best outcomes for Surrey's children

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 10th April with interviews planned for Monday 15th April 2024.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and Children's Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Our commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.