The role
An opportunity for staff in Southwark to apply for the Service Manager for Care within Quality Assurance Service. This is an exciting role working alongside Care and Permanency Services for children and young people. We need a person with child centred, strong service values and who has resilience, ambition, creativity and leadership experience, to help continue to develop our approach to ensure that our children and young people who are looked after are supported well by the Independent Review Service to receive good to excellent services. They will be committed to making Southwark more equal and just, standing against all forms of discrimination and racism.
The role has responsibility for line managing the Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) as well as Children’s Rights Officer, participation and advocacy services currently provided via Coram Voice. The post holder will report directly to the Head of Service for Quality Assurance and Practice Development.
The collaborative nature of the work requires excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills. The role requires a strong focus on ensuring that plans for children looked after are reviewed robustly, that our escalation processes work in the interests of children, and that they are fairly and equally applied. The successful candidate will need analytical and systems thinking skills, excellent practice knowledge and strong organisational skills, all of which will be used to best effect in helping to instil a reflective and open learning culture across the service and beyond.
You will need an excellent, up to date awareness of the professional agenda, relevant legislation, and be open to looking critically at research and the evidence base on what works and makes a difference. The role will be part of the Service Management Team within Quality Assurance working together with all of the Service Managers across QA to provide high quality leadership.
A key aspect of the role will be to lead the strategic development of QA as a whole, to ensure that it functions well to ensure that Southwark continues to be a learning and developing organisation focused exclusively upon responding well to children, young people and families’ needs. So while the post holder will have key responsibility for their area, they must work beyond the boundaries of their service, with other services, agencies, and groups that represent the voice of children and parents, to continue to develop the best possible help and protection for children.
The post holder will need to demonstrate a commitment to the values of the council as most recently set out in the Borough Plan, as well as be child-centred and family minded in their practice, focused on improving lives and building a fairer society.
If you are interested in a discussion about this role, please email karen.neill@southwark.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.
Additional details
Our offer:
- Bespoke learning and development program
- Peer support from an experienced Head of Service
- Executive coaching and service development planning support and budget
- External critical friend evaluations to support service development
Dedicated specialist administrative support
- Monthly formal one to ones with availability as needed at other times
Additional details
Please note this role is being offered on a permanent basis and requires an enhanced level DBS check.
Recruitment timetable
Recruitment Timetable
Closing date - 22nd August
Interview date - 27th August
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