MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

To have overall operational manager responsibility for four teams within the Children in Care Service.  You will work alongside social work colleagues to develop and continuously improve the delivery of a high quality effective social work service that is informed by Signs of Safety practice models and that delivers good outcomes for children, young people and their families.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Lead, manage and motivate staff, ensuring high quality professional supervision and performance development plans are completed which enhance individuals personal and professional development needs and contribute towards staff retention.

Manage and oversee the performance of the team effectively using available performance data to ensure compliance with practice standards and procedures. This will include contributing to management meetings on performance.

Lead and manage the implementation of Signs of Safety as a practice model by role modelling this in meetings, interactions with staff and supervision

Manage team budgets efficiently and effectively in order to ensure expenditure does not exceed the agreed budget limits.

Support the safer recruitment and selection of new staff, both within the team and across Children’s Services to ensure staffing levels are maintained.

Incorporate the directorate policies relating to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice into everyday working practice and to challenge discrimination and prejudice wherever this occurs.

Complete audits (and quality assurance against the performance indicators) to ensure Medway is a learning organisation that continues to deliver evidence-based practice delivering the right support, to the right family at the right time ensuring the service is good to outstanding in their practice.

Keep up to date with the Council’s organisational policies, government guidance, legislation, research and national trends in order to maintain the highest professional standards.

Chair meetings, lead working parties, take responsibility for key areas of service development, and represent the service as required.

Deputise and support the Head of Service and cover for other Group Managers as and when required.