Job Description Be Bold, Make a Difference, Show you Care JOB ROLE PROFILE AND PERSON SPECIFICATION Post Title and Number: Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, 50047142 Present Grade: HOS3 Dept: People Service/Section/Team: Children and Family Services, Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Reports to (title): Director of Children and Family Services Purpose of the Role: As a senior leader within the Council the Head of Service will: · Communicate agreed direction and purpose for staff in the service in a way that engages and motivates people · Lead their service area to deliver high performance · Lead the budget planning process for their service · Lead the effective planning, commissioning and delivery of services · Set and communicate clear service standards · Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic goals for the service which link to the Council priorities and support the achievement of the long-term ambition for the Council and is residents · Identify and recommend evidence based areas for service development and improvement. · Build effective relationships with relevant partners and elected members · Provide technical expert advice and independent scrutiny and challenge to the local authority, other partners and stakeholders. · Custodian of the list of children subject to Child Protection Plans Dimensions including Structure Chart: The role is directly responsible for the management of a staffing budget of approx. £1m and collectively responsible for the divisional budget of approx. £54m. The post holder will have eight direct reports. The post holder will receive monthly supervision from the Director of Children and Family Services and meets quarterly with the Executive Director - People and Director of Children and Family Services to highlight quality assurance issues arising from operational practice and decision making. As a senior officer in a specialist service, they will be expected to exercise significant autonomy and represent the Director of Children and Family services and the Council in a range of areas. Structure Chart The post holder is responsible for meeting statutory duties and timescales as set out in national guidance and Pan London Child Protection procedures and must produce published annual reports in line with national guidance within a set timescale. Key Accountabilities: Accountabilities 1. Ensure that the highest standards of practice are delivered by the service. 2. To work with a range of internal and external agencies, chief officers across all statutory partners, council members, head teachers, to achieve effective outcomes for vulnerable children and young people in Enfield. 3. Ensure that children in care and those subject to child protection plans receive timely and child-centred reviews of their arrangements. 4. Ensure budgets for services and/or programmes are managed to time and cost with an eye to both efficiency and effectiveness. 5. Monitor performance with rigour and act with pace on any areas of concern. 6. Develop and ensure that service improvement programmes and plans are implemented. 7. Ensure that feedback from children, young people and their families is actively sought and used constructively to improve the quality of children and family services. 8. To be the departmental lead for managing high risk offenders in level 2 and 3 MAPPA meetings. 9. To ensure high risk matters or those likely to attract publicity are escalated and plans are in place to reduce reputational risks at departmental and corporate level. 10. To be accountable for the effectiveness of safeguarding and quality ensuring the council effectively discharges its statutory responsibilities towards children subject to child protection plans and children who are looked after. 11. To ensure the statutory functions of the Designated Local Authority Officer (LADO) are fulfilled on behalf of the Council. 12. To be the Custodian of the list of Child Protection Plans in Enfield. 13. To act as the lead officer for various Independent Services e.g. Family Group Conferences, Enfield Talks. 14. To deputise for the Director, Children and Family Services as required. 15. To develop, monitor and review strategic policies, procedures and standards of practice for the provision of services to children and young people at risk and those with additional vulnerabilities in accordance with corporate strategy, emerging legislation and regulatory requirements. 16. Carry out all accountabilities in compliance with the Council’s policies and procedures. 17. Any other duties reasonably requested by chief officers and Council Members. Key Relationships (Internal and External): · Children, young people and their families · Executive Director - People and Director of Children and Family Services and senior leaders across the Council · Elected Members · Children’s Services Senior Leadership group and Operational Management group · Senior managers in partner organisations such as health, education, police, probation · Budget monitoring and senior finance officers · Managers and frontline staff · Enfield safeguarding children partnership · Regional and national peers · Government departments Equality and Diversity: The Council has a strong commitment to achieving equality in its service to the community and the employment of people and expects all employees to understand, comply with and promote its policies in their own work. Health and Safety: The post holder shall ensure that the duties of the post are undertaken with due regard to the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and to their personal responsibilities under the provisions of the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and all other relevant subordinate legislation. For a more detailed definition of these responsibilities, refer to the current versions of the Corporate Health & Safety Policy, Group Safety Policy and employee information leaflet entitled "Health & Safety Policy; Guidance on Staff Health & Safety Responsibilities". Corporate Health and Safety Responsibilities All employees have personal responsibilities to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others. This means: 1. Understanding the hazards in the work they undertake; 2. Following safety rules and procedures; 3. Using work equipment, personal protective equipment, substances, and safety devices correctly; and 4. Working in accordance with the training provided and only undertaking tasks where appropriate training has been received. Employees shall co-operate with the Council by allowing it to comply with its duties towards them. This requires employees to: · take part in safety training and risk assessments and suggest ways of reducing risks; and · take part in emergency evacuation exercises. Employees shall report all accidents, ‘near miss’ incidents and work related ill health conditions to their manager/supervisor/team leader. Employees shall read the Corporate Health & Safety – Organisation Part B Policy to ascertain and understand their responsibilities as an employee, line manager, Assistant Director or Director of the Council. Information Security: In order to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Council information, including information provided by customers, partner organisations, and other third parties, where applicable, employees will comply with the Council’s Information Security Policy. Other duties & responsibilities: This Job Role Profile is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. There will be other duties and requirements associated with your post and in addition, as a term of your employment, you may be required to undertake various other duties as may be reasonably required of you. This includes making yourself available to participate in a range of corporate initiatives as determined by your Line Manager. These could include activities such as participation in the Civil Emergencies Planning Rota, supporting the Scrutiny function, actively leading/participating in a range of cross-functioning review and working groups. Statement of Commitment to Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults through safer employment practice: Enfield Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Safe recruitment of staff is central to this commitment, and the Council will ensure that its recruitment policies and practices are robust, and that selection procedures prevent unsuitable people from gaining access to children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff employed to work with or on behalf of children and young people in the Council must be competent. All staff working with Children & Vulnerable Adults should be aware of and share the commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when applying for posts at Enfield Council. PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Grade: HoS3 Department: People – Children and Family Services Team: Safeguarding and Quality Assurance HOW TESTED Application – A Test – T Interview – I Job Specifics – Skills, Experience, Knowledge & Abilities Essential: 1. Proven experience to lead, engage, motivate, appraise and develop staff to deliver high standards of service and performance. 2. Extensive senior management experience of successfully managing a range of statutory operational safeguarding services. 3. Experience of managing independent reviewing officers and/or chairing looked after children’s reviews/ case conferences. 4. Successfully led teams to respond positively to change. 5. Experience of effective budget management and deliver service plans on time and on budget. 6. A good understanding of the political context and role of elected members. 7. The ability to converse clearly and courteously with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English. 8. To provide expert technical advice to multi-agency chief officers and operational teams in all regulatory safeguarding and looked after children matters. 9. Experience of collating and interrogating statistical data to monitor and improve performance and a proven ability of writing clear, accurate and succinct reports, in plain English to a range of audiences. 10. Success in driving and delivering continuous improvement across services. Desirable: 1. Understanding of issues impacting on service delivery within a diverse, urban and multi-cultural environment. 2. Significant experience of change management and transformation. A/I A/I A/I A/I/T A/I/T A/I A/I/T A/I Behaviours Appropriate behaviours are key to the delivery of our vision for Enfield. We want staff who will work collaboratively, flexibly and constructively, and exhibit this ethos in all their dealings with residents, colleagues and partners. Our leaders will be exemplars of the following behaviours and encourage them in staff at all levels; Take Responsibility We want staff who are willing to make decisions and be accountable for them. Staff should have a positive can-do attitude where they see problems as challenges which can be overcome. They should accept responsibility for service delivery, be clear about their service offer and deliver what they promise. Open, Honest and Respectful We want staff who are comfortable and confident to acknowledge the difficulties and the barriers they face. They should also be able to constructively challenge the way things are done where there is evidence that it impedes service delivery. Challenge should be conducted in a professional, courteous manner with the aim of reaching a mutually agreeable resolution. Listen and Learn We want staff who are prepared to actively listen and reflect on customer concerns with a view to understanding the customer’s point of view. Staff should be able to receive constructive criticism and be prepared to adapt the way they operate and deliver services where appropriate. Work Together to find solutions We want staff who can work collaboratively with other departments and partners, freely sharing their knowledge and skills to identify solutions to address customer concerns. Candidates: Please ensure you address these behaviours in your responses to the essential (and desirable if applicable) criteria above. A/I Competencies: Candidates: Please ensure you address these competencies in your responses to the essential (and desirable if applicable) criteria above. 1. Customer focus 2. Deliver service performance 3. Focus on continuous improvement 4. Political awareness and context A/I Qualifications & Professional registration criteria Candidates: Please ensure you address these qualifications in your responses to the essential (and desirable if applicable) criteria, you will be expected to meet these requirements of the role and they will be explored with you at interview. 1. Registered social worker with Social Work England 2. Recognised management qualification or equivalent A Special requirements Candidates: Please note you will be expected to meet these requirements of the role and they will be explored with you at interview. 1. 2. Head of Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service LADO Independent Reviewing Officers Service Manager: Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service Independent Reviewing Officers Independent Services 4 Page 1 of 6 Job Role Profile and Person Specification Published 18/10/2010 Last revised 24/9/20