Job title: Service Delivery Manager - Children’s Residential
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
As a Service Delivery Manager in our children’s residential homes, what matters to you most is using your strong leadership skills and passion to ensure the best possible outcomes for our young people are achieved.
It’s about more than meeting statutory service standards. You’ll want to support your teams to exceed those standards and continually improve the service we deliver to young people in our care, ensuring they have a voice and are listened to.
We have an excellent range of our own residential homes, and this role is an exciting opportunity to lead across our service, including our new provision in Kirkstall - a multi-million pound investment providing accommodation for care leavers. We are interested to hear from candidates with experience of leading services for care leavers and young adults and with experience of managing and leading children’s homes.
You’ll draw on your experience and compassion to develop a consistent, outstanding service with the highest standards of safeguarding and care for young people, while ensuring your work is aligned to and directly contributing to our Best City Ambition and Children and Young People's Plan.
We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence.
About you
You’ll bring to the role:
* Strong leadership skills and a commitment to leading teams that deliver outstanding outcomes
* Innovation, drive and a clear passion for improving the lives of the city’s most vulnerable young people
* A Level 5 qualification relevant to residential childcare work
* Knowledge and experience of successfully managing registered children’s homes and/or other supported accommodation settings
* Familiarity with relevant legislation e.g. The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015
* Excellent collaboration and communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility with colleagues, partners, young people and other stakeholders
About the role
As our Service Delivery Manager for Children’s Residential, you’ll be integral to our Corporate Parenting team, using your extensive senior leadership experience to develop and maintain a high performing residential workforce.
At Leeds City Council we have a culture of excellence and are committed to caring for children within our own provision. We are investing over £3m in new homes over the next two years, alongside a substantial ongoing refurbishment budget and investment in staff and therapeutic practice and capacity.
You’ll be joining a dedicated team of senior managers who lead our children’s residential service and support our team of 400 staff across multiple homes. It’s a lively and challenging environment, but you’ll be supported by energetic and passionate colleagues who can help you thrive in your role and deliver outstanding care.
The role is perfect for someone who can be a champion for the children and young people in our care, seeking and incorporating their views and ambitions wherever possible and flying the flag for our Child Friendly Leeds initiative.
What we offer you
We pride ourselves on offering the best employee experience, with a genuine commitment to keeping our colleagues safe and well at work. We offer:
* membership of West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* flexible career paths with tailored personal and professional development
* hybrid working arrangements and a flexitime system (subject to needs of the role).
* a range of staff benefits to support you, your home and family, boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Interviews are expected to take place Monday 17th February.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
For more information or to arrange a discussion about the role, please contact Ben Finley, Chief Officer for Corporate Parenting, on 07715 044858 or at ben.finley@leeds.gov.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
Provide a key local leadership role for our children’s homes across the city to ensure the effective delivery of a high standard of care and protection, to ensure the authority’s children’s homes operate to deliver all statutory duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority, that all homes are working to the Ofsted framework for Inspection and all regulatory requirements are met.
Working as part of the leadership team you will model values and behaviours to help to achieve our ambition to become the best city in the country, and aspiration shared across our partners to become a child friendly city. You will lead and drive residential care services continuous service improvement ensuring that the service works effectively, innovatively, and collaboratively across the wider service and its partners.
Responsibilities
* Support the active involvement of children and young people and families in how Children’s Services are delivered and how they contribute to the ambitions of the Council as set out in the Best City Ambition for Leeds, ensuring that children and young people have a voice, and their views are heard.
* Lead on the strategic and operational management of Residential Childrens Homes within prescribed political and governance processes across the city ensuring the effective delivery of a high standard of care and protection.
* Lead day to day service delivery and the continuous development and improvement of specified provider services in accordance with agreed targets and objectives included in council and service plans.
* Provide leadership on safeguarding with the requirements of Children Act 1989 & 2004, Working Together 2023, The Children’s Homes (England) regulations and Quality Standards 2015 and any subsequent legal version updates to ensure a child friendly and child focused approach.
* Ensure that your leadership and service culture adopts an anti-racist approach. Developing and embedding anti-oppressive practice and in your role leading in committing to achieving an anti-racist organisation
* Manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
* Lead and manage, both organisationally and professionally, the delivery of all services in specified service areas, which may be defined functionally and or geographically ensuring the effective and timely communication of key messages to teams.
* Deliver better outcomes against professional standards within a context of resource availability.
* Foster and develop a climate of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.
* Effectively sustain a culture that consistently meets the needs of and engages with, children, families, and staff to meet the business needs of the directorate.
* Be a champion of Leeds aspiration and ambition to become a child friendly city.
* Ensure the effective management and implementation of robust performance management processes to ensure the delivery of outcomes within an evidence-based model.
* Ensure the management and implementation of regular formal quality assurance, audit and performance management and reporting through the use of effective management information systems and ensure this meets statutory requirements.
* Make a significant contribution in the directorates goal to deliver ‘good’ or equivalent outcomes from external inspections, reviews and assessments.
* Lead the development and implementation of local service plans as part of the overall directorate, corporate and partnership framework.
* Positively and effectively, lead, shape and influence the team to deliver the vision and goals of the Children’s and Young Peoples Plan.
* Ensure that teams work collaboratively and effectively within local partnership arrangements.
* Build strong and dynamic local relationships and networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies to deliver better outcomes for all children and young people particularly those who are vulnerable and have the most complex needs.
* Lead effective multi-agency locality-based relationships which underpin safe and effective services for children in Leeds.
* Ensure all aspects of people management within the service, creating an organisational climate of high performance, shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement which meets the needs of, and engages with, children, families, communities and staff ensuring that excellent people management practices are embedded throughout the service.
* Deliver partnership working through integrated practice for effective service delivery, ensuring compliance with joint protocols and provide specialist advice as appropriate to partner agencies and integrated services.
* Develop and promote services and practice improvements which are designed to mitigate risk and provide qualitative improvement to the outcomes for children.
* Represent Senior Leadership Team as and when required to provide briefings to local ward Members and MPs and represent on all matters relating to the leadership, management and development of the service at a local and city wide level.
* Provide regular information and updates regarding the position of children homes to the Corporate Parenting Board and liaise with Linked Elected members following their regular visits to the homes.
* Work with elected Members, MPs, service users, trade unions and partner stakeholders in ways which support inclusive open and accountable government through the provision of strategic advice on risk management and support them in their respective roles.
* Build strong and dynamic relationships and networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies to deliver better outcomes for Leeds City Council.
* In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for all financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations.
* The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.
Qualifications
Appropriate professional qualification at Level 5 or above in a relevant subject and significant managerial or practical experience within the service area.
Working Context
Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role.
The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.
Essential requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
* Able to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex problems.
* Able to demonstrate ability to make difficult decisions, and be held accountable, and comfortable managing targets and outputs.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility for the team, enhance its reputation, and to form positive relationships.
* Able to employ a range of leadership styles which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes for children and young people.
* Knowledge and experience of managing children’s homes or other regulated residential settings and a track record of achieving consistently good or outstanding (or equivalent) judgements at inspection.
* A detailed knowledge of the Children’s Homes regulations 2015 and their application, an understanding and operational knowledge of other legislation related to running a children’s home or supported accommodation.
* Able to manage competing priorities, ensuring delivery on a range of programmes and adapting to changing circumstances.
* Knowledge of local and national issues impacting upon the service and demonstrate associated linkages with the needs of children and young people in the locality ensuring effective management and implementation of relevant legislation, guidance, and policy.
* Demonstrate an understanding of the Child Friendly City concept and the voice and influence of children and young people to underpin this.
* Experience and knowledge of working relationally and restoratively within the context of services to children, young people and families.
* Knowledge and understanding of using results-based accountability methodology.
* Knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information.
* Experience of leadership and management in regulated residential care.
* Experience of strategic and operational resource management including the evaluation of competing priorities and managing accountabilities.
* Significant experience of leading change programmes, driving up standards and performance.
* Significant experience and commitment in relation to engagement in decision making processes.
* Substantial experience of delivering a multi-disciplinary service at a senior level, driven by service user requirements, delivering customer focused outcomes and excellent customer satisfaction results.
* Experience of leading, managing, supporting, and developing individuals and teams, promoting a ‘can do’ attitude and an environment of continuous improvement, leading to successful outcomes for children.
* Significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equality and diversity.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
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