Job title: Service Delivery Manager - Fostering
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
As a Service Delivery Manager for Fostering, you’ll be determined to deliver a compassionate, outcomes-driven service that has the best interests of our young people, their families and foster carers firmly at its heart.
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.
You’ll draw on your experience and compassion to develop a consistent, outstanding fostering 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:
* A qualification in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England
* Experience of working within Fostering Services (either LA or IFA) or experience of a multi-agency environment and forging and driving successful partnerships.
* Experience of leading professional social work teams and a commitment to delivering outstanding outcomes
* Innovation, drive and a clear passion for improving the lives of the city’s most vulnerable young people
* 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
The Fostering Service supports children and young people in the long-term care of Leeds City Council by directly providing foster carers. The service works in partnership with children and young people, their families, carers and statutory partners to get the best possible outcomes for the young people.
As our Service Delivery Manager for Fostering, you will support the active involvement of children and young people, families and foster carers in how Children and Families Services are delivered in Leeds, ensuring that children and young people have a voice and their views are heard.
Specifically, you will lead a team of social workers, team managers and other key staff to ensure the effective delivery of the fostering service centred around the needs of children and young people and ensuring that statutory duties and responsibilities of the local authority are being met.
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.
Assessment and Interviews 7th and 8th April 2025
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
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. 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.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
Job Description
Job purpose Working as part of the leadership team you will model values and behaviours to help to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country, an aspiration shared across our partners to become the first child friendly city. You will deliver your own core statutory responsibilities and work with and support your colleagues in delivering our collective responsibilities of keeping all children safe.
The Fostering Service supports children and young people in the long-term care of Leeds City Council by directly providing Foster Carers. The service supports children cared for by Leeds to grow and develop throughout their childhood. The service works in partnership with children and young people, their families and carers and statutory partners to get the best outcomes that they can.
You will support the active involvement of children and young people, families and Foster Carers in how Children and Families Services are delivered and how they contribute to the ambitions of the Council as set out in the City Plan for Leeds, ensuring that children and young people have a voice and their views are heard.
Responsibilities
* Support delivery of programmes of strategic significance to the Council to deliver services in line with Council priorities.
* Responsible for the development and delivery of the service plan and drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects.
* Develop the role of the teams to facilitate the directorate’s multi-agency approach centred around the needs of children and young people throughout the city especially those who are most vulnerable.
* Effectively lead and direct teams within prescribed political and governance processes.
* Ensure the effective and timely communication of key messages to the team.
* Deliver better outcomes against professional standards within a context of resource availability.
* Provide direction and support and set clear objectives to immediate line reports.
* 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.
* To be a champion of Leeds aspiration and ambition to become a child friendly city.
* Deputise when required for the Head of Service/ Deputy Head of Service and represent on all matters relating to the leadership, management and development of the service at a local and city wide level.
* 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
* To make a significant contribution in the directorates goal to deliver ‘good’ or equivalent outcomes from external inspections, reviews and assessments.
* To 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.
* To lead effective multi agency approaches in residential care -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.
* 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.
* Lead on Safeguarding including Safer recruitment, the requirements of Children Act 1989 & 2004, Working Together 2018, the relevant regulations relating to Fostering and the Placement of Children.
Qualifications Appropriate professional qualification (DipSW, Degree, CQSW or equivalent). You should be registered with Social Work England upon commencement of the post and maintain registration.
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 Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
* Diploma in Social Work or equivalent.
* Experience of working within a multi-agency environment and forging and driving successful partnerships.
* Experience of having lead and managed professional teams leading to successful outcomes for children.
* Experience of leading, managing, supporting and developing individuals and teams, promoting a ‘can do’ attitude and an environment of continuous improvement.
* Demonstrate an understanding of relevant inspection regimes and evaluation frameworks, and experience of delivering successful outcomes.
* Knowledge of local issues impacting upon the service and demonstrate associated linkages with the needs of children and young people in the locality.
* Ability to find and implement creative and innovative solutions to complex problems.
* Demonstrate an ability to make difficult decisions, to be held accountable, and be 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.
* Ability to employ a range of leadership styles which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes for children and young people.
* Demonstrate an understanding of the Child Friendly City concept and the voice and influence of children and young people to underpin this.
* Knowledge of restorative practice approaches within the context of services to children, young people and families.
* Understanding/knowledge of using results based accountability methodology to drive service improvement.
* Able to demonstrate examples of managing services and achieving quality transformational outcomes.
* Able to manage competing priorities, ensuring delivery on a range of programmes and adapting to changing circumstances.
* Knowledge of applicable, legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information
* Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
* Experience of senior leadership and management relevant to area of service delivery
* 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.
* 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.
* Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
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