Assistant Director Children's Social Care Commissioning
- Multiple Locations
- Full Time
- £115,825 per annum (Market Supplement for this role is available based on experience)
Join us and make a difference in Devon.
Are you an experienced strategic leader with a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people?
Devon County Council invites applications for the position of Assistant Director Children's Social Care Commissioning. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to influence and enhance the outcomes for children across the county.
This is Devon
Devon County Council is a large and diverse organisation that is responsible for a wide range of services, including education, social care, highways, libraries, waste management, public health, and economic development. We work with our partners and communities to make Devon a great place to live, work, and visit.
We are ambitious for Devon and our people. We have a clear vision and strategic plan to guide our actions and decisions. We want to create a prosperous, resilient, and healthy county, where people can fulfil their potential and enjoy a high quality of life. We are committed to tackling the challenges and opportunities that face us, such as climate change, population growth, increased demand on Childrens services, and digital transformation.
We are also committed to our principles and behaviours, which shape how we work and interact with each other and our stakeholders. We are honest, respectful, courageous, and solutions focused. We value diversity and inclusion, and we strive to be collaborative, innovative, and accountable. We are proud of our achievements, and we learn from our mistakes. We are always looking for ways to improve and develop ourselves and our services.
This is the role
As the Assistant Director Children's Social Care Commissioning, you will provide strategic system leadership of the Sufficiency Duty of the Council for children and young people with social care needs, through developing and delivering the ambitions of the partnership’s Children’s Services Delivery Plan and the Council’s strategic plans for children. This will also involve working in collaboration with providers and partners across the Council area and with regional partners.
You will be tasked with developing service specifications informed by joint strategic needs assessments to ensure the delivery of high-quality services. Additionally, you will oversee the operational delivery of internal and external placement commissioning for vulnerable children and manage associated budgets. Your role will also involve leading Adopt South West, our Regional Adoption Agency, and Devon’s Fostering service, ensuring high-quality fostering options are available close to home. You will be responsible for managing the service within a total budget responsibility of £113m. You also will be responsible for the co-ordination of Responsible Individuals and Registered Managers for the Council’s Children’s Homes & Day Services.
The ideal candidate will possess a higher degree or equivalent qualifications, along with a professional qualification in social work and current Social Work England registration. Proven leadership experience in large and complex organizations is essential, as is expertise in delivering safeguarding social work practice and managing a range of partners to create productive and honest conversations. Strong communication, advocacy, presentation, influencing, and negotiating skills are also crucial. Additionally, the candidate should have experience in delivering major change programmes and working within a complex matrix reporting setting.
What we can offer you
Devon County Council is committed to providing good or better services for children, requiring a focus and drive on improvement and a collaborative approach to early help and partnership. As part of the Children’s Services Leadership Team, you will lead the development and delivery of the council’s ambitions for children in Devon. You will be part of a team that values strong leadership and continuous improvement, ensuring that public money is used efficiently to meet the needs of children and families.
We appreciate the adaptability and provide options for remote work, yet we also recognise the significant benefits of maintaining a solid in-office presence. Physical presence fosters superior collaboration, relationship development, and a community feel and is a requirement for this role. We also offer a relocation package for eligible candidates. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our staff, and we have a range of initiatives and schemes to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. If you are passionate about public service and want to make a difference in Devon, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion please contact Justin Mitchell justin.mitchell@devon.gov.uk
Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.
Please click Apply Now to see the Job Description.
- DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
- Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
- Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
- For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
- This role requires a DBS disclosure.
Reference: REQ007321
Job Details
- OrganisationDevon County Council
- Work LocationExeterDevon
- Work Postcode
EX2 4QD
- Reference
REQ007321
- Occupational GroupManagement & Senior Management
- Salary Details
£115,825 per annum (Market Supplement for this role is available based on experience)
- Job TermPermanent
- Appointment TypeFull Time
- Hours
37 hours per week
- Closing Date
02/02/2025
- DBS Check Required
Yes