At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in children's social care services for positive outcomes.
- Company: Join Dorset Council, a caring and ethical local authority.
- Benefits: Earn £600 per day with hybrid working and immediate start.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for system-wide change.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
- Qualifications: Extensive leadership experience in children's services and strong partnership skills.
The predicted salary is between 36450 - 44550 £ per year.
Connect2Dorset is the ethical recruitment partner to Dorset Council, providing temporary, contract, and interim opportunities across the organisation. Built on values of being ethical, trustworthy, and caring, our profits are reinvested into our Local Authority shareholders, helping to support local communities and public services.
As Head of Permanence, you will provide leadership across a range of statutory children's social care services, ensuring high-quality practice and positive outcomes for children and young people. You will oversee Dorset's Permanence Service, including direct line management of the Service Manager and three Permanence Teams, while influencing practice across wider Children in Care services. Working alongside senior leaders and multi-agency partners, you will play a key role in ensuring every child experiences effective care planning, permanence planning, and enduring relationships that support them throughout their lives.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of Dorset's Permanence Strategy.
- Drive innovation in permanence planning, reunification, lifelong links, life story work, and preparation for adulthood.
- Contribute to corporate and departmental strategy, policy development, and service transformation.
- Lead service improvement programmes and ensure delivery against key performance indicators.
- Provide expert professional advice on statutory social work practice and legislation.
- Operational Leadership
- Lead and manage Permanence Services and associated operational teams.
- Provide clear oversight and governance for complex and high-risk cases.
- Ensure services operate in accordance with statutory requirements, regulations, and best practice.
- Monitor and improve service performance, quality assurance, and outcomes.
- Deliver effective services within agreed budgets and resources.
- Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with Children's Health Teams, Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs), Virtual School Teams, Fostering Services, Residential Services, Safeguarding Partnerships, Local Authority and Community Partners.
- Represent Dorset at strategic meetings, partnerships, and safeguarding forums.
- Promote early help and prevention approaches across the children's system.
- Leadership & Management
- Provide direct line management to operational managers and senior leaders.
- Develop a positive, high-performing culture that promotes continuous improvement.
- Support workforce development, supervision, and best practice.
- Lead budget management and resource planning within allocated services.
- Deputise for Directors and Assistant Directors when required.
About You
We are looking for an accomplished senior leader with significant experience within Children's Social Care and statutory services. You will have:
- Extensive leadership experience within Children's Services
- Proven experience leading Children in Care and Permanence Services
- Strong understanding of the Children Act 1989 and relevant statutory frameworks
- Experience managing complex safeguarding and permanence arrangements
- A track record of delivering service improvement and positive outcomes
- Strong partnership-building and stakeholder management skills
- Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and managing budgets
- The ability to influence at senior strategic level across organisations
- Social Work qualification and registration (where applicable)
Why Join Dorset?
This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people while working within an ambitious and innovative local authority.
What's on Offer
- £600 per day
- Immediate start available
- Hybrid working arrangement
- High-impact strategic leadership role
- Opportunity to influence system-wide change
- Collaborative and supportive senior leadership environment
- Chance to shape best practice for children in care and care-experienced young people
If you are an experienced senior social care leader with a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now to join Dorset Council as Interim Head of Permanence and help shape brighter futures for children across Dorset.
Head of Service - Permanence in Dorchester employer: Connect2Dorset
Connect2Dorset is an exceptional employer that prioritises ethical practices and community impact, making it a rewarding place to work. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, team members are encouraged to thrive in a supportive environment while contributing to meaningful projects within the local authority. The opportunity to lead significant transformation initiatives in the picturesque setting of Dorchester adds unique value to this role, fostering both professional and personal fulfilment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service - Permanence in Dorchester
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Connect2Dorset.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Connect2Dorset!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Connect2Dorset, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Connect2Dorset or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service - Permanence in Dorchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Connect2Dorset:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Connect2Dorset! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Connect2Dorset
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
