At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape services for children in care, ensuring their voices are heard.
- Company: Hull City Council, dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent pension, generous leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and drive meaningful change in the community.
- Qualifications: Master's level qualification, Social Work registration, and extensive leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 β¬ per year.
Hull City Council is looking for an exceptional leader to join us as Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting within our Children, Young People and Families Directorate. This is an exciting and new opportunity to shape the future of children in our care and our care leavers across the city. As a key member of our Senior Leadership Team, you will drive our ambition for every child to thrive, championing a strong child centred culture and ensuring that the voices of children and families are integral to everything we do.
About the Role
In this role, you will provide strategic leadership for all children looked after and care leaver services, including our regulated children's homes, supported accommodation, fostering and adoption provision. You will:
- Lead the development and delivery of Corporate Parenting services, ensuring excellence and aspiration for every child
- Influence policy and practice at local, regional and national levels, working with Government departments, Ofsted, Health, Police and wider partners
- Act as a visible, compassionate and ambitious leader, modelling strengths based practice and a culture of high support and high expectations
- Oversee a budget of Β£38.5 million and lead approximately 370 FTE colleagues across the service
- Ensure organisational readiness for all statutory inspections and compliance with safeguarding duties
- Represent the Council in key forums, strengthening relationships with Elected Members, partners, external agencies and the community
- Be part of the Council's emergency response rota under the Civil Contingencies Act.
What We're Looking For - We are seeking a leader with:
Essential Qualifications & Professional Standing
- A recognised professional or managerial qualification (Master's level or above)
- A Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England
- A commitment to continuous professional development.
Experience You Will Bring
- Extensive senior leadership experience improving outcomes for children and families within a large, complex organisation
- A track record of driving service improvement and cultural change
- Strong political awareness and experience working effectively with Elected Members
- Expertise in partnership working, commissioning, and delivering high quality services across agencies
- Significant financial and resource management experience
- Demonstrable success leading multi-disciplinary teams at scale.
Skills & Leadership Qualities
- A compelling, credible leadership style that inspires trust and excellence.
- Ability to think strategically, influence across systems and translate vision into action.
- Highly developed communication, negotiation and relationship building skills.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to deliver innovative solutions to complex issues.
- Child centred, relational and strengths based approach.
Our Values
You will embody and champion our leadership values of:
- People First
- Respect
- Learning
- Ambition
- Partnership
These underpin how we work with children, families, partners and colleagues across the city.
Why Hull?
Hull is a place of strong identity, community pride and ambition for its children. With major investment across Children's Services, this is an opportunity to be at the forefront of meaningful, lasting change and to make a difference that matters.
Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:
- A competitive salary
- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
- Supportive and forward-thinking culture
- Great career development opportunities
We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting employer: Hull City Council
Hull City Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in our community. With a strong commitment to professional development, a supportive work culture, and a competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave and a robust pension scheme, we empower our leaders to drive positive change. Join us in Hull, a city rich in identity and ambition, where your leadership can truly make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Adviceπ€«
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the sector, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
β¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Hull City Council's values and recent initiatives. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their mission of putting children first. We want to see that passion shine through!
β¨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on articulating your leadership style and how you can drive service improvement for children and families.
β¨Tip Number 4
Donβt forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, itβs a great opportunity to reiterate why youβre the perfect fit for the Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting position.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting
Some tips for your application π«‘
Show Us Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for improving outcomes for children and families shine through. We want to see how your values align with ours and how you can contribute to a child-centred culture.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the job description. We love seeing specific examples of how you've driven service improvement and cultural change in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see how you meet the essential criteria.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at Hull City Council.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hull City Council
β¨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting. Familiarise yourself with Hull City Council's values and how they align with your own leadership style. Be ready to discuss how your experience can drive service improvement and cultural change.
β¨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your extensive senior leadership experience. Think about times when you've successfully led multi-disciplinary teams or influenced policy at various levels. This is your chance to demonstrate your compelling leadership style and how it inspires trust and excellence.
β¨Be Child-Centred
Since this role is all about children and families, be prepared to discuss your child-centred approach. Share specific instances where you've put children's voices at the forefront of decision-making and how you've championed their needs in previous roles.
β¨Engage with Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the organisation. Consider asking about the current challenges facing the Corporate Parenting services or how the council measures success in improving outcomes for children and families.