At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve services for children and young adults in care, ensuring their voices are heard.
- Company: Suffolk Cares, dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and young adults.
- Benefits: Generous leave, competitive pension, health perks, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young adults while leading impactful change.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification, senior leadership experience, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
As Assistant Director for Suffolk Cares, you will be the strategic leader for children and young adults who are in our care or have left our care. You will be responsible for improving practice, strengthening partnerships and making sure children and young adults receive the right support at the right time.
Your role and responsibilities
- Lead services for children in care and care leavers, including fostering, adoption and residential children's homes.
- Act as the champion for children and young adults who are in, or have left, our care, ensuring their voices shape services and decision-making.
- Lead and influence complex partnerships across the Suffolk system to improve outcomes for our Care Experienced Community.
- Drive continuous improvement, ensuring services are effective, high quality and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes.
- Provide strong leadership across people, performance, resources and governance within a large and complex service area.
- Champion a culture of collaboration, innovation and co-production, working alongside children, young people, families, carers and partners.
- Be a critical part of achieving a good inspection outcome.
We support hybrid and flexible working, however, in this role you'll be expected to provide visible, accessible leadership across the organisation and with our partners. This means you'll regularly work from our offices and across Suffolk. This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
We are looking for a senior leader who understands children's social care and can lead improvement across a complex system. You will need:
- A strong commitment to improving the lives of children and young people.
- A Social Work qualification and registration with the relevant Social Work regulatory body.
- Significant senior leadership experience within social care, children's services or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of social care practice, statutory responsibilities and Ofsted inspection frameworks.
- Experience leading service improvement or transformation across multiple agencies.
- Experience of leading large, multidisciplinary teams and managing complex budgets.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills with senior leaders, elected members, partners, staff, children, young adults, families and carers.
In return, you'll enjoy:
- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
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Assistant Director for Suffolk Cares (Redeployment) in Ipswich employer: Suffolk County Council
At Sendsory, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for our team of Cognition and Learning Practitioners. Located in Ipswich, Suffolk, we offer competitive salaries, six training days per year, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children with SEND. Our commitment to professional development and a child-focused culture ensures that every employee can grow and thrive while contributing to a nurturing educational setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director for Suffolk Cares (Redeployment) in Ipswich
✨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 Suffolk County Council.
✨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 Suffolk County Council!
✨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 Suffolk County Council, 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 Suffolk County Council 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 Assistant Director for Suffolk Cares (Redeployment) in Ipswich
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 Suffolk County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Suffolk County Council! 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 Suffolk County Council
✨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.
