At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform services for children in care, ensuring high-quality support and positive outcomes.
- Company: Join Staffordshire County Council, a community-driven organisation dedicated to children's welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and access to professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team committed to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while shaping future services.
- Qualifications: Degree in social work or equivalent, with substantial leadership experience in children's social care.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Staffordshire County Council's Children and Families services are rooted in four core principles that underpin everything we do:
- Families first – network and community always
- Right help, right time – proportionate, timely and co-produced with children and families
- Whole-system responsibility for supporting children and families to be happy, healthy and safe
- Permanence as belonging from day one
To achieve our ambition, we have taken a bold decision to transform our service structure and we’re looking for talented, values-driven leaders who can champion these principles, inspire others and help shape the future of Children and Families services in Staffordshire. We want to create a more resilient, child-centred and future-focused system that enables children, young people and families to receive the right help at the right time.
Main Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership across Children in Care, Care Leavers, Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC), Fostering and Adoption services.
- Ensure children and young people receive high-quality, safe and child-centred support, driving improvement, permanence, placement sufficiency and positive outcomes while fulfilling the council’s responsibilities as a corporate parent.
- Lead the strategic and operational delivery of Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering, Kinship, Adoption and UASC services, ensuring high-quality, compliant and outcome-focused practice.
- Drive service improvement, transformation and sufficiency planning to ensure children and young people have access to stable, appropriate placements and lifelong support networks.
- Provide strategic leadership for fostering, kinship and adoption services, including recruitment, retention, support and development of carers and adopters.
- Build strong partnerships across Staffordshire County Council, health, education, housing, commissioning, Together4Children and other agencies to improve outcomes for children and care leavers.
- Lead performance management, quality assurance and compliance activity, ensuring learning from audits, inspections, complaints and feedback drives continuous improvement.
- Oversee substantial budgets, resources and transformation programmes while ensuring services remain sustainable, effective and focused on achieving the best outcomes for children and young people.
The Ideal Candidate will have:
- Degree or equivalent-level qualification.
- Qualified and registered Social Worker.
- Relevant professional or management qualification, or substantial management training and development.
- Substantial post-qualification experience within children's social care, including senior leadership and management responsibilities.
- Significant experience managing and developing teams, with a strong understanding of people management and employment practices.
- Proven experience leading high-performing services and driving service improvement.
- Experience managing investigations, complaints and complex service issues.
The assessment process will take the form of an in-person interview which will include a role-specific exercise and an element involving our Children and Young People and a Foster Carer (to be confirmed on interview invitation).
Our Recruitment Process anonymises applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.
About Staffordshire County Council: We are no ordinary county council. Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of our People Strategy. We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
Safeguarding and Equality: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.
This position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Head of Service: Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering and Adoption in Stafford employer: WMJobs
Worcestershire County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and friendly work environment for Social Workers in the picturesque Malvern Hills area. With a strong emphasis on professional development, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to employee well-being, you will thrive in a culture that values collaboration and innovation. Join a dedicated team where your contributions are recognised and where you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of those you support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service: Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering and Adoption in Stafford
✨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 WMJobs.
✨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 WMJobs!
✨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 WMJobs, 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 WMJobs 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: Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering and Adoption in Stafford
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 WMJobs:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to WMJobs! 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 WMJobs
✨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.
