Group Manager Adolescent Safeguarding

Job Description

Job Category : Management
Location : Laurence House – Second Floor , Lewisham Council
Hours Per Week : 35.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £33.62

We are looking for a Group Manager who is passionate about working with adolescents and has a proven track record for maintaining high practice standards. The role sits within the Integrated Adolescent Safeguarding Service which includes Safe Space 11-17 year olds at risk of extra familial harm and the Youth Justice Service. The responses to children who go missing and affected by youth homelessness is also led within the service.

The group manager will be responsible for leading Safe Space which is the statutory safeguarding division of the service. They take referrals directly from MASH and provide post assessment support if required usually via CIN processes or CP if appropriate. There is a small cohort of children in the service who are children looked after who are supported inline with CLA processes and legislation.

Safe Space is a double award winning service that has also been commended in recent OFSTED reports.

The ideal candidate should have experience in leading or working in Adolescent, R&A or Safeguarding teams or services.

1. Main Purpose of the Job:

1.1. To provide senior level management within a designated service area.

1.2. To provide support, guidance and management of operational line management reports. Provide senior level management cover within the Service Unit or across the Division as required.

1.3. To work with internal and external partners to ensure that high quality, value for money services are delivered to support vulnerable children and their families.

1.4. To hold responsibility for the designated service area ensuring that:
– timely allocation and throughput is made for all children open to the Department
– Performance is delivered to required standards
– Electronic casefiles are appropriately maintained
– Supervision is held at required frequency and to qualitative standards
– Induction and appraisal are held at required frequency and to qualitative standards agreed by the Department.
– Systems are delivered to ensure tracking of performance and corrective action is promptly taken where required.
– Ensure data for the designated service area is reliable and of high quality and is interrogated at regular intervals.

1.5. To ensure that the business plan for the Department relating to the designated service area is delivered and updated at required frequency.

1.6. To contribute to the delivery of best practice and best value through the establishment of effective systems, targets and performance management that encourages innovative and creative approaches to service delivery.

1.7. To ensure good customer care is delivered by the designated service area and effectively address and manage service complaints to required standards and timeframes.

1.8. To undertake accountabilities as detailed within the Departmental Quality Assurance strategy.

1. Experience:

• Successful background of consistent achievement at management level in a local authority.
• Significant experience of delivery of statutory social work services delivering good outcomes for children, young people and their families.
• Experience of management of a diverse group of professional staff in the public and/or private sector.
• Experience in the preparation, management and control of large complex budgets.
• Successful management of change, harnessing the strengths and talents of the workforce in a complex area within a large organisation.
• A track record of successfully building and developing partnerships, both internally and externally, and the ability to establish trust and credibility.
• Evidence of success in determining and evaluating service quality and identifying opportunities to achieve effectiveness and best value.
• Experience of performance management and improvement of both national and local performance indicators on both a quantitative and qualitative basis.
• A proven track record of effective working, communicating and negotiating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences whilst developing positive relationships.
• Maximise service delivery within tight financial limits in a large organisation; and set, monitor and review allocated budgets

2. Knowledge and Ability
 Understand statistical information and ability to analyse, communicate and develop strategies for corrective action. Ability to deliver action plans and ensure review mechanisms for sustainment.
 Understands best practice within provision of statutory children’s social care services.
 Evidences ability to be informed by, contribute to and understand research and its translation for service delivery.
 Ability to provide clear leadership and empower and motivate staff to ensure optimum delivery of services.
 Deliver on programme management of projects, from initiation to delivery ensuring milestones are met and mechanisms for consultation and briefing of key stakeholders and decision makers.
 Demonstrates understanding of the council strategy, vision and priorities.
 Actively seeks and offers new approaches, methods, techniques and tools. Tries out new ways of working and shares their insights with colleagues
 Ability to make difficult decisions in a timely way.

1. Education and Qualifications
 Social Work qualification
 Social Work England registration
2. Skills

 Demonstrates an ease, fluency and resilience in terms of:
 Problem analysis and decision making
 Using performance information to plan, shape and improve service delivery.
 Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing to a range of stakeholders.
 Planning own and others activities
 Organising arrangements for delivery of service with contingencies in place.
 Directing and motivating others within a pressured environment
 Use of technology and other management tools.
 Time management and prioritisation within competing demands.
 Energises others and self to overcome barriers
 Encourages, mentors and coaches others to deliver
 Demonstrates regard for others.
 Responsive to others needs and considers impact within decision making.
 Builds relationships and influences others for mutual benefits
3. Equal Opportunities

 Awareness of equal opportunities issues in the context of service provision in this role.