Head of Service – Early Resolution and Safeguarding, Buckinghamshire Council

Overview

Despite the challenges that Adult Social Care has faced within the last 12 months, our approach in Buckinghamshire has not been to take shelter and wait for the storm to pass. Instead, we have chosen to transform and restructure Adult Social Care so we can respond to a crisis as well as build for the future. We have created more roles in Social Work and Occupational Therapy; we are adapting to work much more closely with the community and support people near to where they live; we have developed a new career progression framework to encourage staff ambition and development; finally, to establish the conditions to deliver outstanding practice, we have reduced the numbers that managers supervise and the caseloads the team have, to allow for more contact with our residents.

Initiated in 2019, our strength-based practice model, ‘Better Lives’, has been improving outcomes linked to independence, developing social connections, and improving areas that are important to the residents we support. Now in 2021, we are looking to refresh our Better Lives Strategy – Our Ambition | Buckinghamshire Council (buckscc.gov.uk) and develop our aspirations further.

About us

In April 2020 Buckinghamshire Council became the UK’s newest council. Meaning the residents of Buckinghamshire will be now be served by a single, unitary council. Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country.

We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey.

About the role

As a Head of Service you will provide strategic leadership to Adult Social Care and direct management to Team Managers. Coaching and motivating staff to provide flexible, efficient and high-quality services within a constantly changing environment.

You will be specifically accountable for the Early Resolution and Safeguarding service area including the following key areas:

• Developing a strength-based culture in practice and leadership/ coaching of the workforce
• Transformation of Adult Social Care and service improvement to deliver outstanding support to Buckinghamshire residents
• Compliance with all statutory social care requirements including the Care Act, the Mental Health Act, the Mental Capacity Act and Buckinghamshire Multi-agency Safeguarding procedures
• Budget and financial management
• Performance against statutory and locally determined indicators
• Partnership working with stakeholders internal and external to Buckinghamshire Council

About you

This is a pivotal role and the post holder will need to be a strategic thinker who engages with counterparts in Health, the Voluntary Community Sector, Housing, the care provider market and commissioning to develop and produce ways forward to deliver improvement. Working in a changing environment, they will have to be able to clearly articulate how a strength-based practice model translates to partners in delivering improved outcomes for vulnerable adults in Buckinghamshire

You will have strategic leadership skills, with proven evidence of developing a multi – disciplinary team approach, managing staff, inspiring confidence, encouraging, motivating and influencing others; promoting Adult Social Care Operations policy and objectives.

Other information

As a service, we’re proud of the way we have adapted as we make our way through the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety of our colleagues and residents remains at the forefront of what we do, and we have used technology where it has been appropriate to undertake some functions such as staying in touch with your clients, partners and colleagues. We want to retain the benefits of working in this way, as well as continuing face-to-face where it is appropriate to do so. As a result of this, we would welcome applications from a wider geographical basis.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

Having a diverse workforce that represents our residents across all levels of the organisations is something we can improve on. Promoting equality by recognising difference and the value it can bring to our organisation is an important part of our strength-based approach. We welcome applications from candidates who share our ethos and values around anti-discriminatory practice and strength in diversity.

We recognise and reward you

In these challenging times, we must remain connected as a team. From day one, you’ll be offered a ‘buddy’ who will be a friendly face to support you through your induction and new working world. The wellbeing of our colleagues is very important to us and we encourage you to take control of your work-life balance and adopt a flexible approach where possible.

We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements.

Benefits of working for Buckinghamshire:

• Competitive salary
• Up to 25 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays) rising to 30 days (plus bank holidays) after more than 5 years’ service
• An attractive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Relocation allowance up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
• New Car Lease Scheme
• Development opportunities in key areas of specific lead roles, giving you the opportunity to learn new skills and to develop your practice
• Travel discounts with Arriva and Chiltern Railways
• Access to our corporate health and wellbeing services offering free confidential advice on a wide range of issues
• Discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops, discounted gym memberships and much more : https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/