Service Lead – Corporate Parenting, Permanence and Family Placements - 05718

Are you an experienced leader in children's social care looking for an exciting new opportunity within a forward-thinking local authority? West Berkshire Council is seeking a Service Lead for Corporate Parenting, Permanence and Family Placements to join our Children and Family Services team, reporting to the Service Director for Children's Social Care.

The Role

Role

As the Service Lead for Corporate Parenting, Permanence and Family Placements, you will play a crucial role in leading and managing the following services:

• Corporate Parenting
• Fostering
• Adoption
• Specialist Family Support
  
  

You will be responsible for ensuring the highest standards of care and support are provided to our looked after children and young people, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading and motivating a dedicated team of professionals
• Overseeing the delivery of high-quality services, ensuring compliance with legislation and statutory requirements
• Monitoring and evaluating service performance, implementing improvements where necessary

Providing expert advice and guidance to the Service Director and other senior leaders

Representing the Council at external meetings and forums

Skills

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in children's social care, with extensive experience in leading and managing services for looked after children and young people. You will possess the following skills and attributes:

• Registered Social Worker with appropriate Social Work qualification
• Significant post-qualification experience in children's social care
• Proven leadership and people management skills
• In-depth knowledge of legislation, statutory requirements and best practice relating to corporate parenting and looked after children
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building abilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities
  
  

Why Work for West Berkshire Council?

Benefits

West Berkshire Council is committed to supporting and developing its employees. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a range of excellent employment benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements to promote work-life balance

Access to a wide range of relevant training and development opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Family-friendly policies, including generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave

A range of local discounts on shopping, dining and leisure activities

Free parking at our offices

Relocation package of up to £8,000 for those moving from outside the area

You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 30 days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Rebecca Wilshire at rebecca.wilshire1@westberks.gov.uk

Join us at West Berkshire Council and make a positive impact in our community while advancing your career.

Explore everything that a career with West Berkshire Council has to offer here: Working with Us

Equal Opportunities

The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment, and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

How To Apply

Please now complete a short online application form. You will then be able to upload your CV.

This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.

West Berkshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share these values. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. Successful candidates will be offered employment subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications