Interim Head of Performance & Improvement Childrens Services

Interim Head of Performance & Improvement Childrens Services

Leading on the delivery of an effective performance management framework providing quality data analysis and intelligence to drive and support practice improvement and evidence the impact of the work of children's services.

Essential - Must have previous children's services experience in providing performance management strategic leadership and previously led Ofsted inspections. Must have proven track record of improving services in Children's Social Care.

Job Purpose

• To provide strategic leadership for a range of statutory children’s services, ensuring performance management assurance promotes the welfare of children.
• To be responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of an annual business plan by ensuring effective performance management and system delivery including identification of risk and capacity issues across the held portfolio of services.
• Take lead responsibility for the development and implementation of specific projects within Childrens Services in accordance with the Directorate’s and Client’s strategic priorities and manage all communication and risk issues.

Role Specifics

• Provision of clear leadership and strategic direction and oversight of information assurance, setting high-level strategy and policy, to ensure stakeholder confidence that risk to the integrity of information in storage and transit is managed pragmatically, appropriately and in a cost-effective manner.
• Promotion of strong multi-agency partnership working to ensure effective information sharing and joint working, you will be experienced in being able to robustly challenge and support internally and externally to ensure compliance with procedures, policy, and good practice.
• Lead role in external Ofsted inspection preparation and delivery of identified objectives and have the ability to confidently influence and negotiate your creative and innovative solutions at a senior level.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• Educated to degree or equivalent
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience

Essential

• Significant senior management experience in leading performance in a large agency/organisation relevant to the provision of services for children and young people
• A proven track record of improving services within children’s social care
• Operational and strategic management experience of leading services through Ofsted inspections and external scrutiny
• Delivery of service excellence and quality outcomes
• Successful experience of working within multi-disciplinary partnerships
• Evidence of managing budgets, ensuring that best value principles are met
• Effective project and programme management including positive change management

Desirable

• Experience of policy development and implementation in line with current government legislation, local priorities, and national best practice.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Ability to lead, manage and transform performance to achieve outcomes and objectives within the performance management framework

• Thorough understanding of the legislative and policy framework within which children’s social care operates and knowledge of the associated current and emerging issues facing the sector
• Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate at all levels within the organisation and with external agencies / partners
• Strong technical and analytical skills
• Good organisational skills and the ability to work in a demanding environment
• Demonstrable creative/innovative skills and ability to develop solutions to problems within the service and department
• Ability to form good judgements and make informed decisions

• Good interpersonal skills enabling productive working relationships with staff, colleagues, and partners

Desirable

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to articulate a vision and present clear performance reports and analysis to a wide range of audiences
• Ability to use IT effectively to support performance, presentation, communication, workload, and a flexible working approach
• Project management skills

Rate of Pay

PAYE: £519.67

Umbrella: £686.54

Location: At least 2 days in the office (Cunard Building, L3 1AH) per week, 3 days from home, so will ideally live locally