Job Opportunity with Barnardo's - Operational Children's Services Manager

Contract type: Permanent
Hours: 37
Salary: £33,591 - £46,189 (Full Time Equivalent)
Closing Date: 29 April 2022
Interview Date: W/C 9 May 2022

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Do you want to be part of shaping and leading a brand new innovative residential support service for young people in Leicestershire?  Can you achieve transformational change for looked after young people who have a range of complex needs? If you're passionate about the children in your care and can show understanding, tenacity and consistency of care – this may be the opportunity for you!

History of Service
A new model of Children's Residential Care provision has been developed within the Children's Innovation Partnership between Barnardo's and Leicestershire County Council. The partnership was established to drive forward key elements of the Care Placement Strategy 2018-2021. The Care Placement Strategy is an overarching document which brings together key departmental strategies within the overall pathway of edge of care through to leaving care.

Residential Design Brief
The first Design Brief the Children's Innovation Partnership was tasked with was in Residential Care. A period of comprehensive design work was carried out between January – September 2019, led by Barnardo's. The design work analysed strengths, areas for development and opportunities within the county.

Initial Location of Post
Currently properties have been identified and plans are being progressed. Therefore initially you will be based at Unit 6, Westleigh Business Park, Winchester Avenue, Blaby, Leicester, LE8 4EZ

Service overview and Objectives of Service

Residential provision – Leicestershire

This provision will take a therapeutic needs-based approach to ensure that the support each child receives is the most appropriate to their specific needs.

Children requiring residential care may have more severe behavioural problems than children requiring other types of provision for a variety of reasons, including:

• Effects of previous neglect and trauma.
  
• Impacts of disrupted relationships, including separation from their parents, breakdown of previous placement(s).
  
• Negative peer influences.
  
• Negative peer influences with concerns that they are involved with criminal exploitation or child sexual exploitation.

This provision is being established to increase the capacity of residential provision within Leicestershire, to increase local support for our most complex and vulnerable children and young people. This provision will focus on the following principles intended to improve outcomes:

• A safe and structured group living environment.
  
• Residential workers who are warm and responsive and who are specifically trained in attachment and ACES.
  
• Opportunities for children's and young people's development to flourish.
  
• Therapeutic support and relationships.
  
• Trauma-informed approaches.
  
• Preparation for transition to permanent placement or return home.

The Operational Children's Services Manager will have responsibility for the following services:

• Have operational oversight and lead working alongside the Residential Children's Service Manager / Responsible Individual of four residential services.
  
• The four services will be made up of a regulated Children's residential homes, which would include EBD , CSE , CCE.
  

The aims of the service is to provide a nurturing environment within four high quality homes/settings.  The homes will meet the needs of children and young people who have experienced trauma, neglect, rejection and whose basic needs have not been comprised. The homes will provide a truly therapeutic environment that can meet the needs of young people who require support to manage their behaviours safely, develop their resilience and prepare them for the demands of future life with their own families or in other settings.

In order to provide robust management oversight for the Residential homes we have developed an innovative model which will see two Children's Service managers working together to provide high quality safe care, 1 being the Residential Children's Services Manager / Responsible individual and we are now seeking to appoint an Operational Children's Services Manager. 

The Residential Children's Services Manager will be the Responsible Individual and will be accountable for ofsted purpose for all four residential homes.

The Operational Children's Services Manager will be responsible for day to day running of the homes, quality assurance, budgets, training and development, contract performance management and stakeholder relationships.

The Children's Services Manager includes the operational responsibility of working closely and supporting the Residential Children's Service Manager / Responsible Individual. Whilst there is no requirement for the post holder to engage in formal on call and shift cover there may be a requirement on occasions to work outside of normal hours to support the services.

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in and to lead the mobilisation of these new homes, as part of a new model of provision.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

This post may attract an additional market supplement and /or relocation expenses.

More information can be found on application. If you require a more detailed discussion, please phone Assistant Director Children's Services Kathy Thomas 07979246256.

About Barnardo's
At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and male candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's.

Full details and application documents here