Job info	Job info details
Job title	Service Lead – Children's Transformation
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Transformation
Business unit	Transformation
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Divisional Director Children's Transformation
Accountable to (line manager)	Divisional Director Children's Transformation
Salary grade	L
JE ref	CSERV057

1. Key purpose of job

• Delivering on the council Key Performance Indicators to provide outcomes for children by delivering transformational initiatives (including but not exclusive to the new children’s reforms) within the service, ensuring alignment with the council's strategic goals and objectives. Develop and implement transformation plans that drive service improvement and innovation. To provide management across the social care system sharing knowledge and experience to deliver timely outcomes for all children and young people. To utilize performance data and quality assurance frameworks to identify areas for improvement. Implement evidence-based practices to enhance service delivery and achieve better outcomes for children and families.
• To provide strategic direction and performance management delivering on the strategic values and vision of the council. Strategic responsibility for developing and implementing evidenced based practice taken from research that reflects current good practice and achieves best outcomes for children, young people and families. Promote the continuing professional development of all staff in the service and create a sustainable and effective workforce. Authority to implement decisions for service delivery in line with statutory and legal regulations to ensure good outcomes for children and families.
• Providing confident and evidence based leadership, working with the Divisional Director of Transformation to lead on the Whole Children’s Services change management process, ensuring that all staff are engaged and supported throughout the transformation. Provide training and development opportunities to build capacity for change and deliver on the strategic values and vision of the council. To foster positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including partner agencies, government bodies, and community organizations. Represent the service at regional and national forums to influence policy and practice.  Promote a culture of innovation by encouraging staff to explore new approaches and technologies. Stay informed about best practices and research in the field to drive continuous improvement.  Decision making in relation to meeting the Council’s and Service areas strategic aims and objectives in accordance with legislative, statutory and procedural requirements.
• Management responsibilities including, financial management decision making in line with Torbay financial regulations and ensuring all activities are carried out within delegated budgets. To support the Divisional Director to ensure that resources are effectively allocated and managed to support transformation initiatives. Provide leadership and direction for budget planning within services to ensure value for money and sustainability within the service. Quality assurance and Performance Management on a daily and weekly basis to address immediate service core activity across a variety of key social care areas of delivery. To understand and promote the core business of the Torbay Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and deliver its priorities.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Integration with the overall objectives of both the Council and Central Government, including as measured by key national and local performance indicators.
• Translating into successful operational reality by having the right resources in the right place at the right time.
• Drive the development of integrated working within and across teams for the benefit of young people and their families to ensure those who receive support experience this as a seamless process.
• Outcomes for children and young people are improved by the effective use of Quality assurance and performance information and data.
• Ensure all transformation plans include processes to gain the wishes and feelings of all children and young people are obtained and mechanisms devised to ensure they are recorded to provide an accurate picture of the children lived experience. 

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• Responsible for safeguarding action to protect children and young people at risk of significant harm.
• To take responsibility as directed by the Divisional Director of Transformation for all aspects of Children's Services reforms and to include supporting the Divisional Director with the following:
  • Set and achieve goals for transformation services, making sure they align with the Council's overall direction.
  • Creating policies and procedures and translating these into robust practice to ensure effective and reliable processes are in place.
  • Working with schools, VCS, health, police and other stakeholders (including children, young people and families) to ensure thorough consultation and collaboration.
  • Support the resolution of complex and sensitive issues arising during the implementation of the reforms / transformation activity, applying operational guidelines with sound judgement, advocacy, and empathy. 
  • Ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of families and services, with outcomes that have significant implications for care, support, and long-term service improvement.
  • Build trust and confidence among frontline practitioners and managers in children's services and partner agencies, fostering cooperation across different professions, and involving children, young people, and families in service development and delivery.
  • To support services during times of change, minimizing negative impacts while maximizing performance improvements.
  • Take a lead role in monitoring and evaluating key policies, service practices, and provisions related to the implementation of Families First reforms.
  • Provide evidence-based recommendations for service-wide improvements and oversee the effective management and delivery of agreed changes to ensure alignment with key objectives and improved outcomes for families.
  • Use strong analytical and performance management skills to monitor and evaluate services, ensuring standards are met and intervening constructively when needed.
  • Ensure alignment with the Council's and Central Government's objectives, including key national and local performance indicators.
  • Make professional decisions based on high standards and evidence.
  • Implement high-quality standards consistently, share good practices, and monitor progress against established benchmarks.
  • Ensure strategies and policies meet statutory requirements and best practices. 
  • Operate effectively in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities and tight deadlines, ensuring the continued progress of Families First reforms. 
  • Adapt quickly to changing circumstances while maintaining focus on delivering high-quality outcomes for children, families, and services.
  • Promote innovative service delivery models by leading and developing partnerships between the Council and other public, private, and voluntary bodies.
  • Sustain and improve the overall reputation of the Council and act in the best interest of the Authority through effective representations regionally and nationally.
  • Work in partnership across the system and foster positive working relationships with colleagues within social care, corporate services, partner agencies and universal providers. 

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• Ensure that Financial Regulations are complied with and best value principles adopted. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• The post holder will be expected to provide planned and ad hoc supervision to range of workers aligned to the transformation agenda. This may also include professionals seconded into the transformation team from partner agencies if required.
• The post holder will have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide on-going specialist advice, consultation and recommendations to other professionals in line with the transformational strategy and operational practices. 
• Demonstrate management competencies, acting with openness, honesty, integrity, instilling a clear sense of direction and purpose, priority and pace. Manage people in an inclusive way to deliver operational objectives. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal office environment but can be required to visit external environments for example partner agencies locations. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal Resources. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External - Other Local Authorities, Other Public Sector Organisations, the Council’s Auditors, Private and Voluntary Organisations and Employers, HMIs including Ofsted and the CQC. 
• Internal - Executive Members, Elected Members, Chief Executive, Directors, Senior Leadership Team, staff at all levels across the Council, Trades Unions. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job. 

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• The post is eligible for hybrid working.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Service Lead – Children's Transformation
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Transformation
Business unit	Transformation

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• First class communication skills – ensuring that the reputation of Torbay Council is promoted at every opportunity.
• Ability to drive change and to support services during periods of change and development, minimising the impact on outcomes, performance improvements to a service.
• Ability to inspire the trust and confidence of frontline practitioners and managers across Children’s Services, building alliances across the different professions and systematically involving experts by experience in the development and delivery of services and supports.
• Able to think creatively and develop innovative solutions.
• Enhanced IT Skills across a multitude of difference platforms including case management recording systems.
• Significant decision-making skills – the ability to analyse information, draw conclusions and effect judgements based on outcomes and risk.
• Proven problem-solving skills – the ability to identify causes, make objective and informed judgements that demonstrates emotional resilience and balance.
• Proven ability to work effectively to ensure delivery of a team or teams within a children’s social care service to deliver outcomes for children and young people.
• Ability to appraise and motivate staff in a way that ensures compliance with policies but also enables individuals to develop. Including the effective use of performance management in enabling staff development and ensure service delivery is achieved.
• Proven skills in delivering key performance requirements linked to statutory delivery for a Children’s social care setting. 
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues and partners across agency boundaries.
• Ability to plan, organise and use resources effectively and efficiently.
• Understanding of effective management practices, particularly as they relate to managing an integrated service and working with partners.
• Effective influencing, negotiating and advocacy skills.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Thorough understanding of current legislation and DfE guidance and developments in services to children young people and families.
• Thorough understanding of the professional practice relating to safeguarding and working with complex families including the role of the TSCP and Working Together 2023.
• Knowledge and understanding of the full range of activities delivered by the Authority and partners in relation to children, young people and families.
• Ability to demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities. 

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of project management methodology i.e. Prince2. 
• Experience of working in a variety of service areas within Children’s Social Care. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Significant experience working with children and families in the context of current legislation and government initiatives.
• Experience delivering positive outcomes for children and young people. 
• Experience of managing teams and assuring compliance to policy and procedures.
• Experience of working under pressure and making robust evidenced informed decisions.
• Significant experience of working with children, young people, parents and carers.
• Evidence of having delivered improved outcomes and impact for children and young people.
• Understanding and experience of performance monitoring and performance management techniques to drive service improvement.
• Experience of managing and monitoring delegated budgets. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of commissioning. 
• Experience of developing and using data in securing service improvement.
• Experience of setting up and developing new services. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Social Work Degree. 
• Evidence continued professional development.
• Current Registration with Social Work England. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Management qualification. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. 
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties. 
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours. 
• Ability to accommodate on-call working. 
• Ability to accommodate occasional home-working.