Here at Hillingdon, we believe in working together as one team with the aim to promote innovation, provide support and development to our people, and invest in internal and external partnerships to build resilience and strong networks for our children and families across the Borough.
As part of our Safeguarding and Quality Assurance transformation, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced leader with a good understanding of safeguarding arrangements, quality assurance, and a passion for transformational leadership to join our team as the Assistant Director – Safeguarding and Quality Assurance.
At Children's Services, we are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for our children and young people. Our mission is to promote their welfare and safeguard their interests through a range of services including safeguarding arrangements, quality assurance, training and development, scrutiny and oversight, and LADO.
As the Assistant Director – Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality services. You will devise and implement strategic plans, oversee service performance, and lead digital transformation initiatives. Your role will involve collaborating with diverse stakeholders to enhance outcomes for children and young people in our care.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide expert guidance to the Director of Safeguarding, elected members, and other stakeholders.
- Lead the digital transformation in the service, embedding strategies for more efficient service delivery.
- Steer the effective leadership and professional development of staff, promoting a culture of respect, integrity, honesty, collaboration, and efficiency.
- Oversee service performance and resources, ensuring compliance and achievement of key performance indicators.
- Represent the Director of Safeguarding/Corporate Director at various forums, influencing policy and practice.
- Provide visible and effective leadership to the service to ensure continuing development, high quality of delivery and outcomes, and achieve value for money.
What We Offer:
- A supportive and collaborative working environment.
- Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
- The chance to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Flexible working.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, or equivalent social work qualification.
- Proven track record of post-qualification experience, including management and leadership experience and experience of supervising social workers.
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Robust understanding of children's social care legislation, including the Children Act, Social Work Act, Fostering and Care Regulations, and other relevant legislation.
- Experience in managing significant budgets within public sector organisations.
- Demonstrated experience of overseeing transformation strategies in service delivery.
Our Values:
At Children's Services, our values guide us in our behaviours and decision-making processes. We are committed to:
- Respect: We appreciate what makes us different and include everyone. We recognize that we all have unique talents, skills, and experiences. We provide a professional service to our residents and colleagues and lead by example. We celebrate diversity and ensure our working practices are inclusive.
- Collaboration: We believe in the power of working together. We work collaboratively as one council. We promote creativity and innovation to improve outcomes for all. We recognize the strength of sharing knowledge and experience.
- Efficiency: We deliver the best possible outcome by carefully managing our resources. We are empowered to deliver the most efficient outcome. We harness new technology and tools to deliver our services efficiently. We look after our finances and maximize value for money for residents.
- Integrity: There is no gap between what we say and do. We choose what is right over what is easy. We trust and support each other to get the job done. We are responsible and accountable for our actions, both good and bad.
- Openness and Honesty: We are transparent in the actions and decisions we take. We provide a safe space to have truthful discussions in a positive way. We encourage constructive feedback without fear of judgment.
Join Us:
If you are passionate about making a positive impact and have the skills and experience we are looking for, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our senior leadership team, which is stable, ambitious, and “open and responsive to feedback, wanting to get things right for children. It is highly reflective and aspirational and has continued to improve and develop services for children in a manner that inspires confidence, and that staff can and do relate to.” (Ofsted inspection report October 2023)