About the role
We have a fantastic career opportunity for a Service Manager to join our team here at Northamptonshire Children’s Trust. This is an exciting time to be joining us, as we are still in a period of significant transformation, now delivering services as a Trust for two unitary authorities across the county.
The Children’s Trust allows for a single focus on improving the outcomes of children and young people in Northamptonshire and will aim to develop a working culture that allows the very highest quality of professional practice to flourish, aiming to deliver at the cutting edge of innovation.
What will you be doing?
You will provide leadership to the service, which will consist of brokerage, contract and supporting officers and managers. You will be responsible for leading the work of NCT’s Brokerage Service and associated support to provide the required services for Children, Young People and their families.
A key aspect of the team’s role is to source homes for our children in care, often within tight timeframes. Working with senior colleagues, the role will also be responsible for the implementation of our sufficiency strategy so that we can ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people.
You will be responsible for the strategic commissioning of children’s placements and developing and improving relationships with providers. The service also commissions bespoke service for individual children and families, including personal care and support
In line with our improvements plans the Brokerage service has recently been reviewed and this role will be responsible for leading the transformation of the service. The role will also oversee the service plan for the Commissioning of Services and manage performance in order that services are continuously improved and Northamptonshire Children’s Trust objectives are met.
You will also need to ensure that budgets and other resources are used in accordance with NCT’s priorities and financial regulations, and that expenditure is accurately monitored and reported within budget.
About you
We are looking for enthusiastic, highly motivated people who have knowledge, understanding and experience of children’s services and commissioning or other similar relevant experience.
It will be important that you have the desire to want to make a personal contribution towards improving our service. You will have a sound understanding and ability in relation to effective management practices, particularly as they relate to service planning and performance management and development of services and staff.
Key to the role will be a knowledge of the external market, especially fostering, residential and personal care. You will need excellent communication skills and be able to develop strong working relationships with our providers, partners and stakeholders. Using your experience, you will have the opportunity to develop a business strategy and implementing innovative operational plans to meet the service and NCT vision.
Our benefits
We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.
We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:
- 2 Day Induction Programme
- 2 days Signs of Safety training (social care colleagues)
- Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
- Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
- A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
- Local government Pension Scheme
- Heavily subsidised town centre car parking scheme
- Employee Discount Scheme
- 27 days’ annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days – dependent upon Grade after 5 years’ service
- Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days
- Employee Discount Schemes
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Monthly quality supervision
- SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
About us
Northamptonshire Children’s Trust was established in November 2020 to deliver Children’s Services to the newly established North and West Northants County Councils. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils; this provides the organisation with unique opportunities to explore new ways of working and to be more agile and adaptable in its approach to service delivery. We are developing a culture that allows the very highest quality of professional practice to flourish and evolve, delivering at the cutting edge of new innovation.
Attached documents
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