CHILDREN AND FAMILY COMMUNITY SERVICES SERVICE MANAGER CHILDREN S RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES SO3 JOB DESCRIPTION JOB SUMMARY: The Service Manager is responsible for the provision of Children s Residential Care, Bespoke Placements and Secure Accommodation on island. To provide effective management and leadership to a number of small group homes and bespoke provisions for looked after children providing short, medium and long term care, ensuring that the level of care received promotes best outcomes for children. The post holder will develop key relationships with partner agencies and colleagues tasked with meeting the needs of this small group of looked after children with complex needs. The post holder will be responsible for the management and supervision of the key staff to ensure the delivery of high quality residential and secure accommodation care within the procedural and legislative framework. The post holder will be required to play a key role in supporting the development of policies, procedures and protocols to provide the framework for the Legislation and the continual improvement of services. The post holder will promote the practice of working in partnership with young people, their families and other staff / professionals in order to meet the needs of children and young people. The post holder will support the ongoing development and transformation of this service going forward to ensure that best practice in maintained and promoted. RELATIONSHIPS: The post holder will report and be responsible to the Assistant Director, Children and Family Community Services. QUALIFICATIONS: CQSW / Diploma/Degree in Social Work.
Management Qualification. Demonstrable post qualifying experience in delivering direct services to children and young people to include experience within a residential care setting. Proven management experience. Registered with the HCPC. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To have responsibility for the management and safe and effective delivery of services within Children s Residential Care and to continue to improve standards in line with external reviewing and inspection mechanisms. Responsibility for service delivery and service development including business planning in line with departmental strategic objectives. To develop, implement and audit policies, procedures and protocols across the areas of Children s Residential Care. This will include departmental and multi agency policies. To ensure a robust and fit for purpose training program is in place to meet the needs of Residential Support Worker across this area of the service. This to include the ongoing development of National Vocational Training in this service area. To identify the training needs of staff working in the service areas and to assist in the provision of training and development as required. To formulate and write training in relation to your service area and to have an understanding of the strategic fit of this area of the service in relation to the wider strategic vison of Children and Family Community Services, the Committee for Health and Social Care and of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney. To actively promote the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) across children s residential care and ensure that this is consolidated into ongoing practice in partnership with other key colleagues within Children and Family Community Services. To continue to drive forward the ongoing transformation change and improvement of this area of Children and Family Community Services in line with current service planning and inspection standards. To be responsible for the continuous development of processes and pathways in accordance with the Children Law and policies and procedures which underpin children s residential care on the island. Chairing of Team Around the Child Meetings, Reception into Care Meetings, Multi Agency planning Meetings etc as required To be responsible for ensuring that all children and young people receiving a service have appropriate Care Plans/Risk Assessments and other key documentation in place to ensure their needs are identified and met. To have responsibility for monitoring and ensuring that services are provided to children within timescales and to ensure that outcomes for children are being measured to inform service development in this area.
To have responsibility for the budget within the service areas and to ensure good financial monitoring to achieve best value for children and families. To have responsibility for performance management and ensuring that all work is carried out to Departmental standards. Also to have responsibility for key manager s supervision, professional development and appraisal. To undertake Line Management responsibility in respect of Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures as necessary. To develop a motivated and effective management and staff team to provide best outcomes for children and to have responsibility for the recruitment and retention of key managers and other key personnel. To provide training as required to multi agency groups on current issues in Children s Residential Care and any other training as deemed necessary and appropriate. To ensure that appropriate Governance and Case Auditing processes are in place within this area of the service. To work in an anti oppressive and non discriminatory manner in all aspects of the work. To communicate effectively with other departments, external agencies, both statutory and voluntary. To take steps to ensure sufficient resources for all aspects of the service are identified and when allocated, maintained. Provide positive leadership and empower and encourage people to meet desired goals by keeping the workforce informed and motivated. To ensure operational, professional, and management activities meet and integrate with organisational requirements for Quality Management, Health and Safety Legal Stipulations, Environmental Policies and General Duty of Care. Ensure Job Descriptions are up to date, regularly reviewed and reflect the role and responsibility of the post holder. Investigate accidents, incidents and complaints, take remedial action where appropriate and ensure necessary documentation is completed and reported to the Assistant Director. To participate and lead the Residential Care Services Out of Hours Service Deputise for the Assistant Director as required.
KEY CRITERIA: ESSENTIAL 1. Knowledge of current Children s Law in Guernsey and knowledge regarding relevant UK Legislation, with a sound knowledge of relevant UK Procedures, Practice and Guidelines and those that apply in Guernsey. 2. Knowledge of child development, family dynamics and theoretical models underpinning social work practice as well as having knowledge and understanding of enabling the participation of children and young people in the development and delivery of service. 3. Knowledge and experience of child protection issues and the guidance and procedures that relate to safeguarding children, as well as knowledge & experience of the issues in relation to children and young people who experience abuse and abusive families, including research and practice development and how this contribute to the presentation of children within a residential care setting. 4. Proven Social Work skills in working with children, young people and families. Well developed skills in the provision of therapeutic and reparative care for children who have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect. 5. Ability to lead and inspire confidence amongst staff both individually and to the organisation as a whole, with experience of leading within an equal opportunity and anti oppressive framework. 6. An understanding of management issues in managing change in an organisation, with knowledge and experience of managing and motivating staff both individually and in a group with experience of planning service development. 7. Ability to develop staff within the service areas to meet objectives and the ability to work as a member of a management team. With knowledge and experience in the use of performance measures. 8. Negotiation, advocacy and influencing skills, effective verbal and written communication. Ability to work with a range of professionals at all levels both inside and outside the Directorate. 9. A commitment to working in partnership with children, young people and their families and recognition that the child is central to all the work of the Service. Experience of delivering services to children, young people and their families. Well developed skills in providing services across a multi disciplinary and multi agency setting. 10. Creativity in seeking new developments to ensure that the Directorate is offering a range of flexible services. Should the successful applicant not meet the key criteria sufficiently he/she may be appointed at a lower grade than stated. The successful applicant would then have the opportunity to progress to the grade advertised once the necessary skills and knowledge
have been developed and the post holder has demonstrated the ability to undertake the duties at the required level to the satisfaction of the Chief Officer.