Assistant Director – Corporate Parenting Full Time NEW

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Assistant Director to lead our corporate parenting practices. This pivotal role will require a strategic leader who can guide and lead with our mission and put our children at the heart of everything we do. As part of our senior leadership team, you will work to improve outcomes and ensure accountability across the corporate parenting agenda ensuring that our services are effective, inclusive and value driven.

Are you a dedicated, qualified social worker with a strong background in corporate parenting and child protection? Join us as an Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting, where you will play a vital role in fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and high standards. We are looking for a natural leader who excels in building partnerships with local agencies and the voluntary and community sectors to drive real impact. In this role, you will oversee quality assurance processes, ensuring our services are ready for regulatory inspections, while providing expert guidance to our Trust Leadership Team and Board on corporate parenting matters. With experience in people and budget management within a political environment, you will be at the forefront of shaping a safer, brighter future for Birmingham’s children

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children’s Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensure that our Corporate Parenting responsibilities are at the forefront of the services that we deliver
• Ensure the children we care for have the opportunity to live in family-based care
• Build effective partnerships with and between local agencies including the voluntary and community sectors in order to focus resources jointly on improving services and outcomes for children.
• To drive rigorous quality assurance and ensure adequate preparation for inspections by the regulator.
• To provide expert technical advice/briefing to the Trust Leadership Team, Board Members, as relevant to your service area or strategic responsibility.
• Drive to integrate service delivery, changing the way we organise, commission and deliver services, especially in how front-line staff from different disciplines and organisations work together.
• Help support in achieving the priorities of the Trust (protecting children from significant harm improving engagement and in learning and achievement in education and reducing health inequalities).
• Manage risk through ensuring our services have a relentless focus on child protection, and that these services are of the highest quality.
• Promote, lead and implement change and continuous improvement programmes improving service quality and creating performance cultures that drive up standards and performance.
• Take responsibility for ensuring the Trust achieves its plans and priorities by promoting an appropriate culture, empowering others and demonstrating high standards.
• Create an environment that enables people and resources to work to their full potential.
• Manage effectively and efficiently all financial and physical resources to fulfil the organisations objectives.
• Provide in depth analysis on the needs that will help us secure the services children and families really need to help support them.

What you will bring:

• Recognised Social Work qualification registered with Social Work England (SWE) and ideally a Management qualification or significant management experience
• Demonstratable skills in leadership, mentoring and coaching
• Evidence of managing a team, people and processes.
• Ability to manage own resources and professional development
• Evidence of effective budget management
• Experience of working with regulatory bodies such as Ofsted etc.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced, service lead environment
• Ability to develop reports and analyse information to support business delivery
• Have a clear understanding and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion matters.

Our Benefits:

• Relocation Allowance of up to £8,000 (T&C’s apply)
• We pay your Social Work England registration fee
• We pay your DBS application fee and reimburse your update service fee
• A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
• Early finish every Friday!
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme which gives you the chance to drive a brand-new car for an affordable fixed monthly amount as part of a salary sacrifice initiative. With no deposits or credit checks required a range of all-inclusive driving packages
• Free on-site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley). We also provide onsite electric car charging ports which are free to use!
• Full access to our amazing internal employee benefits scheme including, Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Benefits discounts (including the Blue Light Card), Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support and much more!
• Flexible and hybrid working policy – we are well adapted to a hybrid model of working which includes a combination of time spent in the office and at home and we offer a variety of working patterns, to support the needs of the Trust and to ensure a positive work/life balance for our employees
• You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Discounted gym memberships with Pure Gym and Nuffield Health

If you have any questions or want to find out more, please contact Lisa Jamieson on Lisa.jamieson@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk

Interviews to take place on Wednesday 13th May 

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work – be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment – enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development – benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits – take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.