Southend on Sea City Council

Welcome

Welcome to Southend-on-Sea City Council, a vibrant place to live, work and to develop your career. We are seeking a talented and ambitious Head of Service for Corporate Parenting; Joining our team will mean stepping into a dynamic leadership role that plays a crucial part in shaping the lives of our children and young people. In this, you will be supported by a vibrant workforce, and be passionate about delivering the very best service to every child in our care.

Our progress:

• Improvement journey: In recent years, our Children’s Services have made significant strides. We have enhanced support for children in care, strengthened adoption processes, and improved outcomes for care leavers. In just two years, we will have added 25 new fostering households with plans to continue this impressive growth.
• Ongoing work: However, there is still work to be done. Balancing strategic vision with day-to-day delivery is essential. As we continue to evolve our services, your leadership will be instrumental in navigating this delicate balance.
• Positive leadership: In a landscape where demand, supply, and financial constraints intersect, positive leadership is paramount. Your ability to inspire, collaborate, and drive positive change will be critical.

Your impact:

• Strategic shape: You’ll contribute to shaping the strategic direction of our service and our commitment to a culture of continuous improvement. Your insights and decisions will impact the lives of vulnerable children and families across our city.
• Tactical delivery: Ensuring that our vision translates into practical delivery plans, despite the increase in complex care needs. Your leadership, expertise and ability to prioritise will be invaluable.
• Navigating tensions: We recognise the real tensions between demand, supply, and financial sufficiency. Your leadership will help us find innovative solutions while maintaining high standards of care.
• Agency worker optimisation: We’re committed to reducing reliance on agency workers, ensuring consistent and high-quality care for our children.
• External engagement: You’ll build and enhance strategic relationships with partners in our business communities, housing providers, and the broader health and care system.

For an initial informal discussion, please contact Simon Winspear at Hays Executive, our recruitment partners.

Simon’s contact details are 07525 466 357 / simon.winspear@hays.com

Join us in this rewarding journey, where your passion, resilience, and commitment will make a lasting difference. Together, we will continue to improve and transform the lives of those who rely on our services. We want the right people to join us to realise this opportunity for the children and young people of Southend-on-Sea. So, welcome to our site, have a read and please do consider whether you could join us on this journey.

Thank you for your interest I look forward to reading your application and meeting you in person very soon!

Lissa-Marie Minnis
Director of Children’s Social Work, Early Help, and Youth Support