Overview
Main purpose of the job: To lead a short-term digital exploration project within Adult Social Care, identifying potential use cases for emerging technologies to improve Adult Social Care processes. The role will involve formulating a robust business case, analysing options and return on investment, and working collaboratively with internal ICT, Digital and Business Change teams to explore opportunities for internal solutions and alignment with the Medway 2.0 programme.
Key Responsibilities
* Engage with internal staff, people with lived experience, the voluntary and community sector, and external partners to determine requirements and ensure co-production of proposed solutions.
* Liaise with stakeholders in a way that promotes the One Medway Council Plan and embeds our values and behaviours.
* Research and identify potential applications of new technologies (e.g. automation, AI, digital platforms) within Adult Social Care processes to improve efficiency and outcomes.
* Prepare a comprehensive business case including cost‑benefit analysis, ROI projections, and risk assessment for proposed digital solutions.
* Engage with Adult Social Care operational teams, frontline staff and managers to understand pain points and opportunities.
* Consult with people with lived experience, carers, and advocacy groups to ensure solutions meet real‑world needs.
* Work collaboratively with VCS organisations and external partners to identify integration opportunities and best practices.
* Liaise with ICT and Digital teams to assess feasibility of internal builds and integration with existing systems.
* Work closely with the Business Change team to identify synergies with the Medway 2.0 programme and with the Adult Social Care Transformation Team to ensure alignment with wider transformation objectives.
* Ensure outcomes are in line with legislative frameworks, policies and standards, and meet the strategic aims of Adult Social Care.
* Apply structured project management approaches to deliver outputs within agreed timescales.
* Maintain clear documentation of findings, recommendations and decision‑making processes.
* At the discretion of the Head of Service, undertake additional activities consistent with the nature of the job described above.
Key Corporate Accountabilities
* Work with colleagues to achieve service plan objectives and targets.
* Understand and keep up to date with GDPR responsibilities, including completing regular refresher training.
* Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: all employees are required to act in such a way that safeguards the health and well‑being of children and vulnerable adults.
* All council employees are responsible for ensuring the well‑being and positive outcomes of Medway’s care‑experienced children and young people.
* Participate in the Performance Appraisal process and contribute to the identification of own and team development needs utilising the Career Progression Framework.
* Work in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
* Promote equality of opportunity, foster good relations and improve the quality of life and opportunities for everyone living and working in Medway.
* Ensure full compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and all locally agreed safe methods of work.
* Fully understand and be aware of the commitment to the duty under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to prevent crime and disorder.
* Promote the Medway Carbon Neutral by 2050 commitment; support the Council action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency.
* Medway Council is a Category One responder in relation to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and, as a result, all staff may be asked to carry out Category One response duties or stand into the role of another member of staff who is responding to a major civil incident.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Level A: Educated to degree level in project management or equivalent level qualification.
* Level B: Willingness to work towards qualification in change management.
* Level C: Evidence of continuous professional development; completion of qualification in change management.
Knowledge
* Level A: Good understanding of adult social care issues in a public sector environment; detailed knowledge of project management approaches; knowledge and understanding of equality issues in relation to service provision; knowledge and understanding of procurement and commissioning arrangements in a social care context.
* Level B: Knowledge of adult safeguarding practice, legislation and research; knowledge of key statutory legislation affecting the delivery of designated adult social care services; knowledge of the Council’s financial regulations for monitoring budget, processing invoices and procurement.
* Level C: Comprehensive knowledge and application of key legislation for social care, including housing and health; comprehensive knowledge of diversity and equality issues in relation to service provision; extensive knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools.
Experience
* Level A: Experience and successful track record in leading, managing and empowering staff to deliver whole‑system and outcome‑focused approaches in adult social care.
* Experience of managing projects and programmes at a senior level within a large organisation.
* Experience of preparing and delivering evidence‑based reports to secure support from stakeholders and inform decision‑making regarding various projects and service enhancements.
* Experience of undertaking consultation with stakeholders.
* Experience of planning project activities and monitoring progress against the plan.
* Experience of monitoring budgets within a project environment, including monitoring spend and achievement of savings targets.
* Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at a senior level.
* Experience of working successfully in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, multidisciplinary teams, senior managers, agencies and providers.
* Experience of establishing connections at the local, regional and national levels to shape and enhance the strategic development and delivery of services.
* Level B: Experience of ensuring services are provided and developed in such a way that promotes independence, choice and social inclusion.
* Comprehensive experience of managing risks and issues and reporting on progress.
* Comprehensive experience of monitoring budgets in a project environment, including spend and significant savings targets in excess of £500,000, and business planning processes.
* Significant experience of collaborating with partners and residents to improve and implement ways of working that will benefit the service.
* Significant experience of implementing policies and strategies in a similar or related setting.
* Experience of embracing best practices by benchmarking and networking with other local authorities.
* Experience of informing and engaging with elected members.
* Level C: Extensive experience working in adult social care, understanding operational systems and relevant legislation to drive forward performance.
* Extensive experience in contributing to the ongoing development and achievement of the strategic vision for the service.
Skills
* Level A: Experience of using Microsoft packages including Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, Outlook and Project planning tools.
* Demonstrable ability to develop medium‑term solutions or plans, which take up to a year to formulate.
* Demonstrable interpersonal skills, with the ability to build support for change and collaborative working.
* Ability to respond independently to problems where there are no recognised procedures and decisions must be made without ready access to a manager.
* Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritise and respond to competing priorities, changing priorities and business needs, manage multiple tasks, manage time and resources, and work under pressure to deliver to deadlines.
* Ability to demonstrate high levels of autonomy and initiative.
* Ability to motivate others to meet collective objectives.
* Good written and communication skills.
* Ability to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders both within and outside the Council.
* Level B: Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to quickly gain credibility with other stakeholders.
* Demonstrable ability to deal with high levels of work‑related pressure, for example from deadlines, interruptions or conflicting demands.
* Ability to prepare and produce concise reports for dissemination to senior stakeholders and management.
* Ability to produce presentations and present to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
* Level C: Ability to analyse complex issues from multiple sources.
* Ability to develop resource plans over the short, medium and long‑term and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
* Ability to make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight timescales.
* Ability to present complex and/or sensitive information in an understandable way, using a variety of methods, across a range of audiences.
Working Style
Hybrid: a flexible working arrangement whereby an employee can undertake their work either in the office and/or partially or mainly from home on a temporary or permanent basis.
Organisation
This role reports to the Head of Transformation and Improvement. The post holder will not be required to line‑manage others but may be required to direct, coordinate or train other employees. The post holder will be required to liaise with all stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation.
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