Role: Assistant Director – Corporate Parenting
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. You will be a natural leader who excels at 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.
Key Responsibilities
* 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
* Drive rigorous quality assurance and ensure adequate preparation for inspections by the regulator
* Provide expert technical advice/briefing to the Trust Leadership Team, Board Members, as relevant to your service area or strategic responsibility
* Drive integration of service delivery, changing how we organise, commission and deliver services, especially in how front‑line staff from different disciplines and organisations work together
* Help support the Trust’s priorities: protecting children from significant harm, improving engagement and learning and achievement in education, and reducing health inequalities
* Manage risk by ensuring our services have a relentless focus on child protection and are of the highest quality
* Promote, lead and implement change and continuous improvement programmes to improve service quality and create performance cultures that drive up standards
* 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 organisation’s objectives
* Provide in‑depth analysis on 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
* Demonstrable 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
* Experience of working in a fast‑paced, service‑lead environment
* Ability to develop reports and analyse information to support business delivery
* Clear understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion matters
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
* Generous annual leave package of 30 days 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 – drive a brand‑new car for an affordable fixed monthly amount as part of a salary sacrifice initiative
* Free on‑site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley) with free electric car charging ports
* Full access to internal employee benefits scheme, including Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support
* Flexible and hybrid working policy – a combination of time spent in the office and at home
* Generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the Local Government Pension Scheme
* Discounted gym memberships with Pure Gym and Nuffield Health
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 collaborative culture where your contributions are valued
* Career development – benefit from tailored development programmes, supportive supervision and a range of learning opportunities
* Generous benefits – 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 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 young people. When we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive, and we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.
Safeguarding
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 by 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 depends on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.
Contact
For more information, contact Lisa Jamieson at Lisa.jamieson@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk. Interviews may take place on Wednesday 13 May.
Help us to change children and young people’s lives!
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