Assistant Director - Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Childrens Services

Role Responsibility

A new exciting opportunity is available for the Assistant Director for the Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Childrens Services. This role is directly responsible for the management of the following services/teams: Reception and Safe Care Service (RCSC) and and the role will contribute towards supporting Out of Hours work.

You will be responsible for partnership working, both with multiagency and government departments, as well as social work practice and performance in line with Kent’s vision for the delivery of Integrated Children’s Services and Special Education Needs & Disabilities. 

We are looking for an outstanding individual who is committed to driving sustained improvements in the development and implementation of Kent’s strategic approach to safeguarding children in close coordination with partner agencies.  You will be accountable for providing strategic leadership and operational direction in the development and continual improvement of the Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Childrens Initial Response Services for Children, Young People and Education Services, on a collaborative, multi-agency basis.

In May 2022, KCC Integrated Children’s Services were rated as Outstanding and the Area Assistant Director plays a key strategic and operational role in our drive to maintain our Outstanding grading.  You will be a qualified and registered social worker.  You will understand the importance of working within a statutory framework and recognise the benefits of good preventative and early intervention work. 

KCC is ambitious to be recognised as an Inclusive Organisation where everyone is valued. This is predicated on a commitment to embracing diversity by seeking it out, showing a real commitment to equality, fairness and justice which empowers people who are disadvantaged by discrimination and unjust biases. Inclusive Leadership requires leaders to address and overcome all forms of exclusion at personal, structural and systemic levels, thus requiring confident leadership and being at ease with different people and different perspectives. Inclusive leadership is therefore intrinsically linked to Equality Diversity & Inclusion work within organisations which enables and creates the actions and culture of an equal playing field for all. This is a challenging and exciting opportunity for a senior leader to be part of and take forward with KCC.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

Contact Details

For more information about the role, please contact Kevin Kasaven - Director of Children's Countywide Services  at kevin.kasaven@kent.gov.uk 

About the Company

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.