Service Manager, Reception and Safe Care Centres – Supported Accommodation

Role Responsibility

Kent County Council’s Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking (UAS) Children’s Service provides accommodation and support to all newly arrived UAS children in Kent. The Service’s Reception and Safe Care Centres are Kent County Council’s (KCC) own ring-fenced provision for newly arriving children, safe and welcoming homes, where skilled and empathetic staff support children to begin to recover and resettle across the UK. Recognised as Outstanding by Ofsted in 2022, the Service strives to become a nationally recognised centre of excellence in the initial protection and care of UAS children.

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring or current Service Manager to be the Registered Manager for the Service’s Reception and Safe Care Centres for 16-17 year old children, which KCC has applied to register with Ofsted as a supported accommodation service.

You will lead and manage a diverse staff group, who are committed to supporting children in the Service’s care. You will ensure consistency and compliance with the requirements of external regulators and prescribed quality standards. You will provide professional leadership to shape the services provided to children within the Centres and work closely with the Assistant Director and Senior Management Team to improve and deliver services for UAS children across Kent.

KCC is looking for an outstanding individual who is committed to providing a first-class service to UAS children. We are looking for someone with significant senior management experience in Children’s Services, with experience working to improve outcomes for looked after children. You will be able to evidence good leadership skills and a proven track record for delivering good outcomes for children. Above all, you’ll be focused on helping UAS children begin to navigate a pathway to resettlement in the UK.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

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.

Interviews are anticipated to take place w.b. 30 September 2024 at Kroner House, Ashford.

As part of the interview process for this role you may be required to complete additional testing.

Candidates invited to interview will be required to deliver a presentation as part of the interview, which will need to be submitted to the panel ahead of time (details of the presentation topic will be shared directly with shortlisted candidates).

Contact Details

Queries should be directed to Siobhan Austin via siobhan.austin2@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!

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, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, 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.