Service Manager - Safeguarding, Professional Standards & Quality Assurance

Role Responsibility

This advert is for 2 roles within the Safeguarding, Professional Standards and Quality Assurance Unit.

1 x Service Manager for Safeguarding and Professional Standards – This role has management oversight for the Practice Development Services and the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) services. Proposed start date: Oct 2021

1 x Service Manager for Safeguarding and Quality Assurance – This role has management oversight for the Practice Development Services, Child Protection Conference (CPC) services and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) function. Proposed start date: Jan 2022

Kent County Council is looking for two outstanding individuals who are committed to providing a first-class service to children, young people and their families through overseeing the Authority's safeguarding and quality assurance activity.

Both roles are responsible for ensuring professional practice standards and effective quality assurance mechanisms and systems are in place in order to achieve excellence and demonstrate a positive impact on outcomes for children and young people.

These are key roles which drive forward continual improvement in Children's Services and evaluates the effectiveness of our arrangements to safeguard children. You will manage a large team utilising appropriate resources and budgets whilst contributing to and supporting effective inter-agency working, including the work of the Kent Safeguarding Children's Multi-Agency Partnership. You will provide advice and guidance to other professionals and deputise for the Assistant Director as required. 

We are looking for someone with excellent frontline practice skills; sound management experience in children's social care; the ability to analyse complex information and use this to support improvement in practice; a positive communicator who can collaborate, influence, challenge with excellent verbal and written skills. We are looking for someone who is deeply committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and will go the extra mile to make this happen.

You will have substantial knowledge of the legislation and statutory responsibilities that underpin Children's Social Care, including appropriate performance indicators and quality standards.

Kent County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.  Appointment is dependent on satisfactory and verifiable references.

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.

Please note interviews will take place on 16^th and 20^th September 2021 and successful applicants will be required to prepare a 10-minute presentation, topic to be sent with interview invitation.

Contact Details

If you are interested in this role and would like further information, please call Kevin Kasaven (Assistant Director of Safeguarding, Professional Standards & QA) on 03000 416334.

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.