Head of Safeguarding, Quality & Professional Standards

Job description

Job Introduction

Salary: £71,859 to £79,599 a year pro rata plus £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours: 37 hours a week
Contract type: Secondment for 12 months

This role is available for 12 months. Internal candidates who are permanent employees of Luton Council will be appointed on a secondment basis, while external candidates and other eligible applicants will be appointed on a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

Current Luton Council employees applying for this opportunity must obtain written approval from their manager before applying (an email will suffice). A copy of this approval must be included with the application, as we will be unable to progress applications without it.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

Luton Borough Council was recently awarded a Good rating from CQC, and our safeguarding practice was considered to be one of our key strengths. We take an inclusive approach to working with our residents making sure their voice is at the heart of everything we do. Social care staff are proud to work in Luton were leadership and equality is highly prized by our staff, and where we exceed both national and regional rates of staff satisfaction. If you have a keen interest in preventing safeguarding, driving up standards of practice with a high-quality data driven and relational approach, alongside collaborative partnership work this is the role for you.

What you'll be doing

As Head of Service for Safeguarding, Quality and Performance, you will provide strategic leadership across safeguarding, professional practice, quality assurance, performance and workforce development within Adult Social Care. You will lead our Quality Assurance Framework, ensuring high standards of practice are embedded across services, including with the East London Mental Health Foundation Trust who deliver some adult social care on our behalf. You will lead a team which includes the Principal Social Worker, Strategic Safeguarding Manager, LSAB business unit and practice consultants.

You will champion excellent professional practice by providing expert advice and oversight on complex cases, ensuring statutory social care responsibilities are consistently met and lead liaison with our legal team to develop practice. Leading the Adult Social Care performance agenda, you will work closely with business intelligence colleagues to drive a data-led approach to service improvement, delivering high-quality performance information, analysis and insight that informs decision making, strengthens accountability and improves outcomes for residents.

As a key member of the Adult Social Care senior leadership team, you will provide specialist expertise and strategic support to the Director of Adult Social Care, helping to shape service delivery, drive continuous improvement and ensure the organisation delivers safe, effective and person-centred services.

What we're looking for

We're seeking an experienced and credible social care leader with a strong track record of delivering strategic improvement and positive outcomes for adults. You'll bring substantial management experience within a care environment, alongside extensive expertise in adult safeguarding, partnership working and the delivery of high-quality, person-centred services.

You will be a confident and influential leader, capable of operating at a strategic level, resolving complex organisational challenges and making sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.

To succeed in this role, you'll need a comprehensive understanding of Adult Social Care legislation, policy and practice, including the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Human Rights Act and adult safeguarding responsibilities. You will be educated to degree level or equivalent, hold a recognised social work qualification, and be registered with the Social Work regulator in England. Most importantly, you'll be passionate about improving outcomes for residents, championing professional excellence and leading services that make a real difference to people's lives.

About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision.

Application Process

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person's criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.

Benefits

Please click here to learn about Luton Council Employee Benefits.

How to apply

We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our 'How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: Please click here for further information.

Attached documents:

• Luton_Values_Flyer.pdf - Luton Values Flyer
• Head of Service - Safeguarding Quality Performance Sept 26 - Final.pdf