Bridgend Children’s Social Care
Our purpose:
“Working together to enable better outcomes for children, young people and their families via strong relationships, effective practice and timely and responsive services, which support children and families to live together (wherever possible), work on difficulties and safeguard children from harm.”
Three-year strategic plan
We are looking to implement a strength-based model of effective social work practice at Bridgend County Borough Council over the next three years. At the very heart of this approach will be the focus on protecting children from harm and developing positive outcomes, through strong relationships with families and partners who work together as the ‘village’ it takes to raise a child.
Children’s social care will have a clear purpose, realised through a culture and values inclusive and supportive to everyone within the service. We want the people we work with to feel part of the ‘family firm’. Our culture will be open and transparent, celebrating our strengths and commitment to learning and development and continuous improvement.
Our highly effective management and leadership will provide clarity, structure, excellent supervision and deliver high support and appropriate challenge.
We are looking to recruit two individuals to work with our senior leadership team to deliver our vision for children’s social care:
A Social Work Service Manager for our three locality hubs and a Principal Officer - Social Work Transformation, who will lead on the implementation of our practice model.
Could you be the right person to help shape our vision for the future?
Principal Officer – Social Work Transformation
37 hours per week
Reporting to the Head of Children’s Social Care, you will lead the development of a new professional social work model for the service, based on best practice and the analysis of current systems.
This is an opportunity to work with our Head of Service and senior management team to help shape our services and develop a new social work model that is inclusive and responsive to children, young people, families, and carers, ensuring that people experience a seamless model of service delivery.
You will lead a process of change management, disseminating best practice and ensuring regulatory compliance. Your remit will include performance management, monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance as well as liaising with our key partners and stakeholders.
Your professional credibility will be complemented by proven leadership and management skills, the ability to inspire and motivate others and manage resources and services effectively.
To arrange an informal discussion, email: Joanne.Dando@bridgend.gov.uk
Why Bridgend County Borough?
Home to around 143,000 people, Bridgend County Borough offers an enviable mix of a traditional seaside town, dramatic un-spoilt coastlines through to scenic valleys.
It has three main town centres with an excellent mix of national brands and local retailers as well as an out-of-town designer shopping outlet at McArthur Glen.
The county borough offers some affordable housing options, with properties in the area having an overall average price of £208,632 over the last year.
This is in comparison to nearby Bristol which has an average price of £359,789. (Source: Zoopla).
It offers some primary and secondary schools that are rated ‘Outstanding’ in Estyn inspections as well as an excellent post-16 education college.
Situated almost equidistance between Swansea to the west and Cardiff to the east, it enjoys excellent transport links, London Paddington is just over 2hrs 15mins by train and the M4 motorway runs through the county borough.
We offer a range of employee benefits, fully funded qualifications, discounted leisure schemes, discount cards, Cycle to work salary sacrifice etc.
With an established and highly experienced senior management team, Bridgend County Borough offers the perfect place to base your social work career.
A relocation fee of up to £8000 will be considered for this post
Protecting children, young people or adults at risk is a core responsibility of all council employees.
Applicants should note that a criminal records check by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) will be necessary for the successful applicant.
Closing Date: Wednesday 26th October 2022
Click here for the Job Description and Person Specification
To apply, click 'Apply Online'