AddressAbout 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?
About the job
Salary: £65,762 - £72,846 a year plus £5,000 market supplement and £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
Our Corporate Parenting Service includes our Fostering, Adoption, Looked after Children and the Care Leaver 18-24 Teams. Our focus is on enhancing the outcomes for our Looked after Children and we continually strive to strengthen our service.
As our Head of Service, you’ll achieve good outcomes for children and young people in care and care leavers by co-ordinating and delivering front line services and taking responsibility for leading on the development of the Pledge. You’ll be expected to make a significant contribution to securing equality of opportunity for children, young people and their families
This is a challenging yet rewarding role, you’ll be holding other professionals to account across education, social care, health and other services to ensure services for children and young people in care meet statutory requirements and best practice. We’re passionate about partnering with quality organisations to achieve better outcomes for children and their families, this helps us to ensure that the Council and its partners fulfil their full obligations as Corporate Parents.
About you
We are looking for someone who has substantial experience of Children in Care Services (including policy and strategic development). You'll also need to be skilled in developing partnerships across public and voluntary sectors. As a inspirational leader, you’ll motivate and manage the team to ensure that we fulfil our challenging objectives.
You'll working collaboratively with a wide range of people and issues. You’ll be required to influence, hold others to account and write clear and concise reports and presentations, so you’ll need to lean on your communication and inter-personal skills.
To thrive in this role, you’ll need to use your knowledge of legislation and statutory responsibilities in relation to Children and young people in care and leaving care, including adoption, fostering, education and housing.
We do ask that you have a professional qualification in social work, and management qualification or extensive management development training.
If you would like to discuss this role, please contact Teresa.Hills@luton.gov.uk
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.
Additional information
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
