Learning Disability Service Manager

About the role

West Northamptonshire Council are seeking to recruit a dynamic, experienced, skilled, and innovative Service Manager to work within Adult Services, leading the Learning Disability Service and Moving into Adulthood priorities.

Within Adult Service’s the Learning Disability Service is currently based in two locations across West Northants, providing advice, assessments and support to people with a Learning Disability. The teams use the three conversations model to assist people to achieve sustainable and positive wellbeing, focussing on people’s strengths and community assets. When people require long term support the teams will undertake care act assessment and identify with them the outcomes they wish to achieve, completing reviews that focus on progression.

The service works closely with health partners to ensure a holistic approach to supporting people and that priorities within the system Learning Disability Collaborative are progressed, including reducing inequalities of people with a Learning Disability and reducing hospital admissions.

Moving into Adulthood is a key area of focus within Adult Services and the post holder will oversee the strategy and action plan that has been devised.

It is an exciting time to be joining West Northamptonshire, as we move to a place-based way of working across the Council, bringing other services together with Adult Social care in our communities. This role will be integral in developing this model and will work closely with Senior Manager’s across other organisations, including the Northamptonshire Integrated Care System and Voluntary Sector Organisations.

What will you be doing?

You will be leading and managing the Learning Disability Service and Moving into Adulthood function within Adult Services. Your key responsibilities will be:

• Providing advice and support to all staff, and managing them through periods of change.
• To set the strategic direction for Assessment and Social Work teams, implementing actions identified in the Service plan.
• To work with local Health partners to align services, and integrate service delivery wherever possible.
• To take the lead on projects designed to improve the lives of vulnerable adults and progress the move to Place based delivery of services.
• Responsibility for the independent care budget for the long-term care and support of people supported by the Learning Disability Service.
• Managing the performance of the Learning Disability Service and ensuring positive and high-quality Adult Social care practice is observed.

About you

The postholder will need to have substantial experience in Adult Social Care, social work and assessment services, safeguarding, a strong understanding of care budget management and evidence of leadership skills and ability to influence. You’ll also be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the legislation that underpins the delivery of relevant adult social care services and the wider public sector.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be forward thinking, innovative and self-driven
• Be able to lead staff through periods of change
• Be experienced in Management and Leadership
• Hold either a professional qualification in Social Care or Health or a relevant management qualification 
• Have a sound understanding of budget management 

For any queries about the role, please email Amy Brock (Amy.Brock@westnorthants.gov.uk)

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.