Welcome / About the roles
About the roles
Salary: £60,662 to £68,265 plus reviewable market supplement up to £79,480
Location: West Offices York (minimum 3 days per week) / Hybrid working
Contract: Full-time / Permanent
This is an exciting opportunity to join City of York Council at an important stage in the development of our Adult Social Care services. As part of our wider improvement journey, we have reviewed our senior leadership structure and service design to ensure we have the right leadership capacity, professional expertise and focus to respond to changing needs across York.
We are making a number of appointments to the Head of Service, Operations role, with each successful candidate taking leadership responsibility for a key Adult Social Care portfolio as detailed below:
- Safeguarding, Early Support & Prevention
- Home First, Community, Rehab & Recovery
- Assessment & Support
- Learning Disability & Autism
- Mental Health
As a Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across complex and sensitive services. You will be responsible for delivering safe, effective and high-quality support, while ensuring services achieve strong outcomes and provide value for money within a challenging financial environment.
You will lead the development of person-centred, strengths-based and community-led approaches that support independence and make the best use of the strengths and resources available within York’s communities. Working alongside colleagues across Adult Social Care and Integration, you will help shift the balance of support towards prevention, early intervention, self-management and community-based solutions.
The role includes responsibility for service planning, performance, finance, improvement and workforce leadership. You will work closely with people who draw on services, carers, colleagues, elected members and partners across health, housing and the voluntary and community sectors. You will also provide leadership on safeguarding, equality and inclusion, regulatory assurance and the delivery of the Council’s statutory responsibilities.
We are looking for visible and collaborative leaders who can combine strategic thinking with a strong grip on operational delivery. You will be comfortable leading through change, making complex decisions and developing creative and sustainable solutions to rising demand and financial pressures.
Candidates interested in the Head of Service, Operations opportunities only need to submit one application. In your supporting statement, you may indicate whether you have a preference for a particular portfolio and should outline the specialist knowledge, skills and experience you would bring.
While preferences will be considered, these are flexible senior leadership roles. Successful candidates may be required to lead across different portfolios as organisational priorities and service needs develop.
Head of Service, Operations - Job Description / Person Specification [doc.712kb]
We are also recruiting a Head of Practice Development to provide strategic leadership for professional practice, quality assurance, workforce development and service improvement across Adult Social Care.
You will lead the development and implementation of evidence-based practice, ensuring that strong professional frameworks are embedded throughout the organisation. Working closely with the Principal Social Worker and Principal Occupational Therapist, you will help create the conditions in which practitioners can flourish, develop and influence how services improve.
A key part of the role will be strengthening strengths-based, rights-based and outcome-focused practice. You will ensure that colleagues have the professional support, legal literacy, guidance and development opportunities needed to practise safely and effectively. You will also lead practice assurance arrangements, using evidence, performance information, professional insight and feedback from people who draw on services to identify areas for improvement.
You will champion co-production and ensure that the voices of people with lived experience, carers and practitioners influence service design and development. You will work across organisational boundaries to strengthen professional standards, support innovation and promote approaches that improve independence, wellbeing, safety and choice.
We are looking for an influential and values-led professional leader with significant senior-level experience in Adult Social Care or Health. You will bring a strong understanding of statutory responsibilities, professional practice and service improvement, together with the ability to inspire colleagues and lead sustainable change across a complex system.
Head of Practice Development - Job Description / Person Specification [doc.717kb]
Working together for York
Although the roles have distinct areas of responsibility, all successful candidates will form part of the Adult Social Care leadership team and will contribute collectively to the strategic direction, performance and continued improvement of services.
You will work across traditional organisational and professional boundaries, building strong relationships with communities, partners and colleagues. You will help ensure that Adult Social Care is sustainable, responsive and focused on what matters most to people.
We recognise the importance of supporting colleagues joining at this significant stage of our journey. Successful candidates will benefit from a robust induction and development programme, including support tailored to senior leaders in Adult Social Care, wider corporate development opportunities and a strong focus on team building, shared learning and collective leadership.
Working arrangements
These are visible leadership roles, with successful candidates expected to work in person with colleagues, partners and services when required. Hybrid working is supported where it is compatible with the responsibilities and needs of the service.
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