Head of Family, Early Years and Childcare Services

Your new organisationSouthend on Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend.

Working for Southend on Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovate environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive worklife balance. As a Unitary Authority, we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in several exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.

Your new roleSouthend on sea city council is dedicated to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment for children and families. We are looking for a passionate and experienced professional to lead our Family, Early Years and Childcare programs, ensuring that high quality service is delivered consistently. This contract is offered on a full-time and permanent basis.As a Head of service (Family, early years and childcare services), you will provide strategic vision, leadership and direction to raise standards and drive forward continuous quality improvement in the Family, Early Years and Childcare Service, leading to improving outcomes for young children and their families. You will ensure that Southend council meets its statutory responsibilities relating to quality and safeguarding in Early Years Education and Childcare provision, including access to advice, training and support.

You will promote, model and exemplify the knowledge, skills and understanding of how young children learn and develop, including those with additional needs, so that quality of provision is striving to be at least good. You will work within Southend City Council's safeguarding policy and framework to monitor and manage potential risk within the area of responsibility.

This is a new post responsible for the management of a wide range of services for children, families and settings (including schools). These include:

* Early Years and Childcare Improvement Manager

* Family Centre Manager

* HAF co-ordinator

* Early Years Education and sufficiency Manager

* Early Years SEND Manager

* Wrap around childcare co-ordinator

The total number of staff in the service is approximately 40. The total anticipated budget responsibility in 2024/25 is anticipated to be £18.8 million. The post holder will be part of the Education, Inclusion Early Years senior leadership team.

You are expected to operate flexibly to support delivery of services and from time to time will be required to undertake responsibilities outside the normal remit of your role description as required by the line manager, which will broadly be commensurate with the job level and scope of competence. These duties will be subject to regular appraisal and any amendments will be made in consultation and agreement with the post holder.

For further enquiries, kindly contact What you'll need to succeedThe successful candidate will have significant experience in one or more of the services above and, ideally, have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). We are looking for someone with high level interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide strong leadership across the sector. It is vital that you have proven experience and knowledge of early intervention, SEND, EY funding and multi-agency working. You will also be part of the departmental senior leadership team, so will need to have a strategic vision and understanding of a whole range of education services, 0-25. The ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships is highly essential for this role.

To be successful in this role, you will need to have excellent knowledge of regulatory requirements and best practices in either early years and childcare or family services.The post will require the need to be mobile and move around the city, so a full clean driving licence with access to your own vehicle will be advantageous but not essential.

What you'll get in returnWhen joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the "Why Work For Us?" tab.

Salary: £67,901 in year 1, rising to £75,445 after 12 months

Teachers' pay and conditions will be considered if preferred by the successful candidate.

What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above, so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to. Southend-on-Sea City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check.

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