Head of Children and Young People’s Service

Head of Children and Young People’s Service

36 hours per week, part time also considered

Salary: £43, 000 - £46, 000 depending on qualifications and experience

(Mileage to be paid at 45p per mile)

Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey has been established for over 100 years.  We enable and empower people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, partially sighted, and deafblind to overcome barriers and to be as independent as possible. 

 An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Senior Management Team, and lead our Children and Young People’s Service.  The service helps children, young people and families to thrive, by providing a variety of vibrant and impactful services including the Habilitation Service on behalf of the Local Authority.   

Principal accountabilities:

1.     Provide overarching leadership, and management, to the Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS).  

2.     Lead, in collaboration with the CYPS Operational Manager, the Surrey County Council contract for Habilitation services ensuring that the Key Performance Indicators are met and reported on, in line with the contractual obligations, and that the contract is secured for the future.

3.     Lead, in collaboration with the CYPS Operational Manager, the CYPS Service Facilitator and others, the delivery of outputs and outcomes of a number of grant funded services.

4.     Ensure policies and procedures are followed at all times, and to ensure appropriate risk assessments are conducted and maintained.

5.     To be the designated Safeguarding Lead for Children and Young People for the charity, working closely with Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership and other organisations such as Surrey Youth Focus, and internally with the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Adults.  

6.     To plan and manage the departmental budget for the Children and Young People’s Service, making best use of resources at all times to achieve maximum impact for the people we support across the organisation.  

7.     Regular reporting to Surrey County Council, Services Committee, Trustee Board, and funders as required.

8.     Line management of the CYPS Operational Manager, the Children and Young People’s Service Facilitator, and a number of other direct reports.

9.     Support and supervise the team of staff and volunteers to ensure that they perform and work to the agreed standards and in line with our organisational values.

10. Conduct annual appraisals and identify training needs within the team to meet all national standards. 

11. Work with the CYPS Operational Manager to succession plan, and manage the training and development of Trainee Habilitation Specialists to ensure the charity is well resourced.

12. Provide information, support and advice for children with vision impairment/ Multi-Sensory Impairment and their families /carers.

13. To develop the service to include children and young people who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf, and their families, working in partnership with other organisations to ensure we add value. 

14. To share responsibility for the Charity’s operational decision making with other senior managers.

15. To oversee the management and maintenance of the contract for Children’s statutory register of vision impairment.

16. To work in partnership with internal teams, such as fundraising and communications, to ensure the Children and Young People’s Service is well resourced, and always in line with the charity brand.

17. To develop and manage external partnerships as required

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

 Desirable

• Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) or equivalent qualification which specifically meets all the learning outcomes arising from the ‘Quality Standards – Delivery of Habilitation Training (Mobility and Independent Living Skills) for Children and Young People with Visual Impairment (2011)’: Qualification Participant Learning Outcomes.
• Registration with relevant professional body.
• First Aid Certificate (if the successful applicant does not already hold this, they will be required to complete it before starting in post)
• Level 3 Safeguarding qualification (if the applicant does not have an in-date certificate they will be required to complete this before starting in post)
• Communication skills for working with people who are Deaf, or those with Dual Sensory Loss e.g. clear speech, block alphabet, deafblind manual, BSL  

Essential

• Extensive experience of working with children, young people and families
• Extensive work history in roles that include the overarching responsibility for Safeguarding children and young people as a Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Leadership experience including leading a Multi-Disciplinary Team
• Excellent line management skills
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft 365 and a range of databases
• Excellent communication skills
• Basic counselling skills e.g. listening, reflecting, summarising
• Experience of working with Social Care and/or the NHS in either an operational or commissioning context
• Experience of managing risk

We can offer you:

·       A generous annual leave allowance (full time annual leave entitlement is 28 days per annum, plus bank holidays)

·       Investment in your development

·       Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

·       Pension contributions 6% matched with the Pensions Trust

·       Annual flu vaccinations and an eye test every two years with a contribution towards work related glasses

·       Wide range of training opportunities suitable for your role

·       A staff rewards programme

·       A growing range of other staff benefits

·       A vibrant and friendly team!    

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service will be required which we can arrange.