Corporate Director - Children's Services

Overview

Buckinghamshire is one of England's largest and most diverse unitary authorities, combining thriving market towns, rural communities and significant areas of growth and development. Home to more than half a million residents, we are a council with big ambitions for our residents, communities and workforce.

We are proud of our strong sense of place. Buckinghamshire offers an exceptional quality of life, excellent schools, a vibrant economy, outstanding countryside and strong transport links to London, Oxford, Milton Keynes and beyond. It is a place where people choose to live, work and raise families.

At Buckinghamshire Council, our ambition is simple: to improve the lives of our residents and create stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities. Children and young people are at the heart of that ambition.

Children's Services plays a critical role in shaping the future of Buckinghamshire. Working alongside schools, health partners, the voluntary sector, police and communities, we are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to be safe, thrive and achieve their potential.

We know that the challenges facing children and families are becoming increasingly complex. That's why we are focused on delivering excellent services while continuing to innovate, improve and strengthen our partnerships across the county.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is entering an exciting new phase in its development. Under the leadership of our new Chief Executive, we are building on strong foundations while creating a culture that is increasingly focused on empowerment, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.

We want talented leaders who are prepared to challenge convention, think creatively and work collaboratively to solve problems. We are creating an environment where decisions are taken at the right level, where people feel trusted to lead, and where innovation is encouraged and supported.

Our ambition is not simply to manage services well; it is to create the conditions for services, communities and people to flourish.

About the role

The Director of Children's Services is one of the most influential leadership roles in Buckinghamshire.

This is an opportunity to lead services that make a profound difference to the lives of children and families whilst helping to shape the future direction of one of the country's largest councils.

You will join a strong and supportive Corporate Leadership Team, benefit from a stable political environment, and work alongside committed partners who share a determination to achieve the very best outcomes for children and young people.

Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

About you

We want Buckinghamshire to be a place where every child is safe, supported and able to thrive.

A place where children and young people receive the right help at the right time.

A place where families are empowered, communities are connected and services work together seamlessly around the needs of children.

A place where vulnerable children receive exceptional support, where educational achievement is championed and where every young person is given the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

We know there is more to do, and we are ambitious about what comes next. For the right leader, this is an opportunity to help shape that future.

Other information

To find out more about this opportunity, contact our recruitment partner, Faerfield:

Zara Bruton
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0121 312 3755

Martin Tucker
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0121 312 3755

To apply and find out more - Corporate Director, Children’s Services

 

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/