The Role

Are you someone who is passionate about supporting local communities?

Are you a leader, collaborator and skilled partnership worker?

Would you like to spend every day at work knowing that you have made a positive difference to the lives of some of our more vulnerable residents?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

We are looking to recruit an innovative, passionate, and partnership-focussed Head of Service with excellent political acumen to help play a central role in supporting stronger and safer communities in Richmond and Wandsworth.

Working at the heart of the Chief Executive’s Group, and reporting directly to the Assistant Chief Executive, the Head of Stronger and Safer Communities will be the first to lead the work of our newly created Stronger and Safer Communities Team.

By recently bringing together our long-standing Community Safety and Communities & Partnerships Teams, this new service will be at the forefront of Richmond and Wandsworth’s work to deliver better outcomes for residents and our communities as we make our post Covid-19 journey.

The Head of Stronger and Safer Communities role will offer many challenges, but it is also a fantastic opportunity to develop and hone your skills. You’ll be given real scope to create positive change both within our own organisation, and to influence those outside that we work closest with.

As a senior leader with local government experience, you will be leading a large and multi-disciplinary service, part of our innovative Shared Staffing Arrangement that serves two Councils and over half a million Londoners. Each boroughs’ needs and communities are different, but the councils share common goals; to work closely with key stakeholders, the VCS, statutory partners, to nurture thriving communities where residents feel connected, safe and secure.

Fostering collaboration is at the heart of the new Service’s priorities; Our Community Safety Partnerships need transforming to reach their full potential, and we are embarking on delivering class leading Violence Against Women and Girls strategies.

But the challenge doesn’t stop there – you will work with our thriving voluntary sectors, through being commissioner of the Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) in Richmond, and Advice Services and Healthwatch in two boroughs, as well as administering significant and popular small grant programmes that make a difference to our communities. And cutting across all of this is ensuring that engagement is at the heart of how the council does its business.

Whilst direct experience of delivering community safety services would be a positive, it’s more important that you are an agile problem solver, collaborator, and convenor – someone who seeks innovative solutions to community issues, whatever they might be.

Our expectations, and those of our leading members and stakeholders, are high for this new post, but the rewards equally great for someone who can demonstrate the management, change and system leadership skills we need.

You will also benefit from being part of a stimulating and high performing and collegiate Chief Executive’s Group SMT that includes economic development, communications, policy, analytics, and resident engagement - all of which will be integral to making this new Team a success.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including, working from home, other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. This is always dependant on the nature of the role and in this case, given the management span and community and stakeholder focus of the role,  it is likely that the post holder will need to spend several days a week working from our bases in Twickenham and Wandsworth, including attending evening meetings where necessary.  

We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities. In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

For informal discussion please contact Jon Evans, Assistant Chief Executive at: jon.evans@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing date: 8^th August 2021

Shortlisting date: 10^th August 2021

Interview date: W/C 23^rd August 2021 (TBC)

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams, including black and ethnic minority communities. We understand the value of what a diverse workforce brings to our local authority and therefore, strongly encouraging candidates from these backgrounds to apply to this position. We will keep applications open until we have satisfactory representation on the shortlist.

Equality Statement

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment supporting local communities.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils