The Role

Do you have a keen interest in national, regional and local children’s policy?

Would you like to play an active role in Children Services policy and service development?

Does working in a team who strive to achieve continuous improvement appeal to you?

If yes, we want to hear from you! 

Here at Wandsworth Children’s Services we have a unique opportunity for a Service Development, Policy & Projects Officer to join the Performance and Improvement team to make a significant impact on policy development and service delivery.

You will be joining a small, efficient and dedicated team within a large service area, and will benefit from a varied and stimulating role in an organisation working towards creating real change.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing key strategies and policies within the department and facilitating the activities to ensure they are realised. Having oversight of and carrying out research on relevant policy developments will be a crucial part of your role. You will use feedback, benchmarking and evidence of good practice to inform innovation and transformation, as well as utilise your strong relationships with partners to impact service delivery and outcomes.

The successful candidate will:

• Work with a range of stakeholders to develop high quality strategies, policies and plans that articulate and align activities for Children’s Services.
• Provide briefings for senior managers, elected members and others regarding key policy developments at both a national and local level.
• Contribute to the Department’s understanding of the national, local and organisational context in which Children’s Services operate to facilitate decision making, service transformation and commissioning.
• Coordinate and work with senior officers to achieve agreement on the Council’s responses to national agendas, initiatives and consultations.
• Contribute to change programmes within the service and provide project support, including the development of business cases, PIDs and project plans, to these. 

To be shortlisted for interview your CV and personal statement will evidence that you have the following skills/experience:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or have work experience demonstrating graduate level ability
• Knowledge of legal and policy framework for children’s services, and of key project management techniques and tools
• Relevant experience of introducing and managing change, project management and children’s services policy or project/change management
• The ability to interpret, analyse and present data as well as produce clear and concise written reports
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Can demonstrate an understanding of equal opportunities and why it is important in planning and policy development and service delivery
• Possess strong interpersonal skills and value collaboration and partnership working, but are equally capable of working independently

You will be encouraged to use your full range of skills within this role and will be supported in your professional development with exciting ongoing training and development opportunities.

How to apply?

To be considered for interview your CV and supporting statement must address the requirements listed in attached Job Profile located at the bottom of the advert.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact John O’Sullivan on john.osullivan@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Benefits:

In return, we can offer you a generous holiday allowance of 31 days plus bank holidays, as well as the benefit of flexible working hours/opportunities to work from home in order to support a strong work-life balance. We also offer a wide range of staff benefits, including membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts at many leisure activities, local restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline:

Closing date: 11:59pm on Sunday 26^th January 2020

Interview date: Week Commencing 3^rd February 2020

Useful information:

Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

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 pleased to be Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces then Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils