About Us

Vulnerabilities Manager (Maternity Cover)

Approximately 15 Month Fixed Term Contract or Internal Secondment

You will be working as part of the Senior Management Team within Stronger and Safer Communities to provide strategic leadership across community safety; the role specialises in violence against women and girls (VAWG) and counter-terrorism, however will have involvement in all aspects of community safety including providing serious incident response. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to develop their management/leadership skills in a fast paced and interesting work area with the support of an excellent team. You will be managing a team of colleagues who specialise in their work areas, and oversee the strategic delivery of the VAWG portfolio, including both the reactive service (IDVA, MARAC, DHR, Refuges etc.) and proactive service (awareness raising, events, funding opportunities, training etc.)

The role provides stability through financial management and direction ensuring effective partnership working to deliver the local strategies as monitored through a robust governance structure.  

This is a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in community safety to build experience, the role would suit a self-motivated forward-thinker who enjoys strategic work.  A good understanding of the Council processes and member management is essential, as this role frequently leads reports to the Health Committee and Finance Policy and Resource respectively. 

About the role 

This role is a strategic leadership role providing a visible presence to the workforce, promoting a good working environment with the primary aim of delivering high quality services. Deputising the Assistant Director of Stronger and Safer Communities as appropriate.   

Key aspects include:

• To act as the key strategic lead on VAWG and Counter Terrorism, including but not limited to safeguarding, ensuring there are effective systems, information sharing, performance management and delivery of services through coordinating activities and improving access to services through multi-agency engagement, early intervention and prevention.  This includes chairing and oversight of various strategic meetings and operational panels.
• To contribute towards the development of good working relations and collaborative arrangements with relevant third-party organisations including private, voluntary, other public organisations and communities, to forge effective partnership working.  Including by way of oversight of the VAWG Community Forums. 
• To oversee and lead the commissioning, contract and performance management of services commissioned and delivered through the Community Safety Service to ensure effective delivery, performance and value for money.  Develop other services as appropriate and oversee these to ensure risks are minimised. 
• Undertake budget management responsibilities for the VAWG, Prevent and Countering Extremism part of the Community Safety Service including grant funding applications and conditions.
• To ensure all Member queries about service delivery are dealt with promptly and effectively. 
• To carry out performance review and improvement measures on an ongoing basis, helping to ensure that a service-user focus is embedded within the function and innovative and creative solutions are evaluated to securing the highest quality and value for money function.  

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge: 

• A strong knowledge and understanding of community safety strategy, policy and legislative requirements relating to community safety and ability to work within legislative and statutory frameworks.
• A strong understanding of the Prevent strategy and how it can be advanced, including the work of Channel Panels. Knowledge of work relating to Counter Extremism.
• A strong knowledge around the Council, internal processes and Member engagement.

Experience:

• Experience of acting as a motivational leader and managing staff, with positive outcomes within a safeguarding setting.
• Experience of negotiating and influencing with statutory and voluntary organisations to establish and successfully deliver shared outcomes at a strategic level.
• Experience in developing effective multi-agency partnership.
• Successful experience of securing funding for implementation of projects.

Skills:

• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, as well as supporting others to manage their own workload. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to consult, negotiate, persuade, motivate and influence, including strong relationships with the Executive and councillors.
• Excellent oral and written skills to provide clear and concise messages.  

Closing Date:  03/11/2024

Shortlisting Date: w/c 04/11/2024

Interview Date: w/c 18/11/2024

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. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

All internal applicants for this secondment must seek permission from their current line manager before applying. Failure to do so may result in the secondment not being authorised. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.  

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils