Job responsibilities
Creating the
conditions where great education is more likely to occur is a real priority
for this LA and the whole education and children's services community. This
leadership role is key to that agenda through:
Ensuring there
is a well-planned sufficiency of school places in the right communities and
lead on the capital investment strategy to maintain sufficiency ;
Enabling
collaborative arrangements which facilitate quality local education provision
Leading on the
establishment and monitoring of programmes relating to capital investment in
schools
Leading statutory
process, including public consultation, to where necessary reshape, develop
new or close existing provision.
In addition
the role is responsible for overseeing the admission and school transport
arrangements to meet legal
responsibilities
To fulfil
those roles requires great collaboration within the local authority and
school community but also with many other partners including the Department
for Education and academy trusts
The postholder
gives leadership, management and direction to two small teams of specialist
professionals.
Job Specifics
Ensure that
the Directorates responsibilities are discharged effectively in relation to
the five key elements of the service; school organisation, school place
planning, schools capital, admissions and home to school transport
Monitor
national policy developments relating the five key elements, ensuring that
the Council develops appropriate responses to any changes in legislation or
regulation.
Ensure that
support, advice and guidance is provided to schools wishing to explore
alternative models of school organisation such as federation.
Where
appropriate work with Academy sponsors to encourage bids for Free Schools to
be supported to meet demographic or service need.
Where
appropriate work lead for the Directorate on the delivery of new provision via
the Presumption Route Process
Promote the
continuing development of the Councils School Estate Strategy
Develop and
secure Member approval for the key elements of the Children and Young Peoples Service
capital plan, namely the annual School Condition Capital Programme, the Basic
Need Programme and the SEND Capital Programme
Discharge a
client role for the Children and Young Peoples Service in relation to
commissioning of professional and
technical services required for the delivery of the Children and Young Peoples Service
capital programmes and to ensure that all resources involved are allocated
and deployed efficiently and effectively.
Develop
policies and strategies for reviewing the pattern of provision and for
achieving change constructively across the full range of schools and early
years provision leading where necessary any consultation on school closures,
amalgamations or expansions. Plan and undertake reviews of the pattern and
form of education provision on a phase, sector or geographical basis drawing
up, consulting upon and implementing proposals for the establishment,
closure, amalgamation or federation of schools as appropriate.
Maintain
oversight of the Councils cross-directorate work leading to academy
conversions, liaising with the Department for Education on resolving issues
and the prioritisation of cases as required.
Lead on
admissions policy issues for all community and voluntary controlled schools
as well as liaison with Voluntary Aided, Foundation Schools, Trust Schools
and Academies, including issues related to selection.
Promote close
working relationships with external
agencies, working in partnership with them to assess and secure the Services
position.
Represent the
Directorate on Corporate arrangements relating to infrastructure needs
arising from housing.
Negotiate
developer contributions and land required for additional school places.
Oversee and
give direction to the preparation of pupil numbers forecasts, school
capacities, performance indicators and ensure the Directorate meets its
obligations in relation to Departmental returns on these issues .
Job Purpose:
The
core focus of this job is to lead delivery of a portfolio of services to
support a range of clients (internal and external through partnerships
and/or commercial arrangements).
Services to specific clients will be subject to individual
requirements reflecting the different needs of different organisations.
Operational
management:
To review and propose
changes to structures, procedures and working methods that will improve the
efficient use of resources and the effectiveness of service delivery to
communities and targeted groups.
To advise the wider
service on relevant changing legislation, professional standards and their
implementation.
Maximise
commercialisation of services provided.
To develop, support
and promote a strong results driven and customer focused performance culture
ensuring the provision of cost-effective, efficient, high quality services in
line with identified needs.
To lead specific programmes as part of the Councils
change and transformation programme.
Resource
management:
Be responsible as the
budget holder for resources in respect of allocated budgets within the
Councils scheme of delegation of financial responsibility. To oversee the
service in such a way as to protect its financial and operational viability
by maintaining current levels and securing additional business to maximise
income generation.
Prioritise and
allocate staffing to support managers in discharging their responsibilities
for meeting the needs of the service.
To give leadership,
management and direction to staff of the service through the establishment
and promotion of service and individual objectives, service performance
plans, priority setting, reviews and performance appraisal.
To develop and
maintain an innovative and responsive approach to the management of resources
having regard to the need for economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
Carry out people
management issues such as recruitment, development, and absence management,
setting targets, providing feedback on performance and effectively addressing
development and learning issues.
Support the delivery
of corporate initiatives in delivering transformational change, through
effective modelling of positive behaviours and delivering innovative
solutions to service delivery and development.
Partnerships:
Work with a range of
partners/agencies, both internal and external, to develop and maintain
co-operative relationships.
When implementing
service delivery change ensure activities are aligned, where appropriate,
with other changes taking place corporately and across Directorates,
including working with colleagues in HR, ICT, Finance, Communications, Legal
Services and other functions where required
Represent the service
on behalf of the Directorate at policy, operational and co-ordination forums
with external agencies and other Council Directorates when required.
Strategic
management:
Lead the service in
devising and implementing of strategies and service plan to ensure
consistent, high quality and effective delivery of the service. Ensures the
promotion of the plan to all stakeholders
Personally and
through team members deliver the targets set down in the service and team
plans, monitoring and addressing under performance.
To contribute to
determining strategy, setting objectives and targets and to the development
of policies across the operational remit of the service and the Directorate,
and, working with the line manager, to be accountable for service strategy.
Lead in the development of new ways of working that maximise efficiency
and effectiveness.
Communications:
Influence and liaise
with lead business partners as required to ensure that strategic planning and
implementation of plans is carried out consistently and effectively.
Promote the Councils
priorities, policies and Corporate Plan and positively promote the service
with local and national media.
Work closely with
officers / professional staff in understanding / improving the customer
journey across a range of NYC services.
Manage challenging
situations effectively and pro-actively to improve the performance of staff
and/or volunteers by maintaining communication with staff and providing the
appropriate support and guidance.
Represent the service
at appropriate inter and intra agency meetings, promoting, liaising,
consulting and engaging with managers, staff, people who use our services and
their carers and other stakeholders in challenging situations
Respond to media
enquiries as requested and appraise your manager of any matters arising which
are particularly sensitive or controversial in nature.
Deliver presentations
in order to develop effective service delivery and good stakeholder
relationships.
Inform and analyse
national and local policy change and communicate implications to senior
operational managers and frontline staff as appropriate.
Systems and
information:
Ensure that systems
and processes to support the service are consistent with the Council
standards and procedures.
Produce written
reports as required including evaluation and impact statements for
distribution service wide and to partners.
Use relevant IT
systems and tools to support the management, delivery and development of
services, ensuring records are accurate and current.
Ensure government guidance and legislation are interpreted
appropriately and are adhered to in a manner consistent with good practice.
Safeguarding:
To be committed to safeguarding and promote the welfare
of children, young people and adults, raising concerns as appropriate.
