Head of Berkshire Emergency Duty Service

Job summary

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for social care? Bracknell Forest Council is seeking a Head of Berkshire Emergency Duty Service to oversee the delivery and coordination of statutory social care during out-of-hours operations across all six unitary authorities of Berkshire. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of diverse community needs and the ability to manage complex service delivery for a large and varied population.

You will have a social work qualification with valid Social Work England registration, as well as extensive experience of legislation, policy and statutory requirements relating to Children, Adults, Mental Health and Housing.

You will also have a track record of achievement at senior management level and experience of operational services in a large complex social care, health or other relevant setting.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the Emergency Duty Service (EDS) in fulfilling duties under the Children Act 1989 and associated legislation.
• Provide leadership for Mental Health services for both children and adults, ensuring compliance with the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) and relevant case law.
• Deliver Adult Social Care services in accordance with the Care Act 2014 and other relevant legislation.
• Oversee out-of-hours housing and homelessness services as stipulated in the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Manage the provision of an out-of-hours Appropriate Adult service for young people and vulnerable adults in police custody.
• Provide expert strategic leadership on statutory functions and professional practice in relation to both vulnerable children and adults.
• Support the transformation of the Emergency Duty Service to deliver improvements and efficiencies.
• Develop and implement strategic and operational plans in collaboration with service colleagues and senior leaders.
• Make independent decisions impacting daily operations and strategic direction.
• Ensure the service is adequately staffed 24/7 and meets all contractual arrangements, regulations and health and safety requirements.
• Successful management of significant organisational change, including culture change, change management programs and project management.

About us

We are deeply committed to the wellbeing of Berkshire residents, and our dedicated out-of-hours social care team plays a crucial role in safeguarding some of our most vulnerable community members. Our specialist team includes Approved Mental Health Professionals, Senior Social Workers (Childrens Services), Adult Safeguarding Care Coordinators and Call Screening Officers. Collaborating closely with health professionals, the police, and families, we provide vital support and intervention for individuals facing social care crises outside regular hours.

The Berkshire Emergency Duty Service (hosted by Bracknell Forest Council) provides unique, out-of-hours emergency social care across the entire Berkshire region. We take pride in our community, the care we deliver and the meaningful partnerships we have built with key stakeholders. However, we are always striving to improve, giving our team the time, support and resources to do their best work while also shaping the future of the service.

This is an exciting time to join the team. Following a recent service restructuring, EDS has been recognised as a safe and effective service that safeguards children and vulnerable adults, earning positive feedback from Ofsted and CQC. Our team is a diverse group of highly skilled professionals, each an expert in their respective fields, working together to deliver expert crisis intervention and specialised social care.