INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.
Job title: Service Delivery Manager – Quality Assurance, Practice Development & Improvement
Salary: DIR 45 £60,480 - £66,318
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion House/Hybrid
It is an exciting time to be working in Adult Social Care in Leeds. Our focus is on helping people to live with dignity and stay independent for as long as possible, utilising the strengths of individuals and communities, and building on the work we have done to develop innovative, personalised and asset-based practice in and with our communities.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
Adult Social Care wish to recruit an experienced registered Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or Nurse Care Manager to work with us on our pioneering approach to strengths-based and asset-based practice.
The focus of the role will be responsibility for the continued implementation of our established and effective quality assurance framework, practice framework and our Supervision model. Working with Service Delivery Managers, Team Managers and Safeguarding and Risk Managers to support and oversee the implementation and tracking of practice improvement plans and the development and socialisation of practice guides as well as ensuring they are having the desired and positive effect on social work, social care and safeguarding practice. You will be pivotal in supporting the implementation of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) improvement plans across the service areas and how they intersect with professional practice.
This is an opportunity to work closely with the Principal Social Worker, support the implementation of the Employer’s Health Standards and support the work we are doing in Leeds towards anti-racist, anti-discrimination and anti-oppressive practice.
Working with others in the system you will develop effective relationships that enables the senior management team to identify and shape practice across the city. You will support the Heads of Service in embedding new ways of working building on the Strength Based Social Work Approach and Community Led Support. You will also work in collaboration with other SDM colleagues across the city.
The successful candidate will have a passion for excellence in social work, occupational therapy and social care and a proven track record in delivering innovative social work services. You will have a key role in helping Leeds achieve its ambition to become the best city council in the country, and the best city in the UK.
Reporting to the Head of Service for Professions, Access and Quality Assurance, we are looking for an inspirational leader with significant experience in Adult Social Care, quality assurance, practice development and improvement. The person will hold a registered Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Nursing qualification. You will have substantial experience in building credible, effective and collaborative relationships.
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online standard application form.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Glenda Capitano, Head of Service Professions, Access and Quality Assurance, please email glenda.capitano@leeds.gov.uk
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job description
Job Purpose: Lead and manage the delivery of services in specified service areas, to ensure the delivery of high quality, effective and efficient services, contributing to and be jointly responsible for service improvement and the ongoing development of partnerships to provide fully integrated provider services.
Responsibilities
- Support delivery of programmes of strategic significance to the Council to deliver services in line with Council priorities.
- Responsible for the development and delivery of the service plan and drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects.
- Lead the strategic development of practice improvement initiatives aligned with departmental, council, regional, and national priorities.
- Lead service wide development and implementation of safeguarding practice peer reviews.
- Lead workforce development initiatives to build capacity and competence across social work teams.
- Lead day to day service delivery and the continuous development and improvement of social work and social care services in accordance with agreed targets and objectives included in council and service plans.
- Ensure service wide implementation of policies and procedures that ensure safe, effective, and compliant social work and social care practice, service delivery, aligned with CQC registration requirements and the Adults and Health quality assurance framework, including safeguarding protocols.
- Ensure fair and equal treatment for all people drawing on our services and employees.
- Ensure that information we hold on people is comprehensive, regularly updated and that data protection standards and information sharing protocols are in place and are fully complied with.
- Ensure that service delivery is flexible and responsive, to enable it to meet changing priorities and needs.
- Ensure that the specific service’s workforce development plans and skills mix are designed to meet the specific service requirements.
- Ensure that, as a minimum, service practice meets fully defined and documented standards and that all managers and staff are fully aware of the requirements.
- Support the Principal Social Worker in promoting excellent practice, supervision, and decision-making.
- Drive the implementation and new safeguarding competency framework and approaches to standardising safeguarding practice.
- Oversee quality assurance processes and use performance data to inform continuous improvement.
- Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in service delivery, promoting equality of outcomes and culturally competent practice across all teams.
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to deliver effective services and practice for the people we serve.
- In a specific service area ensure that all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and staffing, focus on equality of outcomes and equitable access, including safeguarding.
- Directly manage performance of both staff and the specific service, ensuring early intervention where performance falls below, or threatens to fall below, required standards.
- Implement regular, formal performance monitoring and reporting using agreed management information systems.
- Identify, develop and manage strategic partnerships.
- In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for all financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations.
- Review and monitor the performance of services, systems, budget, teams and individuals against standards and agreed outcomes in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic local, political and national context.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.
Qualifications
Appropriate and relevant professional qualification.
Working Context - Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Able to demonstrate examples of managing services implementing change and achieving quality transformational and quality outcomes.
- Able to manage competing priorities, ensuring delivery on a range of programmes and adapting to changing circumstances.
- Able to promote a culture of people we serve focus within the specific service.
- Able to manage and monitor performance effectively and set clear objectives for the review of individual and service level performance.
- Able to produce comprehensive high-quality reports, business cases and able to deliver presentations to an audience.
- Able to provide leadership, which empowers, enables and develops staff to achieve results.
- Able to manage resources including preparing, managing and controlling budgets.
- Able to put departmental plans into practice through agreed policies and implementation plans.
- Able to manage change, improve service quality and support a culture of continuous improvement.
- Able to identify, develop and manage strategic partnerships.
- knowledge of applicable, legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
- Understand of the social care agenda and demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of social care within local government.
- Understanding of community issues.
- Experience of senior leadership and management relevant to area of service delivery.
- Experience of strategic and operational resource management including the evaluation of competing priorities and managing accountabilities.
- Significant experience of leading change programmes, driving up standards and performance.
- Significant experience and commitment in relation to engagement in decision making processes.
- Significant experience and understanding of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team.
- Experience of working effectively with others to deliver multi-disciplinary and/or integrated services.
- Experience of managing services to meet people’s needs.
- Significant leadership experience in a broadly based service delivery or operational area, including safeguarding.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
- Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
