Job Title:
Executive Director for Schools Children &
Families
Job Grade:
Band 13
Directorate:
Schools Children & Families
Job Reference Number:
P01144
The Role
This is a complex and highly visible role, responsible for the strategic
development and delivery of a fully integrated Schools, Children and Families
Service – this includes the statutory role of Director of Children’s Services. This
combines child support and protection with a wider remit for health, well-being
and educational provision, as required by the Children’s Act 2004. Improving
educational outcomes for children, young people and adults, as well as providing
more choice for parents are key priorities for the post. The role requires powerful
leadership and tough commercial acumen to ensure the Directorate delivers high
quality services whilst also achieving substantial efficiency savings through
improved supply chain management and innovative business models. Close
working relationships with the Executive Director for Adults, Wellbeing &
Communities and the Director for Public Health are essential to success. Highlevel lobbying skills, the ability to forge strong and productive partnerships,
political astuteness, strategic thinking and the ability to assess and manage risk
are crucial skills for the Executive Director. They must also play a key role in
developing and delivering the overall strategic objectives of the Council, working
as ‘one Council’ across the organisation.
Job Purpose
Provide strategic direction to the Council’s Schools, Children and Families Services, so
that the lives of Essex’s children and young people are improved in line with local
needs, national legislation and best value requirements.
Key Accountabilities

Contribute to the leadership and management of Essex County Council as an
active member of the Corporate Leadership Team, acting as lead professional in
relation to schools, children and young people, to ensure services across the
Council are of the highest quality.

Set the strategic direction for the Council’s Schools, Children and Young People
services, based on the outsourcing of care planning and provision, to ensure the
Council meets its legal and statutory obligations as defined by the Children’s Act
2004 and achieves required efficiency and cost savings.

Work in close partnership with senior colleagues to ensure that contracted-out
services are delivered in line with the principles of Essex Works, statutory
requirements, corporate objectives and best value criteria.

Lead the development and delivery of shared priorities with multi-agency partners
to support the delivery of user-focussed, integrated, locality-based services for
children, families and young people across the areas of: looked after children;
safeguarding; school improvement; learning and development; health; early
intervention; and vulnerable children.

Work closely with the Director of Public Health in ensuring both joint
commissioning and joint delivery mechanisms are in place with local partners (e.g.
PCT, SHA, voluntary sector) in order to integrate care, health and well-being
services in line with statutory requirements.

Build and maintain strong partnerships with school governors, Head Teachers,
Academy Federations and other partners and groups in the local community,
regionally and nationally to promote and realise targets for school improvement
and pupil achievement.

Set the strategic direction for the Council’s Adult Community Learning Service to
raise key skills and meet the learning needs of adults and employers in Essex.

Work in partnership with the Director of Adults, Health & Community Wellbeing to
ensure that effective services are in place to support young people with social care
needs during the transition into adulthood.

Promote the active participation of children, young people and their families in the
development, monitoring and review of services to ensure that they are genuinely
responsive to client needs and are continuously improving.

Develop effective working relationships with Central Government, the Commission
for Social Care Inspection, Ofsted, Department for Schools, Children & Families,
the Healthcare Commission, regional and local agencies and partners, to ensure
the Council is well-positioned to influence policy and practice to the benefit of
Essex residents.

Manage financial, human and other resources efficiently and effectively, ensuring
there are sufficient available to discharge the County Council’s statutory children’s
services functions in line with published service standards.

Contribute to the development and delivery of broader Council strategic objectives,
acting as lead advisor to the Cabinet & other stakeholders on children, young
people & families. This ensures that their needs are an integral element of all
planning, and that the Council meets its statutory obligations.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Extensive experience of strategic planning and service delivery within local or
central government, with demonstrable and proven record of achievement in same.

Educated to degree level in a relevant subject area, or equivalent by experience.

Experience of leading and managing change in a complex service delivery
environment.

Experience of developing and implementing planning and performance frameworks
in a multi-disciplinary and partnership environment.

A detailed understanding and awareness of the Every Child Matters agenda.
Values and Behaviours
Passionate about achieving results
 Sets challenging but achievable targets

Demands high performance of self and colleagues, working positively and
effectively

Takes calculated risks consistent with Council values to achieve goals

Challenges and confronts conflict, brokering solutions in order to achieve Council
goals
Responsive to customer’s needs
 Works collaboratively and builds relationships with customers to establish the key
issues and anticipate requirements

Develops methods of empowering customers to enable choice and influence
service improvements

Acts as a customer champion across the Council and with partner organisations
working for Essex
Inspirational and bold in thinking and solutions
 Looks to the future, is able to see links and opportunities that others might miss

Identifies, leads and manages change which furthers the long-term goals and
vision of the Council

Uses new approaches, theory and technologies to develop innovative service
solutions

Applies concepts and learning from outside own field/environment, looking ahead
over the long-term to deliver improvements and avoid problems

working for Essex
Supportive of others’ input and perspectives – working as one
 Acts as a champion and role model living the Council values, putting the Council’s
needs first and upholding goals and decisions, even when it is difficult to do so

Identifies and develops cross-functional working and long-term partnerships to
enable the Council to meet its goals

Supports others to work together to develop solutions, avoiding blaming others
when things go wrong working for Essex
Motivating others and trusting them to deliver
 Creates and communicates a compelling, consistent vision that generates
excitement and commitment at all levels of the Council

Celebrates and promotes service, Council and partnership successes, acting as an
advocate for Essex

Models and promotes an open, supportive culture – ‘walks the talk’

Empowers others through coaching or development activities
Safeguarding
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this
commitment.
Pre-Employment Checks appropriate to this Job Profile
Essex County Council (ECC) is committed to ensuring all recruitment is undertaken
fairly, effectively, safely and in accordance with legislation.
The information below provides pre-employment screening guidance for candidates
applying to this job at Essex County Council.
Role Requirement:
Working with children / vulnerable adults in a specified place or post
Pre-Employment
Check
Self Declaration
(Spent and unspent
convictions)
CRB Enhanced
Level
(renewed every three
years)
ISA Registration –
Regulated
(from July 2010)
References
Medical
Eligibility /
Right to work in the
UK
Regulatory
qualifications and
professional
registration
(subject to role)
SWIFT/Protocol
Definition
A declaration of spent and unspent convictions must be
completed by employees who work with vulnerable adults or
children
The CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check will be sought by
ECC before a start date is agreed
ECC will administer the ISA Register check
All posts defined as Regulated or Controlled as outlined in
the ISA Regulations will require:
• At least two employer references – one reference is
required prior to interview and should ideally be from
your current/most recent employer
• Reference history covering a minimum of five years
employment
• A reference from the last employer where the post gave
access to children or vulnerable adults
Any gaps of 4 weeks or more will be explored by the
manager at interview stage. Where appropriate additional
character references will be taken up
All new recruits and employees whose role changes
significantly are required to complete a medical health
questionnaire
Proof is required and original documentation will be sought i.e.
passport or full birth certificate
Original qualification certificates and proof of registration with a
professional body are required (if applicable)
A check against the individuals name on the Social Care
electronic database will be administered