Job Description
Job Title:
Interim Director (12 Months) - Special Projects and
Innovations
Team/Service:
Business Unit:
Children’s Services
Commissioning Area
People
Responsible To: (day to day issues)
Executive Director Operations and Finance
Accountable To: (line manager)
Executive director Operations and Finance
Salary Grade: (Spinal column points only)
Hay Grade 608
1. Key Purpose of Job
1.1.
To oversee the delivery of a number of innovative special projects approved by Full
Council e.g. Social Innovation Fund Bid, Public Service Trust, Youth Services Trust
and/or others projects as directed by the Executive Director.
1.2.
To coordinate and work in partnership with the Director of Children’s Services, Director
of Adults Social Care and Director of Public Health, other agencies and service providers
at a high level to ensure that the ‘whole system’ capacity is best aligned through a joined
up approach thereby improving efficiency and service delivery, primarily for the benefit of
children.
1.3.
In partnership with others to identify further innovation, integration, efficiency and
effectiveness for all ‘people’ based services.
1.4.
To identify new financial models and funding opportunities, including the pooling of
budgets and/or resources where appropriate across services to the benefit of all
residents and agencies in Torbay.
2. Anticipated Outcomes of Post
2.1.
A clear sense of direction, establishing agreed goals and targets within a corporate
approach.
2.2.
To build upon effective and efficient partnerships with a wide variety of organisations in
the public, private and voluntary and community sectors, to improve outcomes for
children and young people, particularly in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children.
2.3.
Corporate solutions solving problems and service delivery.
2.4.
Delivery of programmes to agreed outcomes.
2.5.
Evidence based policy proposals that are inclusive and needs led.
2.6.
Customers / stakeholders are involved in commissioned services.
2.7.
A positive working environment with:
2.7.1. Value for money from commissioned services (internal and external)
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
2.7.2. Joint accountability for budget delivery
2.7.3. Robust contractual and contract management
2.7.4. Appropriate benchmarking
2.7.5. Financial and legal compliance
2.7.6. Commercial and business culture
2.7.7. Improvements /changes delivered in tight financial constraints
2.8.
Effective relationships with key stakeholders: government and government bodies,
professional bodies and other organisations.
3. List Key Duties and accountabilities of the post
3.1.
To lead and manage the development of the governance arrangements, timescales and
plan for integration with the Integrated Care Organisation (ICO) which are necessary to
support effective implementation of the Public Service Trust.
3.2.
To make and sustain arrangements to promote co-operation between the authority and
its partner organisations to improve the well being of children in the authority’s area.
3.3.
Ensure that all proposals ensure compliance with relevant statutory and legislative
framework, and delivers children, young people and family focused services.
3.4.
Provide leadership to a multi disciplinary range of staff including Health, CCG etc.
3.5.
To formulate operations plans and budget for the projects so that there are clear
priorities and appropriate resources allocated to ensure achievement.
3.6.
To resolve the most complex and high level programme issues so that they are resolved
effectively and precedents are set for the resolution of similar issues.
3.7.
To develop a longer term (2 or 3 year) programme for project implementation in line with
Council priorities, budgets and client requirements.
3.8.
To ensure services link effectively with related service provision, within or external to the
Council, so that coherent and value for money services are provided. Where
appropriate, in conjunction with other service providers, to undertake joint planning of
service delivery and/or for the closer integration of service provision.
4. Give examples of the typical types of problems and decisions the post will be required to
make
4.1.
The co-ordination and management of resources to deliver strategic objectives requiring
decision making on the methods of co-ordination, the scope of resources and available
budget.
4.2.
The co-ordination of public agency priorities across a range of Senior Management and
organisational structures.
4.3.
The re-development of new financial models to both pool multi million pound budgets
and to attract new financial investment.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
5. Budgetary / Financial Responsibilities of the post
5.1.
To secure new financial models across public agencies to both pool budgets within a
new framework and attract new financial investment through Social Investment Boards.
5.2.
The post holder will be responsible for the Social Work Innovation Fund grant and for the
attraction of Social Investment Funds from outside of the Local Authority and other
public agencies.
6. Supervision / Line Management Responsibilities of the post ( Please show / provide
organisation structure as an appendices, showing official reporting lines
6.1.
The establishment required to support this post has not yet been determined but it
primarily one of influencing Directors and Senior Managers across multiple business
units, thereby providing a structured integrated approach to both the commissioning and
delivery of services.
7. Working Environment & Conditions of the post
7.1.
Normal working environment and conditions.
8. Physical Demands of the post
8.1.
Normal physical demands.
9. Specific Resources used by the post
9.1.
None.
10. Key Contacts and Relationships
10.1. External: Central Government, Other Local Authorities, Other public sector
organisations, The Council’s auditors, Private and voluntary organisations and
employers, partner agencies
10.2. Internal: Executive members, Other Elected Members, Executive Director, Senior staff
across the Council, Trades Unions, Employees at all levels across the Council
11. Other Duties
To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Other Information
a) All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
b) The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in
any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but
excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of
buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work
time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take
reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements.
Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their
duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break
start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
c) The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council
Policies and Procedures.
d) The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined
in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
e) This post is based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base
to any other location within the Council at a future date.
f)
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal
convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only
be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions
f) Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
g) As this post requires access to the Public Services Network (PSN) or data all applicants who
are offered employment will be subject to a basic criminal record check from Disclosure
Scotland before the appointment is confirmed. (Verification of criminal record – unspent
convictions only).
March 2015
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you
should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of
the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to
take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection
process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in
your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Job
Title:
Director of Special
Projects and
Innovations
Business
Unit:
Children’s Services
Essential Skills and Effectiveness:
Team/
Service:
Desirable Skills and Effectiveness:
1. Ability to build consensus, persuade, negotiate and influence
without direct line management or control of resources
2. Ability innovate, design and implement new initiatives
3. Ability to lead and manage large scale change programmes
4. Ability to make balanced judgements between competing
objectives and priorities
5. Excellent communication and presentation skills, using a
variety of methods for a wide range of audiences
6. Ability to use effectively a number of different leadership styles
7. Ability to handle conflict and manage sensitive issues to
achieve positive outcomes
8. Ability to develop purposeful partnerships and relationships
with key stakeholders
9. Significant involvement in preparing, managing and controlling
substantial budgets
Essential Knowledge:
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Desirable Knowledge:
10. A detailed understanding of the role of children’s Services and
the issues and priorities in the area
11. Comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation
12. Evidence of continuing professional development to
demonstrate up to date knowledge and understanding of the
legislation and its practical application pertaining to the wider
field of Children’s Services and its partners
Essential Experience/Achievements:
Desirable Experience/Achievements:
13. Significant experience at a senior management level of
successfully leading within Children’s Services
14. Significant experience of leading and managing significant
change programmes
15. Experience of managing large budgets effectively
16. Successful programme/project deliver experience
17. Experience of operating successfully in a senior management
level in a dynamic and complex statutory environment
18. Substantial
experience
of
developing
cross-sector
partnerships working with a wide range of stakeholders and
multi-agency services both as a contributor and in a
leadership role
Essential Qualifications/Professional Memberships:
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Desirable Qualifications/Professional Memberships:
19. A relevant qualification to degree level (or equivalent)
1. Professional Management Qualification
20. A recognised and relevant professional qualification around
working with children/young people
Essential – Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties

Ability to accommodate unsociable hours

Ability to accommodate occasional home-working
March 2015
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009