Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Social Work

ORKNEY HEALTH AND CARE

Head of Social Work and Chief Social Work Officer

35 hours per week
Permanent
£74,198 (including Distant Islands Allowance)

Orkney provides a beautiful setting in which to live and work and a wonderful opportunity to combine a fulfilling and challenging career with the best that the islands can offer in terms of lifestyle. Our vibrant and forward-thinking community is regularly voted the happiest and the best place to live in the UK. Our quality of life is second to none. With a rising population, excellent local services, and a multitude of opportunities and facilities to cater for whatever your interests outside of work may be.

Are you committed to improvement? Are you able to support us to continue to develop a strong, able and happy workforce? Can you demonstrate kind and compassionate leadership whilst being able to provide high level assurance on performance – if so we would like to hear from you.

An opportunity has arisen for a driven and talented individual to join Orkney Health and Care as Head of Social Work Services and Chief Social Work Officer. Orkney Health and Care is the integrated partnership delivery to the Integration Joint Board (IJB) in Orkney.

The role will provide leadership, direction and overall coordination to all social work services and childcare services delegated to the IJB. The successful candidate will be joining the team at a critical time of service improvement and will have overall responsibility for improving performance (in service quality and delivery, financial and workforce terms), delivering operational day to day services and contributing to the direction of the IJB Strategic Plan and the public protection agenda under the direction of both the Community Planning Partnership and the Chief Officers Group. The role also entails providing professional leadership for social work and social care services across all service areas, fulfilling the requirements of the role of Chief Social Work Officer.

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level or equivalent and have substantial senior management experience preferably in the Public Sector. They will also have an understanding of the local and national and adult social work agenda in respect of children and criminal justice and will have direct up to date statutory social work service experience and thorough social work understanding to provide clear professional leadership in the role of Chief Social Work Officer, to all social work and social care services.

It is also essential that the successful candidate has experience in leading, shaping and articulating the future within an integrated service context. Having experience of driving change at pace across services and agencies would be beneficial to the post holder. A professional qualification in Social Work and being registered with the Scottish Social Services Council as a Social Worker are essential. A management qualification would be desirable but is not essential.

In addition, as a member of the Council Corporate Management Team, and IJB Senior Management Team you will have the opportunity to the wider vision and strategic direction of the Council and IJB. This is an excellent opportunity to be at the forefront of leading and shaping services in Orkney.

This post is subject to membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme in respect of regulated work with children and vulnerable adults.

This post is politically restricted in terms of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

For an informal discussion about the post please contact either Sally Shaw, Chief Officer - Integration Joint Board for Health and Social Care at sally.shaw@orkney.gov.uk or John W Mundell, Interim Chief Executive, Orkney Islands Council at chief.executive@orkney.gov.uk

Selection process will be held in Orkney on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 August 2020. Candidates will be required on both days.

Closing Date: Sunday 2 August 2020

Please note that interview and relocation expenses will be paid for this post in accordance with Council Policy.