Deputy Head of Service- Children with Disabilities

Title: Deputy Head of Service - Children with Disabilities Service

Grade: M6 (Post: PREF(phone number removed))Reports To: Head of Service

Department: Children's Social Care

Working Pattern: Agile (Includes out-of-hours, evenings, weekends, and on-call rota)

Purpose of Post

Deputise for and assist the Head of Service in the strategic direction, performance management, and operational delivery of statutory social work interventions. Ensure vulnerable children receive a safe, consistent, and proportionate response in line with legislative regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Service Delivery & Risk (50%): Lead Family Help, Statutory, and Specialist teams. Formulate threshold mechanisms and take accountability for high-level risk decisions, legal gateways, and care plans (signing authority up to £1,000).

Practice Leadership & QA (25%): Lead Quality Assurance (QA) audits and embed reflective learning loops to meet professional standards. Chair high-risk multi-agency meetings.

Financial Management (5%): Independently manage delegated service budgets to ensure cost-effective resource allocation.

Service Development & Projects (10%): Lead cross-departmental projects, identify service gaps, design policies, and manage organizational change.

Partnerships & Commissioning (7%): Oversee specific commissioning arrangements, manage partner relationships, and represent the Local Authority at regional meetings.

Management & Resources

Staff Management: Line manage, recruit, and support approximately 4 Team Managers. Provide safeguarding oversight and staff well-being mentorship.

Core Culture: Embed the voice of the child into operational practice, promote restorative and anti-discriminatory practices, and handle complex, distressing information resiliently.

Connect2Luton is a trading style of Luton & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Luton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Luton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.