Strategy Partnership & Policy Officer
About Us:
Working as part of Children’s Services will provide a challenging and rewarding career. We have high ambitions for the children and young people of Kensington and Chelsea. We have formed a bi-borough Children’s Services team with colleagues from Westminster City Council. Our services, which include education, family services and safeguarding, have recently been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and our drive to be the best doesn’t stop there. By working with us, you will have the opportunity to make a difference to young people in one of the world’s most diverse cities.
If you would like to play a part in this unique team, please take a look at the vacancies below.
The Role:
Westminster City Council and Kensington & Chelsea Council have arrangements to share Children’s, Adults and Public Health services. As part of this ‘Bi-Borough’ arrangement, we have the highest ambitions to deliver the very best for our children and young people. The Operations and Programmes Service, sitting within Children’s Services, works to help ensure that we excel in our work with children and their families.
Within this Directorate sits the Business Intelligence and Strategy Team.
The Strategy, Partnership and Policy Manager is looking to permanently recruit to an exciting Strategy, Partnership and Policy Officer post focused on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). This is a great opportunity for you to take a significant role in supporting two of the most diverse and densely populated boroughs in London, helping us in our work to provide every child and young person the opportunity to realise their potential.
In this role you will work as part of a high performing policy and strategy function within Bi-Borough Children’s Services as well as working directly with the Assistant Director, SEN and Educational Psychology. You will be responsible for playing a key role in the articulation of Bi-borough Children’s Services strategic outcomes and priorities related to SEND. You will have a key role in facilitating the service development, partnerships and governance activity required to ensure that these strategies are realised; be an active member of the Children and Families Executive Board and SEND Strategic Implementation Group. The role will also support both councils’ response to external inspection frameworks involving planning and preparation of logistics.
About You:
We are looking for flexible solution-orientated professional with policy experience preferably in children’s services or a related field to be part of our core strategy and policy team.
Your experience in local government and of children’s services will have given you a good grounding in working successfully in a political environment and familiarity with governance processes. You will be able to work to a high standard both in preparing and writing strategies and policies and in briefing and presenting to Councillors and senior officers in both councils.
You will be able to think creatively to come up with new ideas to provide solutions to complex problems and to work across different disciplines. Owning and leading work on your own or as part of a team will be one of your strengths. You will be highly organised and have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to establish positive working relationships with people at all levels including service users, internal and external colleagues and senior leaders.
You will be able to show that you take your own learning and development seriously to improve the work of the team and service. You receive feedback on your performance positively.
Contact details for an informal discussion: James Holden, Strategy Partnership and Policy Manager on 07712 236526 or at james.holden@rbkc.gov.uk
Interview date: Week commencing 25th November 2019.
Closing date: 18th November 2019.