Vacancy -- Senior Manager - Local Authority

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Education and Public Services
CIW
Grade 7 - £53,440 - £63,900
£48,650
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
North Wales, South East Wales, South West Wales, Other location
To be confirmed

Purpose of Post:

CIW is the independent regulator of social care and childcare. CIW registers, inspects and takes action to improve the quality and safety of services for the well-being of the people of Wales. Local Authority Inspection is a key function in the delivery of safe, high quality social care services to the citizens of Wales. The role of Senior Manager – Local Authority Inspection is critical to providing assurance and driving improvement in the quality of social care services.

The postholder may have line management responsibility for up to four Local Authority Inspectors and will support the Head of Local Authority Inspection in ensuring the delivery of consistent, effective, efficient and high quality services.

CIW is undergoing a significant change programme involving a change in structures and a move to digital services. The Postholder will contribute to and support key aspects of the change agenda.

The post holder will be accountable to the Head of Local Authority Inspection.

Key tasks:

• To lead, manage and contribute to the design and delivery of a programme of local authority inspection, scrutiny and reviews, surveys and audits across Wales ensuring the robust management of resources and in accordance with agreed priorities.
• Reach evidence based, balanced and sound judgement about the quality, effectiveness and impact of services provided within the range of services for children and adults as required.
• Produce evaluative public reports which are of a consistently high quality and work effectively with key stakeholders to support improvement and innovation and share good practice
• To lead and be responsible for the quality and timeliness of all aspects of local authority performance scrutiny, review and inspection activity in accordance with relevant legislation and internal guidance.
• Lead on and contribute to the development and implementation of innovative approaches to integrated scrutiny, review and inspection.
• Preparing an annual review letter of the local social service department’s effectiveness and its impact upon outcomes for local citizens. Be responsible for presenting this letter to the Local Authority’s Director of Social Services, lead elected members and scrutiny committees.
• Analysing data derived from key indicators including intelligence from regulation and inspection and other information to identify development and improvement priorities for CIW’s programme of Local Authority inspection, scrutiny and review activity.
• Develop and maintain productive and effective working relationships with a range of appropriate external stakeholders and relevant key policy contacts within national bodies, Welsh Government, local authorities and health boards, together with relevant, designated audit, inspection and regulatory bodies and with other statutory agencies with responsibilities for service delivery and commissioning.
• Represent the Care Inspectorate as required on a wide range of internal and external groups and at external conferences and events.
• Be responsible for gathering information and intelligence about policy and practice developments in adult and children’s social services from a wide range of and share this with colleagues.
• Lead on engagement activity with people who use services and their carers to inform local authority performance review and inspection activity
• Lead on ensuring the effective implementation of strong performance and quality assurance arrangements and contribute to the development and improvement of such arrangements.
• In circumstances where there is line management responsibility, ensure robust arrangements for accountability, compliance, management oversight and development of the team.
• To lead on the provision of advice, support, information and reports to the Head of Local Authority Inspection as required.

• Prepare briefings for Ministers and the Senior Management Team in relation to specific issues as required.
• Work closely with Senior Managers in regulatory teams to share intelligence.
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with local authorities and health boards in relation to statutory and collaborative arrangements.
• Ensure work is delivered to a high standard, in a timely way and that decisions are communicated effectively.
• Develop and embed strong and effective inspection practice across CIW and contribute to ensuring that inspection guidance and tools are in place, are fit for purpose, are evaluated and kept under review.
• Consider representations in relation to regulatory activity in accordance with the agreed rota.
• Contribute to and ensure effective team work, collaboration and communication.
• Represent the organisation at senior level as required.
• To deputise for the Head of Local Authority Inspection as and when required.
• Take responsibility for own performance management and own professional development and seek appropriate development opportunities in accordance with the Welsh Government’s performance management process and in discussion with the Head of Local Authority Inspection.

Development opportunities:

This posts offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic organisation which champions improvements in social care through a citizen focussed approach.

Closing Date:

14/05/2018, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Essential
Full understanding of all work related material
Fluent
Can understand all work-related conversations
Can prepare written material for all work-related matters

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Strategic - Setting Direction:

Changing and Improving - Spot warning signs of things going wrong and provide decisive responses to significant delivery challenges

Strategic - Setting Direction:

Making effective decisions – Draw together and present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of incomplete and complex evidence and data – able to act or decide even when details are not clear

People Cluster - Engaging people

Leading and Communicating - Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust with people involved in area of work

Performance Cluster - Delivering results

Managing a Quality Service - Create regular opportunities for staff and customers to help improve service quality and demonstrate a visible involvement


Job Specific Criteria

  1. A recognised Social Care qualification such as a Diploma in Social Work (or Social Care Wales equivalent), nursing or allied health care qualification, a teaching qualification or educated to degree level with relevant Level 5 ILM or Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Services and an ability to demonstrate the relevance of this qualification to the role.   
  2. Middle or senior management experience of effectively managing adult social care or health services and extensive and relevant experience of local authority social services
  3. Knowledge, ability and experience of working strategically and operationally to drive and deliver improvements in social care or health services.

Assessment Process

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

This post involves undertaking scrutiny, review and inspection activity across Wales, and will therefore require travel with some periods of staying away from home and, at times, unsocial hours.

A starting salary of up to point 3 (£54,150) may be considered where the essential skills, knowledge and experience are demonstrated.

This post can be based in any of our CIW offices: Llandudno Junction, Carmarthen or Merthyr.


Come along to our Recruitment drop in session to:

Find out more about the work we do;

Obtain information about the various roles we’re currently advertising;

Seek guidance to assist you in completing your on-line application.

Drop in sessions will be held at Welsh Government offices, as follows:

  • 24th April Merthyr Office CIW open day 2pm – 5pm – help with your application, hear from current inspectors, a walk through CIW offices
  • 30th April Merthyr Office CIW open day 2pm – 5pm – help with your application, hear from current inspectors, a walk through CIW offices
  • 1st May Carmarthen office CIW open day 2pm – 5pm - help with your application, hear from current inspectors, a walk through CIW offices
  • 8th May Carmarthen office CIW open day 2pm – 5pm - help with your application, hear from current inspectors, a walk through CIW offices
  • 1 and 8 May Llandudno Junction Office CIW open days 2pm – 5pm – help with your application, hear from current inspectors, a walk through CIW offices
Vicky Poole - 03000 625809 or 07792 785503

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@wales.gsi.gov.uk to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.