Lead the way to a bright future for children and families on the beautiful Isle of Wight!
Join our new leadership team in Children’s Services on the Isle of Wight, as we step away from a successful 10-year strategic partnership with Hampshire County Council. With strong foundations, we are truly excited to build an independent service to be proud of!
We are seeing an inspirational Service Director to lead on Children's Social Care for the Isle of Wight. Someone to champion person-centred, strengths-based practice and embrace innovation and transformation.
Ashley Whittaker, newly appointed Strategic Director of Children's Services, said:
"I'm very much looking forward to joining the Isle of Wight team in February, and I believe this is a rare opportunity to establish and lead a vital service within the organisation. There is significant potential to make a real positive difference to the life outcomes of many children and young people on the Island, and I believe the vision for a new independent service, whilst challenging, is an appealing one. I hope you agree!"
Join our team and you’ll shape and deliver services including:
· Early Help and Family Hubs
· Children and Safeguarding Team
· Resilience Around the Family
· Children with Disabilities
· Children in Care
· Strategic Development and Commissioning
· Youth Offending Services
Our Island community faces unique challenges that will test your leadership and encourage you to think differently, inspire and innovate. We want our young people to have the best possible future, to reach their full potential.
Working together as 'One Council' we place the Island’s community at the heart of everything we do.
You’ll be supported by a welcoming and dedicated team of professionals, and benefit from a fantastic employment package including 32 days annual leave (plus public holidays).
All this while enjoying a coastal lifestyle that is hard to beat!
HOW TO APPLY
If you are a qualified and registered Social Worker with significant experience in leading and managing a large social care service, we’d love to hear from you!
For full information and for application details , visit our full application page www.iow.gov.uk/SDChildSoc
When you join #TeamIWC you'll receive our staff benefits package, including:
- Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
- Local Government pension scheme
- Discounted Solent ferry travel
- Island bus network discount
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff parking permit scheme
- Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
- National and local discounts & benefits schemes
A relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available to new employees specifically relocating to the Isle of Wight to take up a role with us. If you choose to commute to the Isle of Wight daily, you may be eligible get your travel costs reimbursed. Further details are available upon request.
Find out more about working for the Isle of Wight Council and living on the Island here.
The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination and this is supported by the Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, Employee Code of Conduct and Behaviours Framework. We actively promote the diversity of our workforce and we provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees.
The Isle of Wight Council’s Terms & Conditions of employment are available upon request. Please contact our recruitment team via adverts@iow.gov.uk if you would like to receive a copy.
The Isle of Wight Council is an equal opportunities employer, who is proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community. In addition to this, we are also a Disability Confident Employer. Along with a number of other areas of commitments, this means that providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.
This council and its schools recruit according to the council’s Recruitment, Policy and Procedure and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
As we leave the 10- year strategic partnership between the Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire County Council it is worth noting that the employer will be the Isle of Wight Council and employment is on Isle of Wight terms and conditions. Hampshire County Council has delivered, on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, all of its children’s services functions and will continue to do so until the partnership ends in 2023.
If you have difficulty completing your online application or if you need further information about how to apply, telephone 01983 823134 or email callcentre@iow.gov.uk. Please note only applications completed and submitted online by the closing date will be accepted.
We often receive a high volume of applicants for our vacancies. If you do not hear from the recruiting manager within three weeks of the closing date, we regret that your application will not have been successful on this occasion. If unsuccessful, we actively encourage you to revisit our job pages and apply to alternate posts that may be suitable.