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Head of Service Integrated Front Door, Emergency Duty Team & MACPT
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Stoke-on-Trent City Council,
Head of Service Integrated Front Door Emergency Duty Team and MACPT
Directorate: Children and Family Services
Section: Integrated Front Door, Emergency Duty Team and Multi-Agency Child Protection Team
Grade: SM4 (£77,581-£81,549 per annum)
Hours: 37 hours per week, with standby duty on a rota basis outside normal working hours as required
This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.
About Us
We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job; it is about making, protecting and improving services for local people, reducing inequalities and improving independence for those who live and work in the city. That is where you come in. We are looking for people of the highest calibre, with the skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset. The skills, knowledge and experience of our employees are essential to delivering our ambitions for the organisation and the city. We want to be an employer people are proud to work for, where staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them excel and deliver the high-quality services our residents need.
Further information on why work for us.
Join Our Children and Families Service
We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation. We are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.
The Role
As Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Integrated Front Door, Emergency Duty Team and Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT). These services are central to Stoke-on-Trent's safeguarding response, ensuring concerns are considered promptly, urgent situations are managed outside normal working hours and statutory child protection activity is coordinated effectively. You will set clear direction, strengthen performance and quality, and lead service improvement with children's experiences and safety at the centre of decision-making.
About You
- A degree in a relevant subject, a recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
- Detailed knowledge of children's services legislation, statutory safeguarding responsibilities and the regulatory framework for local authority children's social care.
- Substantial senior management experience in childrens services, including strategic planning, operational delivery and people management within a complex local authority or similar environment.
- Experience of leading statutory safeguarding, front door or child protection services, with the professional judgement to make clear decisions in urgent and high-risk situations.
- A strong record of managing change, improving performance and quality, and planning and reviewing services against local and national expectations.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with significant experience of partnership working, budget management and leading large multidisciplinary workforces.
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Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across the Integrated Front Door, Emergency Duty Team and MACPT, with clear accountability for safe, timely and effective services.
- Ensure contacts and safeguarding concerns receive a proportionate response, urgent out-of-hours situations are managed effectively and statutory child protection duties are met.
- Develop and maintain effective performance and quality-management systems, using evidence and service information to identify and deliver sustained improvement.
- Lead, organise and develop the workforce, maintaining high standards of professional practice, supervision, safer recruitment and staff development.
- Plan and control delegated budgets and resources, delivering agreed priorities and targets within available funding and council requirements.
- Provide expert advice to senior leaders and elected members, strengthen multi-agency partnerships and participate in the senior management standby rota when required.
Why Join Us?
- Lead services that make critical safeguarding decisions and provide urgent support to children and families when they need it most.
- Shape the continued development of the Integrated Front Door, Emergency Duty Team and MACPT as part of the council's improvement and transformation programme.
- Work closely with senior leaders and partner agencies to improve the consistency, quality and impact of Stoke-on-Trents safeguarding response.
What We Offer
- A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent.
- Hybrid and flexible working options, where these are compatible with the needs of the role and service.
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training and apprenticeship and management programmes.
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Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found online.
Want to know more?
If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact:
Jane Stuart, FFP Manager - Children & Families
Pre-employment checks
Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:
- Right to Work in the UK.
- Proof of address.
- Satisfactory references.
- Occupational Health clearance.
- Evidence of relevant professional qualifications or registrations.
- A DBS check at the appropriate level.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and we expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Additional Information
If an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy, their application will receive priority. If this happens, you will be advised accordingly.
Your career matters here. At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we are committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know it is our greatest asset. We are building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed requirement. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves and can succeed together.
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