Southend-on-Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community.  We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the Southend 2050 ambition and make lives better for the people of Southend.

Working for Southend-on-Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovate environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work-life balance.  As a Unitary Authority, we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.

In this full time, permanent position, as the Child Protection Conference Chair, you will be key to our cared for children and those in need of protection, achieving success, feeling safe and enjoying their lives.

Southend City Council has a rare opportunity for a forward-thinking individual to join the Quality and Practice service, part of Southend’s Children’s Services. The role will involve chairing child protection conferences and LADO. To be successful in this post, you will need to have a broad knowledge of statutory children’s social work working with children in need of protection, as your experience and expertise will be key for driving improved outcomes for the children of our City. Although experience of managing a team is preferable, we would be willing to consider candidates without this experience. You will be joining a team of experienced CP Conference Chairs and Independent Reviewing Officers.

You must be able to chair face-to-face meetings at the Civic Centre and be office based 3 days a week.

You must be a qualified Social Worker, ideally with post-graduate management and leadership qualifications, but this is not essential. Ideally, you will have experience of managing statutory children's social work, including both safeguarding and cared for children, and demonstrate strength in developing plans to improve outcomes for children. You must have an understanding of the LADO role and have a clear understanding of harm, risk and assess the impact on the lived experience of children.
Finally, you must be able to work collaboratively and possess first-class communication skills.

You must be able to chair face-to-face meetings at the Civic Centre and be office based 3 days a week.

Pension: Southend-on-Sea City Council provide membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for employees aged under 75. The LGPS is a generous scheme and provides you with a future income, independent of share prices and stock market fluctuations.

Leave Entitlements:

We offer our employees a generous leave entitlement from 25 days up to 32 days based on length of service (Continuous service). Southend-on-Sea City Council also offer a range of flexible working and family-friendly leave.

*We also offer paid time off to allow employees to undertake volunteering activities*

Here at Southend-on-Sea City Council we also offer our employees free access to a benefit portal that provides access to wellbeing support and a range of salary sacrifice schemes to help spread the cost of items, including:

Bicycles, cars, electronics and gym membership.

The portal also provides access to a range of discounts on products and services including retail, food shopping, travel, dining out and leisure activities.

Nowhere else will you gain as much experience on the job, making us a sought-after place to work. If you are passionate, dedicated to making a change and ready for a challenge – you could be the candidate we are looking for.

If you are interested in this role, please click 'apply online' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.

Click here for JD

If you are wanting further information that isn't in the JD, please contact Nathalie Nathalie.s@hays.com

Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able too.

All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check

The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.