It couldn’t be a more exciting time to work at Merton Council. We are a borough on the rise, led by a fresh and ambitious new leadership and armed with some of the boldest transformation plans in London. Merton encompasses the towns of Colliers Wood, Mitcham, Morden and Wimbledon and is home to a vibrant, growing population of more than 220,000. We are proud custodians of some of the best sporting heritage in the world and Merton’s connectivity is unbeatable in south London; we are at the start of both the Northern and District Tube lines, which offer direct access into central London in just 20 minutes. We are a borough going places – we have a brand-new blueprint for the future that will see us unlock the full potential of our borough and build a better Merton together, putting the needs of our residents at the heart of everything we do.

THE ROLE

Merton Council is looking for an exceptional individual to lead its Adult Social Care Operations portfolio.

You will put the borough’s vulnerable residents front and centre of everything you do: ensuring they are able to live their lives in the way that they want to.

This is a time of rapid change in Merton Council but also significant ambition, and we’re looking for a leader who can motivate, inspire and drive transformation at pace and with passion – but always with care and empathy.

You will lead and shape the Adult Social Care division, transforming and continuously improving a portfolio that includes: adult social care; adult safeguarding; hospital discharge and provider services.

This role is pivotal in enabling the council to meet its commitment to securing quality services for residents and supporting choices for people to live independently in the community.

You will need to show you are able to bring strategic leadership, operational grip and professional expertise to a complex and broad portfolio that carries significant political visibility and contribute to vital organisational priorities.

You will create and lead a five-year transformation and change plan for your directorate, ensuring it reflects national best practice, prepares for the care quality assurance process, and propels service improvement, while working within a challenging financial environment.

You will:

• Ensure that the council meets its statutory responsibilities for adult social care.
• Lead the process of responding to people’s needs, including assessment, review, safeguarding, brokerage, financial assessment and the allocation of a personal budget.
• Ensure professional practice complies with required national standards.
• Provide senior management leadership to discussions and negotiations with the local integrated care.
• Lead on negotiations about pooled budgets including the Better Care Fund.

You will have significant experience of managing a complex social care and health front line service within a local authority – or equivalent organisation – and will understand how operations, commissioning and partners need to work together to deliver sustainable services.

Your ability to quickly build trusted relationships, based on your professional credibility and personal integrity, will be essential.