Director of Strategy, Commissioning and Partnerships
London Borough of Merton
Salary circa £116,000
Merton Council is looking for an exceptional individual to lead its Children’s Strategy, Commissioning and Partnerships portfolio at a time of rapid change and in an increasingly challenging children’s portfolio policy environment.
THE ROLE
You will lead and shape the division, transforming and continuously improving, to ensure the council’s high-achieving children’s and family service maintains its sustained improvement trajectory and continues to give the very best life to the borough’s children and young people.
You will:
- Ensure the effective delivery of all operational services under your line management, including commissioning, policy performance and partnerships, school’s organisation and contracts, SEND transport and the administrative functions of the Merton Safeguarding Childrens Partnership
- Ensure oversight of reporting and monitoring of the council’s Safety Valve Plan and lead for CLLF on all the statutory reporting and inspection planning for all statutory returns and inspection frameworks
- Support delivery of the MSCP’s and council’s strategic plans and priorities; the council’s Children’s and Young People’s (CYP) Plan; the Safeguarding Partnership Business Plan; and council and departmental and service business plans.
- Develop and deliver joint working with health, including the Integrated Care Board and health providers and be the department’s lead contact with health partners.
- Develop and deliver national and local performance measures to improve the impact of and services for children and young people in line with the local CYP Plan and partnership arrangements, including the delivery of relevant statutory requirements.
In this role you will need to show you are able to bring strategic leadership, operational grip and professional expertise to a complex and broad portfolio of services that carry significant political visibility and contribute to vital organisational priorities including delivering the council’s Safety Valve Programme and delivering greater integration with children’s health commissioning.
This is a significant leadership role in an authority with a history of long-term improvement, grounded in successful collaboration across our partnerships. Your ability to quickly build trusted relationships, based on your professional credibility and personal integrity will be essential.
Timeline
Closing Date: 25th April 2024
Meeting to agree a Longlist: 30th April 2024
Technical Interviews: 7th May 2024
1:1 Tea and Coffee: 9th/10th May 2024
Final Interviews: 13th May 2024