Head of Integrated Children’s Services

The Role

St Mary’s Kenmure, leader in providing residential secure care to vulnerable young people and their families, are seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Integrated Children’s Services to join their dedicated and passionate team. Part of the senior management team, this pivotal role, will lead St Mary’s Kenmures Integrated Children’s services providing overall leadership and operations of children’s services, safeguarding, quality improvement and learning and development. St Mary’s Kenmure are at an exciting time in history, with a new Director of Service, who this postholder will deputise for, and have the opportunity to set the upcoming strategic direction for the organisation, to lead St Mary’s Kenmure forward.

Role responsibilities include:

• Lead the strategic development and delivery of professional practice across all service categories, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical, and social requirements.
• Identify and manage risk across all services, reporting regularly to the Executive and Senior Leadership Team and Board.
• Ensure effective quality controls and continuous improvement in Integrated Children’s Services at both strategic and operational levels.
• Influence social policy and childcare practices, developing services for children and young people in Scotland.
• Develop and maintain external relationships to promote St Mary’s Kenmure’s work and policy positions.
• Act as an authoritative voice on social policy affecting children and young people in Scotland.
• Lead, support, and develop a team of senior managers to shape the strategic direction of service provision.
• Implement business planning tools and techniques to improve business efficiency and respond to changing service needs.
• Support the development of new business opportunities and revenue streams to grow St Mary’s Kenmure services.
• Oversee contract negotiations with external fund holders to maintain and enhance service provision.
• Manage the Integrated Children’s Services Executive Management Team to develop new services and maintain existing ones.
• Share overall responsibility for the organisational budget.
• Ensure compliance with legislative, regulatory, and inspection requirements for St Mary’s Kenmure premises.

The successful candidate will have:

• Considerable experience in senior management roles within the social care sector, specifically in services for children, young people, and families.
• Extensive experience of involvement in service design, development, and review with a track record of managing specific improvements.
• Proven ability to negotiate and network across a wide range of agencies.
• Thorough understanding of Scottish social policy, childcare legislation, and practice issues
• Expertise in workforce planning, people management, and change management principles.
• Strong capability in financial management, budgetary control, and setting and reviewing budgets.
• Experience in interacting with funding bodies and negotiating at senior levels.
• Ability to think strategically, systematically, and creatively.
• Excellent oral and written communication, with experience in presentations and public speaking.
• Experience in tendering and marketing activities
• SCQF Level 10 in Social Work, Health, or Education and a management qualification at SCQF Level 8 or above.

A demonstration and model of St Mary’s Kenmure’s values, both personally and professional and a commitment to continuously seeking and implementing performance improvements, with service-users at the heart of what you do is essential.

If you are a strategic leader passionate about improving the lives of young people, eager to drive positive change, and envision a brighter future for St Mary’s Kenmure, we want to hear from you.

Further information is available below: