December 2016 Dear Candidate, I am delighted that you are interested in learning more about Frontline and the role of Relationship and Development Manager for this exciting organisation. Frontline is a charity with a mission to transform life chances for vulnerable children by recruiting and developing individuals to be leaders in social work and broader society. Having been set up in 2013, we recruit graduates and career switchers to join our two-year programme where they eventually qualify as social workers working in child protection and child in need work. We also develop first line managers through our prototype of Firstline, a leadership programme for those directly managing practitioners. Frontline is growing and we are looking for applicants take responsibility for building relationships and developing the programme with a group of our partner local authorities. This is an exciting and influential role which requires authority, strong persuasion and relationshipbuilding skills, emotional and analytical wisdom, project management skills and a can-do approach. Application Process: To apply for the role you will need to send the following: 1. Application form and equal opportunities monitoring form 2. Personal statement in support of your application outlining how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the requirement of the person specification. Please ensure you address each point on the person specification as detailed in this pack. 3. Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) (maximum 2 pages) The deadline for applications is Midnight on Wednesday 11 h January 2017. Please email applications to hr@thefrontline.org.uk with the title Relationship and Development Manager in the subject line. If you have any questions or queries about this role or wish to discuss the position then please contact Rachel Lloyd, at rachel.lloyd@thefrontline.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Josh MacAlister Chief Executive Job Description Job Title: Relationship and Development Manager Reports to: Head of Region Start date: 13 th February 2017 Location: London Salary: Between 34,000 to 40,000 depending on experience + 11% employer pension contribution
Closing date: Midnight 11 th January 2017 Interview date: Interviews expected to be held on Wednesday 18 th January in Holborn, central London. Overview The Frontline programme involves three main partners: the central Frontline team, our academic partners, and the local authorities where our participants are located during the two years of the programme in the first year as students who are learning in real-life practice situations, and in the second as newly qualified social workers. Local authorities play a critical role. Our participants spend a year with them learning how to apply their academic learning to children and families in need for whom the local authority is responsible. They are based in the local authority s children s service, working alongside qualified social work teams. Based in units of four, Frontline participants receive high quality supervision from a member of the local authority s staff who has been chosen and trained for the role (the Consultant Social Worker). After the first year they qualify as a social worker and become an employee of the local authority, which in turn continues to support their development. Local authorities children s services are complex organisations facing a range of challenges and pressures. We need to work closely with them so that they can provide the best experience for our participants, but also so that they can benefit in terms of their own service and practice development as a result of their partnership with Frontline. Because what the local authorities do is so important, we have developed the role of Relationship and Development Manager responsible for managing, co-ordinating and developing all aspects of the relationship, at all levels. This is a highly responsible role and will have a direct impact on the quality of programme implementation. As well as ensuring planned elements of the programme are delivered, it involves responding to new and unexpected issues, as well as identifying areas for improvement and leading on change. It provides the opportunity to create effective relationships at all organisational levels, and to apply and further develop high level communication skills at both 1:1 and wider group level. There is a focus on building direct human relationships, with post-holders spending time on-site with their local authorities to achieve shared goals. Key responsibilities Relationship management Establish strong professional relationships with all relevant key officers in an agreed group of local authorities. This will include: the Director of Children s Services, Assistant Director for Children s Social Care, the local authority s project sponsor and project manager, the learning and development lead, operational managers (including managers responsible for managing participants in Year 2 of the programme), Consultant Social Workers and social workers. Help the local authorities to deliver the standard of practice experience and support required. This includes helping them to make the right preparation arrangements before a new cohort starts each year; supporting them during the first year whilst the participants are with them as practice learners; helping them to prepare for a successful transition of the participants into their first qualifying year; helping local authorities to provide a continued positive experience for participants in the second year of the programme when they are newly qualified social workers. Drive effective arrangements for the identification, cultivation, assessment, and training and development of Consultant Social Workers.
Trouble-shoot and resolve any issues that arise in the partnership arrangements or in the local authorities ability to deliver the programme to the required standard. Plan and deliver regular partnership meetings with local authorities. Deliver briefings and presentations to a range of local authority audiences. Take the lead responsibility on behalf of the Relationship and Development managers group on specific initiatives. Central point of contact Be the central point of contact for Frontline, whereby the other teams within Frontline interface with the local authorities under this post s guidance and advice. Development Maintain a detailed overview of, and contribute analysis to, how well the programme is being implemented in linked local authorities, drawing on a range of sources including the evaluation data compiled by the Operations Team, external evaluations and the Relationship and Development managers own direct contact with Specialists, local authorities and academic tutors. Use this data to identify and drive programme delivery improvements both within individual local authorities and, where appropriate, strategically across the local authority partnership. Other partnerships Maintain a good understanding of the work of other teams within Frontline and their interfaces with local authorities, supporting them to make productive connections. Contribute to joint working with academic partners so that the local authority experience and perspective informs the content and shape of the academic programme.
Person Specification Experience and knowledge Clear understanding, strong belief and enthusiasm for Frontline s mission and vision. Evidence of having established, developed and managed effective relationships with a range of stakeholders. Track record of successful planning and delivery of complex projects. Good understanding of the social care responsibilities of local authorities (desirable). Experience of leading and driving change in services / programmes. Characteristics and skills Possessing the confidence, credibility and authority to develop trusting relationships with staff at all levels of organisational hierarchies. Able to raise difficult issues and give feedback in a sensitive way. High level of emotional intelligence as well as analytical intelligence. Able to influence and negotiate effectively to deliver desired outcomes, including presentation skills. Able to think, write and plan strategically as well as operationally. Highly organised and able to manage complexity and high levels of detail. Able to interrogate and reflect on a range of different types of data, consider hypotheses, and develop into strategic and operational plans. High quality and accurate written skills. Able to adapt to changing situations and new developments. Education and background Interest in, and commitment to the Frontline programme, mission and values. Degree (or equivalent). Right to work in the UK. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure. Frontline s mission Our mission is to transform the lives of vulnerable children by recruiting and developing outstanding individuals to be leaders in social work and broader society. Frontline s values - Be brave: be prepared to challenge and don t always reach for the easy answer - Show respect: recognise and value the contributions of others - Pioneer: generate new ideas and make ripples or waves by sharing successes and setbacks - Stay curious: be continually reflective and open to adapting how we work - What matters is what works: be practical, flexible and outcome-focussed Frontline Benefits Frontline are committed to the professional development and wellbeing of all staff. Frontline offers a number of core benefits to all employees:
Flexible working: Frontline offer a core hours policy requiring staff to be in the office between 10:00 and 16:00, with flexibility on working hours around this. Pension: Frontline offer an 11% pension employer contribution. Annual Leave: 25 days per year (in addition to bank holidays) rising by 1 day per year after 2 years in service up to a maximum of 30 days. In addition, the office closes from 25 December to 2 January. Travel: Interest free loan for season ticket or bicycle. Training and Development: Frontline offer all employees a mentor and/or coach after completion of probation. We also provide loans and grants for additional training as part of our overall learning and development offer. Volunteering days: All employees can take between 1 and 3 days to volunteer in a mission-aligned charity depending on length of service. Recruitment process Safe Recruitment Procedure Frontline is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. In order to meet this responsibility, it follows a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. This process is outlined below, but can be provided in more detail if requested. Disclosure This post is classified as having substantial access to children, and appointment is subject to an enhanced police check of previous criminal convictions (DBS). Applicants are required, before appointment, to disclose any conviction, caution or binding over including spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975. Nondisclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar individuals from employment this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. Shortlisting, interviews and reference checking Only those candidates meeting the right criteria will be taken forward from application. We regret that we cannot respond individually to unsuccessful candidates so if you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed. References from the previous and current employer may be taken up for shortlisted candidates, and where necessary employers may be contacted to gather further information. Please let us know about any sensitivity regarding the taking up of references prior to interview. Probation All new staff will be subject to a probation period of six months (which may, in certain circumstances, be extended). The probation period is a trial period, to enable the assessment of an employee s suitability for the job for which they have been employed.
Questions or further information If you require more information please contact hr@thefrontline.org.uk and a member of the team will get back to you. If you want further information on the programme please visit our website: www.thefrontline.org.uk