Staffing Committee

29 August 2024

Appointment of Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Families, Children’s Services

For Decision

Cabinet Member and Portfolio:

Cllr. C Sutton, Children's Services, Education & Skills

Local Councillor(s):

All

Executive Director:

T Leavy, Executive Director of People - Children

Report Author: Lateefah Sulaiman

Job Title:	HR Business Partner (Childrens Services)

Tel:	01305221621

Email:	Lateefah.Sulaiman@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Report Status: Public (the exemption paragraph is N/A)

Brief Summary:

Consideration to appoint a permanent Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Families, following interviews.

Recommendation:

To approve the interview panel’s recommendation for the appointment of a Corporate Director for Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Families, on a permanent basis in the Children’s Services directorate.

Reason for Recommendation:

As required by our constitution, the role of Corporate Director for Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Families, requires the approval of the Staffing Committee, as it is a Chief Officer role within the council.

Executive Summary

The position of Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Families is an integral part of the Children's Senior Leadership Team and directly reports to the Executive Director of Children's Services. The role is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the quality assurance function across all of Children’s Services. Including ensuring that effective service improvement and workforce development strategy is in place, and that detailed and strategic action plans are put in place after inspection, peer challenge, audit of critical incidents, and to build on our Good Ofsted rating.

The Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Families role was created in 2022 and appointed to on a fixed term basis. The current post holder handed in her resignation to leave Dorset Council at the end of October 2024 to explore new opportunities both personally and professionally. This role is pivotal in sustaining the momentum of improvement within the Children's Quality Assurance & Safeguarding service and is now being filled on a permanent basis.

Appointment Process for Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding

The role was advertised externally from 17th July – 18th August 2024. It was promoted broadly, including the use of social media channels and targeted advertising, to ensure a strong field of applicants.

Ten applications were submitted for the position. Subsequently, a shortlisting panel convened on 21st August 2024, comprising Cllr S Jones and Theresa Leavy. Following shortlisting, it was determined that five candidates would be invited to a formal interview and selection process.

The formal selection programme consisted of four separate panels: a stakeholder panel, a staff panel, a children and young people’s panel and a member formal interview panel including Councillors.

The panel members listed below participated in a face-to-face formal interview on 29 August 2024. The Member Panel consisted of:

Cllr Nick Ireland

Cllr Claire Sutton

Cllr Andrew Parry

Theresa Leavy, Executive Director

Lateefah Sulaiman, HR Business Partner

The Stakeholder Panel includes representatives of partner organisations – Steve Ford (Dorset Council), Jim Beashel (Police), Elaine Hurll (Health), Miriam Leigh (Education), Mike Bennett (Voluntary Sector) and Lesley Mellor (Dorset Parent Carer Council).

The Staff Panel includes Dorset Council Senior Managers and Business Partners including a Union representative.

A Children and Young Panel provided invaluable feedback.

As a result of the interview and selection process, the Formal Panel are making a recommendation to the Staffing Committee for the appointment of one of the candidates to the post of Corporate Director for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Families.

Financial Implications

The post will be paid at Corporate Director salary level and costs will be managed within budget.

Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Implications

None

Well-being and Health Implications

None

Other Implications

None

Risk Assessment

Having considered the risks associated with this decision; the level of risk has been identified as:

Current Risk: Low

Residual Risk: Low

Equalities Impact Assessment

The post has been recruited to in accordance with the council’s equality and diversity policies.

Appendices

None

Background Papers

None.