Head of Berkshire Emergency Duty Service and Bracknell Forest Council Out of Hours

• Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_June_2025
• Welcome_payment
• Emergency_Duty_Service_Head_of_Service_-_JD_PS_July_25

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Are you an inspiring leader with a strong commitment to social care?

Bracknell Forest Council is looking for an exceptional person to lead the Berkshire Emergency Duty Service across all six Berkshire unitary authorities. You will lead the coordination and delivery of statutory out-of-hours social care providing strategic oversight, a deep understanding of the varied needs of diverse communities, and the ability to manage complex, high-impact service delivery for a wide range of people.

About you

You will also have a track record of achievement at senior management level and experience of operational services in a large complex social care, health or other relevant setting with extensive experience of legislation, policy and statutory requirements relating to Children, Adults, Mental Health and Housing. You will need to have a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.

About the team

You will be leading our specialist pan-Berkshire team of Approved Mental Health Professionals, Senior Social Workers (Children’s Services), Adult Safeguarding Care Coordinators and Call Screening Officers. The team collaborate closely with health professionals, the police, and families, providing vital support and intervention for individuals facing social care crises outside regular hours.

This is an exciting time to join the team, because our emergency duty service has recently been recognised as a safe and effective service that safeguards children and vulnerable adults, earning positive feedback from Ofsted and CQC. So if you are looking for an opportunity to work alongside outstanding colleagues, make a tangible difference and drive innovative approaches to social care, this is your chance to leave a lasting mark.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Emergency Duty Service (EDS) in fulfilling duties under the Children Act 1989 and associated legislation.
• Provide leadership for Mental Health services for both children and adults, ensuring compliance with the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) and relevant case law.
• Deliver Adult Social Care services in accordance with the Care Act 2014 and other relevant legislation.
• Oversee out-of-hours housing and homelessness services as stipulated in the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Manage the provision of an out-of-hours Appropriate Adult service for young people and vulnerable adults in police custody.
• Provide expert strategic leadership on statutory functions and professional practice in relation to both vulnerable children and adults.
• Support the transformation of the Emergency Duty Service to deliver improvements and efficiencies.
• Develop and implement strategic and operational plans in collaboration with service colleagues and senior leaders.
• Make independent decisions impacting daily operations and strategic direction.
• Ensure the service is adequately staffed 24/7 and meets all contractual arrangements, regulations and health and safety requirements.
• Successful management of significant organisational change, including culture change, change management programs and project management.

Our benefits

• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service.
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days annual leave per year or sell 5 days.
• Hybrid and flexible working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks.
• Local government pension scheme, with associated life insurance cover
• Electric Vehicle car leasing scheme via salary sacrifice
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, etc *
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
• Sports and Social Club.
• Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
• Supermarket discount.

*Terms and Conditions apply - please refer to candidate pack for more information

Our values

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.

Why join us?

Bracknell Forest Council offers a supportive and collaborative work environment where you can make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and adults. We are committed to providing the best possible value for money and ensuring that our services meet the needs of our community.

Interview date

Interviews will be in Bracknell held during week commencing 4 August 2025.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Hannah Doherty, 01344 354466, Hannah.doherty@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please. Previous applicants should not reapply.