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Working directly with BCT’s Chief Executive and their leadership team, you will provide strategic direction and oversight to the sector-led support plan. The role will oversee day to day progress of support to local authorities, and BCT Support’s impact on improvement, as the dedicated person to ‘make things happen’ and provide the BCT Chief Executive with confidence that the improvement work is progressing in the agreed way, allowing the wider team to do their work.

The role will also provide strategic oversight of BCT’s charity, Bfriends, ensuring its vision, governance, fundraising and delivery activity are aligned to the needs of children, young people and families. This includes working with trustees and key partners to strengthen accountability, maximise impact and ensure the charity operates effectively, sustainably and in line with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

About you:

Sector-led Improvement

• To lead and coordinate the work of Birmingham Children’s Trust in supporting other authorities/Trusts in their improvement.
• To be a pro-active member of the Trust Executive team, ensuring effective planning informs service priorities for support
• To collect and collate evidence of support provided, impact and outcomes, to monitor and evaluate the programme, drive evidence-based decision-making for improvement initiatives and provide regular reports as required to BCT’s TLT, Executive, and Trust Board.
• To coordinate site visits, shadowing and sharing opportunities between BCT and the LAs we support.
• To manage any national and local media and political enquiries
• To collate and provide any returns required on the support programmes
• To ensure all support offers are efficient and effective
• To collate evidence of ‘what works’ in terms of support
• To collaborate with key stakeholders to identify improvement opportunities, analyse existing processes, and develop recommendations for enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, and quality.
• Specifically, to coordinate support from other organisations designed to complement the Trust’s support and accelerate improvement
• To foster a culture of continuous improvement by promoting best practices, providing coaching and guidance, and fostering innovation throughout the organisation.
• To design and implement change management strategies to ensure successful adoption and sustainability of improvements and transformations.
• To establish strong relationships and effective communication channels with senior leadership, department heads, and cross-functional teams to gain support and alignment for improvement and transformation initiatives.
• To develop the business model for BCT that enables the Trust to support a high-quality and effective support/improvement offers to other organisations

Bfriends

• Oversee the development and delivery of the charity’s vision, mission and strategic plan
• Ensure all activity aligns with the charity’s purpose and public benefit
• Work effectively with Trustees to provide oversight, direction and accountability
• Maintain strong governance, ensuring compliance with the charity’s governing document and legal requirements
• Ensure the charity operates in line with relevant legislation, regulation and Charity Commission guidance
• Identify, manage and mitigate organisational and financial risks
• Maintain accurate records and ensure timely submission of reports and accounts
• Develop and monitor budgets, financial plans and forecasts
• Ensure effective use of resources to deliver impact and value for money
• Work with Trustees (e.g. Treasurer) to ensure financial sustainability and accountability
• Oversee and deliver a fundraising strategy (grants, donations, events, partnerships)
• Oversee the building and managing of relationships with donors, funders and partners
• Ensure fundraising activity complies with legal and ethical standards
• Oversee the day-to-day running of the charity, ensuring services are effective and responsive
• Develop, implement and review policies and procedures
• Ensure programmes are delivered in line with objectives and achieve measurable outcomes
• Monitor performance and drive continuous improvement
• Build strong relationships with trustees, staff, volunteers, community partners and beneficiaries
• Represent the charity externally, acting as an ambassador and advocate
• Engage stakeholders to increase reach, support and impact
• Oversee communications, marketing and public engagement activity
• Protect and enhance the charity’s reputation and public trust
• Ensure transparency and clear reporting to stakeholders and the community

Additional Information: Interview Date: Week Commencing 3rd August (In person or on Microsoft Teams TBC) Onboarding process: Please note as part of our onboarding process, the successful candidate will be required undergo a series of background checks with Experian including Experian DBS, Experian Right to Work, and Digital ID verification. These are essential pre-employment requirements. Our Benefits:

• A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
• Free on-site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley). We also provide onsite electric car charging ports which are free to use!
• Full access to our amazing internal employee benefits scheme including, Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Benefits discounts (including the Blue Light Card), Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support and much more!
• Flexible and hybrid working policy - we are well adapted to a hybrid model of working which includes a combination of time spent in the office and at home and we offer a variety of working patterns.
• Pension Scheme - You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the local government pension scheme.

Benefits

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications, therefore please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.