About The Service
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the national leadership team for the national Adoption Service for Wales and Foster Wales.
These are national collaborative services for the improvement and delivery of adoption and fostering services in Welsh local authorities and, for adoption, in 3rd sector adoption agencies and other partners. National leadership, co-ordination and some elements of service are provided through a national team, hosted by Cardiff Council and working across Wales.
Launched in 2014, the National Adoption Service in Wales is a truly collaborative venture with the Welsh statutory and voluntary sectors working together to improve the lives of children and their adoptive families as well as others affected by adoption. Foster Wales was established in 2021 and brings together all 22 local authority fostering services under a single brand for recruitment and retention purposes and seeks to embed a culture of continuous service improvement.
The aim of both services is to share expertise and work together to raise the profile of these services, ensure good quality services for those that need them and make best use of the extensive network of knowledge and experience including that of our service users. Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts.
About the job
We’re looking for an experienced business administrator who can lead the business and enabling functions of the national team. This is a senior role responsible for leading, managing and developing the business and enabling functions for NAS and Foster Wales as a whole. It has specific responsibility all aspects of the national team business and governance incl. performance, planning, finance, commissioning.
Relationships are critical to the success of both services, the post holder will also work with local government officers and council members, officers and trustees in the 3rd sector and other statutory partners across Wales to support the delivery of improvements in the agreed plans for the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales.
We need a rounded business administration professional who can combine strategic thinking with the practicalities of delivering within the team and on a national scale, excellent project management skills, proven ability to enable effective organisational governance as well as manage, analyse and report on performance, finance, commissioning and other functions.
The role provides line management oversight to the 5 business support staff in the central team, provides advice and support to services across Wales as well as working closely with the Director and the Adoption and Foster Wales professionals in the national team. The ability to engage with others, co-ordinate, and uphold a solution focused approach is vital.
What We Are Looking For From You
You will have proven ability to inspire and lead service business administration services, a detailed knowledge and experience of how local government services work, and an understanding of the role fostering and adoption services play in Welsh social care.
Alongside this you will have well developed abilities to build effective working relationships and influence stakeholders at operational, strategic and political levels. The ability to maintain and embed their commitment is key.
You will be creative and forward thinking as well as have experience of leading staff and successfully co-ordinating their energy and initiative to be aspirational and contribute to and deliver service needs.
The role requires a dynamic, energetic self-starter with a strong commitment to public services and a desire to put those skills to good use in creating a positive social impact in Wales.
If this sounds like you and want to contribute to making a huge difference to the futures of children in Wales, we'd like to hear from you.
Additional information
If you would like an informal conversation about this role prior to application or you have any concerns around your ability to participate in a virtual interview process, please contact Suzanne Griffiths, Director, suzanne.griffiths2@cardiff.gov.uk or suzanne.griffiths@adoptcymru.com to discuss.
The post will be part of a national team which supports and enables the Wales wide functions of both Foster Wales and the National Adoption Service for Wales. Cardiff Council hosts these arrangements and staff are employed by Cardiff.
The interview process for this role will be held on a virtual basis using Microsoft Teams. The formal interview will be on May 3rd.
This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service Standard/Enhanced checks.
Safeguarding and Child Protection are key priorities for the Council. We aim to support children and vulnerable adults to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. Our services and schools are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and vulnerable adults, and will take action to safeguard their well-being, and acknowledge that children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection. This is supported in the general ethos of the Council and all schools.
We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications.
Due to the current interim working arrangements, we are unable to provide recruitment packs or accept application forms via the post.
Due to the current COVID -19 circumstances the interview process for this role will be held on a virtual basis using an appropriate online platform. If you have any concerns around your ability to participate in a virtual interview process please contact suzanne.griffiths2@cardiff.gov.uk or suzanne.griffiths@adoptcymru.com to discuss.
Please note the Council does not accept CV’s. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you refer to the below located on our website:
Important information you need read in order to complete your application:-
Additional Information:-
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