Appointment

Wakefield appoint new Service Director – Education & Inclusion

by

We are delighted to have supported Wakefield Council on the recent appointment of their Service Director – Education and Inclusion. Following on from similar appointments in Leeds and Bradford, these high profile roles are some of the most challenging to recruit to in local government with generally small candidate fields. Councils’ changing role in maintained provision alongside academies and free schools, whilst operating with constrained budgets mean that candidates have to be capable managers and leaders but generate positive relationships with key partnerships for the whole system to flourish. As skills funding has been cut the link to FE and employers is also an essential role for councils in ensuring post-16 opportunities are available for young people.

If you are an authority looking to recruit to such a role and would like to discuss the insights gained during these search processes, please do get in touch. Alternatively if you are working in Education/Skills now as an inspector, advisor, headteacher, consultant or working in a council service and considering your next move please contact us for a confidential discussion.

5 Directors appointed at Bradford Council

by
Bradford Council Logo

With support from Proventure, Bradford Council have appointed a range of highly skilled and experienced senior managers to the following roles: Strategic Director – Corporate Resources, Director of HR, Deputy Director – Education and Learning, Assistant Director – Commissioning and Integration and Assistant Director – Office of the Chief Executive.

We provided a full service with innovative media campaigns, executive search, longlist selection interviews and final panel support. All roles were recruited to first time including the Deputy Director Education role – often difficult to attract good quality fields to these posts.

Bradford achieved their aim of attracting a diversity of experience capable of creating and sustaining positive partnerships across all sectors in the District, appointing candidates from health, local government, education, regional agencies and the private sector.

Deputy Directors appointed – Education and Learning

by

We are delighted to have supported the recent appointments of two Deputy Directors for Education in roles at Leeds and Bradford Councils. Both are some of the most high profile local government education roles focusing on broad agendas of school improvement and attainment and key partnerships with academies, employers and skills providers across these diverse cities and surrounding districts.

If you are a council looking to recruit to such a role and would like to discuss the insights gained during these search processes, please do get in touch. Alternatively if you are working in Education now as an inspector, advisor, headteacher, consultant or working in a council service and considering your next move please contact us for a confidential discussion. We expect to have some interesting roles coming up in good councils.

Childrens services roles appointed

by

We are pleased to have appointed to two senior Childrens services roles during July at Bolton and Leeds councils. Both authorities were attractive propositions to candidates, with excellent recent track record in developing high quality, innovative and consistent services. However these authorities are ambitious, wishing to keep enhancing and developing their provision so not resting on their laurels at a time of change and budgetary restrictions. Candidates considering a move viewed the roles as ones where they could make a difference and personally flourish. This compared favourably to roles at authorities where services are less developed or even in trouble – very different prospects and rewards.

The Director of Children and Families at Leeds and Assistant Director at Bolton, were appointed to first time from competitive and high quality fields.

If you are a Head of Service, AD or Director considering a move we would be pleased to hear from you at a time where other roles at local authorities are emerging.

Childrens services roles

by

We are pleased to have appointed to two senior Childrens services roles during July at Bolton and Leeds councils. Both authorities were attractive propositions to candidates, with excellent recent track record in developing high quality, innovative and consistent services. However these authorities are ambitious, wishing to keep enhancing and developing their provision so not resting on their laurels at a time of change and budgetary restrictions. Candidates considering a move viewed the roles as ones where they could make a difference and personally flourish. This compared favourably to roles at authorities where services are less developed or even in trouble – very different prospects and rewards.

The Director of Children and Families at Leeds and Assistant Director at Bolton, were appointed to first time from competitive and high quality fields.

If you are a Head of Service, AD or Director considering a move we would be pleased to hear from you at a time where other roles at local authorities are emerging.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) 2 Directors and 7 Heads of Service appointed

by

It has been a busy summer and autumn at WYCA. We have supported this growing and evolving organisation in the recruitment of 9 new and existing senior roles. As WYCA develops its voice and influence, the Heads of Communications, Transport Policy and Economic Policy will have a significant impact on the regional and national debate. On the ground this intelligence and engagement function will inform the high quality and responsive delivery functions across regional transport, economic services and programme management. The new Director, Delivery leads a restructured and strengthened programme management office delivering across a broad range of projects on behalf of the stakeholders and partners in all sectors.

Wakefield s151 Assistant Chief Executive appointed

by

Wakefield Council have concluded the recruiment process for their new Assistant Chief Executive – Resources and Governance. The aim of the search and selection process was to identify individuals who brought the more traditional local government skills around section 151 responsibilities, but also combine some more commercial and varied sector experience with the capability to work corporately across the council. The field was strong, with some very varied experience, including those with private sector and consultancy working with local government. Their chosen candidate brings Assistant Director level working within local government, health and housing associations.

AD Children’s Social Care – Newcastle CC appointed

by

We are delighted to have worked on the successful campaign to appoint the new Assistant Director of Children’s Social Care at Newcastle City Council. Following the current Assistant Director’s move to lead the innovative Family Insights Programme, Karen Simmons will take up the post from August 2016 to continue the development of these highly regarded services. Following a nationwide search amongst current ADs and Heads of Service to find emerging talent ready for a step up, it is clear that finding the best talent within social care is still a challenging task. Many dedicated practicioners are keen to “finish” their current change programmes or reluctant to move, seeing potential career risk at a time of increasing public scrutiny on their work.

NUS CEO appointed

by

We are delighted to have worked with NUS to help them appoint their new Chief Executive – Simon Blake, who is currently Chief Executive at Brook – the national health charity which focuses on young people. Simon brings long term senior management and leadership experience in membership, campiaging and high quality service delivery organisations.

NUS release  Brook release Simon Blake on Twitter

New commercial appointments at Trafford Council

by

We are pleased to announce that we have helped appoint to both the Commercial Director and Contracts Director posts at Trafford Council. This progressive, efficient and well run council look to further their potential for both saving money and creating new sources of income and both Directors will add to this commercial drive.