Tools:
Regional succession planning for children's services
Register your interest in regional succession planning for children's services
Succession planning for children's services
Only with the 2004 Children Act were local authorities required to appoint a director of children’s services (DCS). Almost all of the first wave were appointed from serving directors of education or social services, which is one of the reasons why there has been a higher level of turnover than anticipated. This section provides information about the nature of the job and describes the support available from the National College for those who aspire to the role in the future.
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Becoming a director of children's services
What does it mean to be a director of children's services? Gain an insight into the organisation of children’s services in local authorities and the skills and experience required to be in charge
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About succession planning: the national framework
Find out about the National Framework for Succession Planning for Children's Services produced by the National College to support the development of a national network of regional initiatives
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About succession planning: the regional initiative
Learn more about the local solutions which are being developed in each of the regions
Publications
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DCS Leadership Programme leadership challenge
Shared learning from the DCS Leadership Programme -
Mentor Plus handbook
An overview of the Mentor Plus scheme for directors of children's services (DCSs) -
Seizing Success 2010 - Leading for outcomes
This workshop provides an update on the emerging findings of the National College's Leading for Outcomes research project into effective knowledge, skills and behaviours of directors of children's services and their senior leadership teams. -
Seizing Success 2010 - Seizing the system, seeing solutions: integrated system leadership in children's centres
The spotlight has fallen on the need for system leaders and outward facing, future-focused leadership across the 0-19 agenda. By design and also by default, children's centre leaders are becoming the trailblazers in system leadership, exemplifying partnership and multi-agency working at its finest and most complex. This workshop is aimed at delegates from children's centres, schools across all phases of learning, and multi-agency representatives. -
Aspirant DCS Programme - questions raised at the regional information sessions
Answers to the questions raised at the Aspirant DCS Programme regional information sessions
Case studies
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Developing individuals in the south west
National College resource: think-piece looking at ways a project based in the south west aimed to make a real impact on the capacity of the voluntary and community sector by developing the talent of individuals working in the third sector -
Developing individuals in the south east
National College resources: how the Government Office: South East commissioned a small scale leadership development programme for second-tier officers in the 19 local authorities to address their concerns over turnover of senior leaders in childrenâs services -
Managing talent think-piece
National College resources: think-piece looking at how the National Leadership Qualities Framework and classic film It's a Wonderful Life are being used as inspiration in Leeds for managing talent -
Collaborative working think piece
National College resources: this think piece looks at how collaborative working using existing and new networks in East Midlands has been the key to implementing an effective plan for improving talent management and succession planning -
Development needs case study
National College resources examining the development needs of aspiring directors of children's services in London
Interactive resources
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Keep a sense of perspective about your challenges
Kim Bromley-Derry reminds us that when you put personal problems in perspective, they take on their proper proportions in this 50Lessons video -
Appointing people with passion
50Lessons video where Catherine Fitt emphasises the need to find employees who are passionate about their job -
Implement change quickly when taking on a new role
Sir George Cox discusses the importance of making changes immediately in a new role in this 50Lessons video -
Developing collaborative practices across professions
50Lessons video where Kim Bromley-Derry talks about the best practices to encourage collaborative work across professions. -
Why become a director of children's services?
National College resources outlining the benefits and challenges of the role of director of children's services.
Articles
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A week in the life of a DCS - a think piece
National College resources: DCS think pieces. In this think piece, a former director of children's services (DCS) in a successful local authority describes her week in the role. -
National support team contact details
National College resources: national support team contact details for succession planning at a regional level. -
What is happening locally?
National College resources: how to get involved in succession planning at a regional level. -
Why become a director of children's services?
National College resources outlining the benefits and challenges of the role of director of children's services. -
Identifying and managing talent
National College resources: how to develop regional programmes to spot and track talented professionals in your region
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