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

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for social care? Bracknell Forest Council is seeking a Head of Berkshire Emergency Duty Service to oversee the delivery and coordination of statutory social care during out-of-hours operations across all six unitary authorities of Berkshire. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of diverse community needs and the ability to manage complex service delivery for a large and varied population.

About You

You will have a social work qualification with valid Social Work England registration, as well as extensive experience of legislation, policy and statutory requirements relating to Children, Adults, Mental Health and Housing.

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. 

About the Team

We are deeply committed to the wellbeing of Berkshire residents, and our dedicated out-of-hours social care team plays a crucial role in safeguarding some of our most vulnerable community members. Our specialist team includes Approved Mental Health Professionals, Senior Social Workers (Children’s Services), Adult Safeguarding Care Coordinators and Call Screening Officers. Collaborating closely with health professionals, the police, and families, we provide vital support and intervention for individuals facing social care crises outside regular hours.

The Berkshire Emergency Duty Service (hosted by Bracknell Forest Council) provides unique, out-of-hours emergency social care across the entire Berkshire region. We take pride in our community, the care we deliver and the meaningful partnerships we have built with key stakeholders. However, we are always striving to improve, giving our team the time, support and resources to do their best work while also shaping the future of the service. 

This is an exciting time to join the team. Following a recent service restructuring, EDS has been recognised as a safe and effective service that safeguards children and vulnerable adults, earning positive feedback from Ofsted and CQC. Our team is a diverse group of highly skilled professionals, each an expert in their respective fields, working together to deliver expert crisis intervention and specialised social care.

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 increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service.
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days annual leave per year and 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.
• Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme).
• 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, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
• 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. 

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.

Our support

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 held on Wednesday, 4th June 2025. 

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment. 

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: 

Name: Tony Dwyer

Job Title: Assistant Director: Adult Social Care Operations 

Phone Number: 01344 352787

At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.

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.