Director of Adults and Community Services
Join us and play a major role in shaping the future of our organisation and providing first class services to the communities we serve
“We do things differently here in Torbay and have been praised for our way of working. The collaboration between ourselves and the NHS has seen 19 years of pioneering collaboration between health and adult social care, leading to the establishment of the integrated care organisation (ICO) in October 2015.”Anne-Marie Bond, Chief Executive, Torbay Council
A message from our Chief Executive
Dear candidate,
Thank you for your interest in this key leadership role here at Torbay Council.
I genuinely can't think of a better time to be part of the leadership team at Torbay. We have a real momentum with a once in a generation investment taking place across our three towns. The LGA have summarised this as our "moment in time". Our passion and drive to improve life for our residents goes beyond our council offices. The whole community is keen to see good ideas come to life and to take steps to help build resilient communities.
Torbay is a beautiful area to live and visit. We have a stunning natural landscape to be immensely proud of, but like a lot of coastal areas across the UK we have nationally significant levels of poverty, an increasing ageing population and close to a quarter of the population are identified as unpaid carers. We also know that the proportion of residents in Torbay experiencing deprivation due to low income has increased in recent years. This is what makes our challenge interesting and worthwhile.
We do things differently here in Torbay and have been praised for our way of working. The collaboration between us and the NHS has seen 19 years of pioneering collaboration between health and adult social care, leading to the establishment of the integrated care organisation (ICO) in October 2015. You will be at the forefront of this partnership ensuring we continue to successfully deliver our services to those that need us.
The role is not just focussed on adult social care but encompasses the wider needs of the community including a responsibility for our customer services team, housing services, licensing, environmental health, homelessness and rough sleeping, anti-social behaviour and community safety.
I'm looking forward to working with the successful candidate to combine our expertise and commitment on behalf of the people of Torbay. We are an agile unitary authority and you'll soon discover that this is a place where you can make things happen quickly and where you can establish direct relationships with key stakeholders. It means that, at times, you need to get close to the detail, but it also gives you true ownership of the agenda.
Torbay is a great place to live and work. This is a great role for a talented and ambitious person who has a passion for helping people be their best and to be healthy, happy and prosperous.
I look forward to receiving your application.
We have engaged GatenbySanderson to support our recruitment process. I encourage you to contact Seb Lowe (07464 543442) or Alex Hayes (07586 715843) to discuss the role in more detail.
Anne-Marie Bond
Chief Executive
About the area
Torbay – the English Riviera – occupies a prime position on the south coast of Devon. It is a fantastic place to live, work and visit, offering an unrivalled quality of life for individuals and families. Torbay is made up of the three coastal towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, each with a unique character. Our population is more than 135,000 making it the second largest urban area in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
We have a stunning natural environment with 22 miles of coastline. There is great access to the sea from a number of harbours and beaches with our communities also enjoying the benefits of an urban style of living.
Our coastline provides countless opportunities for outdoor activities. In the summer months you’ll always see plenty of activity: swimming, boating, kayaking, paragliding to name but a few. And if a more steady pace appeals to you then there’s plenty of opportunity to try your hand at fishing or just take in the stunning views on the South West Coast Path.
In addition, access to the countryside, Dartmoor and more remote parts of the county could not be easier. A new road infrastructure gives fast and reliable access to all parts of the UK, including Exeter and Bristol airports.
Our rich geological, historical and cultural heritage has gained and retained international recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark since designation in 2007. Other jewels in the Torbay’s crown include Agatha Christie, Torre Abbey, a wonderful food and drink offer, many tourist attractions and a busy events calendar, including the Annual English Riviera Air Show and sailing events.
With a constant influx of visitors there is a fantastic range of restaurants and cafes to cater to all tastes. Unsurprisingly, there is plenty of fresh seafood on offer and we are known as England’s Seafood Coast.
We have high quality, high performing primary and secondary schools and South Devon College is recognised as one of the top further education colleges in England, with aspirations of achieving university status.
Whilst tourism and fishing will always be a central part of the local economy, that’s not the full picture. Torbay hosts globally significant technology businesses operating in photonics, marine industries, nanotechnology and medi-tech. That high-tech economy is central to our mission - to become a council that supports, enables and empowers its residents, its communities and its partnerships.
About the role
Director of Adult and Community Services
Becoming our Director of Adult and Community Services is a great career move for a senior leader who is ready to take on an expansive portfolio of vital public services and a central corporate leadership role within Torbay Council.
You'll oversee a range of services and partnerships including: Adult Social Care Commissioning, Housing, Community Safety and other Community Services. You will also work collaboratively with the NHS to ensure that statutory Adult Social Care Services meet the aspirations of our residents. This role is the statutory Director of Adult Social Services. Local partnerships include:
- Torbay and south Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- Devon ICB
- Devon Partnership Trust
- Health Watch
- Torbay Communities
- Police and Crime Commissioners
- LD and Autism Partnership Boards
- Age UK
This is a highly visible role within the Council and the community. We are fully committed to the principles of co-design and co-production, which means stakeholder engagement will be an integral part of your work. You’ll help to make sure that our community feels connected to what’s happening around them. And, as we seek to make the most of high levels of investment and funding that are coming into Torbay, this has never been more important.
We expect that you’ll already have extensive senior management experience across a relevant portfolio of services, and that you can demonstrate how your leadership has helped to build momentum behind key initiatives and arrive at tangible outcomes. You’ll be accustomed to working in a political and partnership context and be skilled in negotiating, brokering and influencing in complex issues.
To learn more about this exciting opportunity, apply below to register your details and access the full role profile and details of the recruitment process.
Join us and help create thriving communities where people can prosper
You will be key to building strong and meaningful relationships with the community and oversee the provision of good quality statutory community services
About the council
Torbay Council is a unitary authority that employs around 1,000 people (excluding schools-based employees) and has its headquarters in Torquay.
We want to see a healthy, happy and prosperous Torbay.
We want to deliver for our people and our place. We know we have challenges, but we have high aspirations. By continuing to work closely with our communities and partners and capitalising on our strengths, we want to make Torbay a great place to do business - a place where everyone is able to live their best life.
Our Community and Corporate Plan is built around three themes:
- Community and People
- Pride in Place
- Economic Growth
The Council is made up of 36 Councillors representing 15 wards and, whilst in no-overall control, has a Conservative administration.
The Leader of the Council is Councillor David Thomas and Deputy Leader of the Council is Councillor Chris Lewis.
The Chief Executive is joined on the senior management team by six Directors:
- Director of Pride of Place
- Director of Children’s Services
- Director of Public Health
- Director for Adults and Community Services
- Director of Finance
- Director of Corporate Services
What we offer
We are one of the largest employers in Torbay.
We are committed to making a difference in our community and delivering high quality, value for money services to local people. To achieve this we only recruit the best - people who are forward-thinking and adaptable with a clear customer orientated focus and who always act with integrity.
In return, you will receive excellent employment terms and conditions and the opportunity to work for an organisation that recognises and values the contributions of its employees.
At Torbay, we are very proud to have a workforce that is committed and hard-working.
As our Director of Adults and Community Services we can offer you the following:
- 34 days annual leave plus bank holidays and an extra day for long service
- Relocation package for the successful candidate
- A Career Average Re-valued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme through Peninsula Pensions
- Commitment to a good Work/Life Balance with options including a career break scheme, hybrid working, flexible retirement and the ability to purchase additional annual leave
- Family friendly benefits such as flexible working and access to childcare vouchers, paid maternity, adoption and paternity leave schemes (where eligible) and paid leave for fertility treatment
- Equal Opportunities policies including Equal Pay
- A range of Employee wellbeing support initiatives including access to Counselling with a healthy work environment that puts employee wellbeing initiatives at the heart of all we do
- Employee Discounts Scheme - online and in-store access to a range of local and national discounts exclusively for our employees
- Professional support including coaching and mentoring
- A commitment to Continuing Professional development
- Discounted Employee Car Parking Scheme
- Dental scheme
- Cycle2Work scheme
Ready to play a major role in shaping the future of our organisation?
This is a chance to bring your expertise to every aspect of Torbay Council at an exciting and pivotal time for the English Riviera.