We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic individual to join our team as a Specialist Workforce Consultant focused on leading the development and delivery of a workforce improvement programme in adult social care across the region.

This exciting new role is part of a collaboration between West Midlands Employers (WME) and West Midlands ADASS (WM ADASS) as part of the ‘Regional Adults Workforce & Strategy Team’ and is offered initially on a 12-month fixed term part-time basis working 21 hours per week; for candidates from Local Authorities, we’re also happy to accept applications for a secondment. There is potential for the length of the role to be extended.

We’re able to be flexible with the post-holder’s working pattern, therefore this may also suit an applicant who wishes to undertake the post alongside another part-time position or consultancy work (subject to reasonable total working hours).  The post would be based in WME’s offices near Birmingham in the West Midlands. We are working in a hybrid environment but would expect the post holder to spend time in our offices regularly.

In this role you will lead the development and delivery of a focused programme of workforce improvements in adult social care. You’ll work with key stakeholders including West Midland’s councils, Local Government Association (LGA) and Skills for Care amongst others, to promote and deliver sustainable workforce initiatives around recruitment, retention and workforce resilience. The key accountabilities of the role include:

• Operate as a member of the WME Extended Management Team, creating and building lasting relationships with WME, WM ADASS and partner organisations providing a highly engaged day to day interface with them
• Take the lead on developing a programme of workforce solutions for adult social care
• Work with the WM ADASS to build lasting relationships and ensure the effective alignment of work; including supporting the 14 Directors of adult social services and their management teams to engage with the programme
• Support delivery of our annual service plans, and contribute to service growth and delivery for the organisation
• Act as a strategic expert advisor to senior leaders and stakeholders
• Lead high performing project teams of delivery consultants and business managers
• Influence senior stakeholders, partners and national leads to invest in WME and WM ADASS products and services
• Support and report to the West Midlands ADASS Workforce Network
• Establish governance arrangements required to support the delivery of initiatives set out in the programme of workforce improvement initiatives, including establishing terms of reference and engagement of key stakeholders
• Negotiate and broker work with membership organisations and associate consultants, including developing collaborative solutions and generating income

We are looking for a senior professional who has substantial experience in developing and implementing people and organisational change programmes with high quality and impactful outcomes within the public sector. You’ll have considerable understanding of the complexity and challenges facing adult social care and leading projects / programmes to address these.   

You’ll be able to demonstrate your experience of relationship management, consultancy and providing high level support and guidance to senior managers and colleagues.  You’ll need to be able to operate at a strategic level and facilitate collaborative solutions with leaders across the region and work at a practical and operational level to enable implementation of initiatives on the ground with a wide variety of stakeholders.

In addition to your wealth of experience you’ll also be able to demonstrate a wide range of skills including:

• The ability to think strategically within a complex organisation whilst considering the operational needs
• Strong collaborator and alliance builder
• Politically astute
• Have excellent organisational and project management skills
• Highly articulate communicator, both orally and in writing at all levels, including presentation skills
• Analytically curious and evidence based in thinking, with excellent problem-solving skills

Political Restriction: This position is considered as a Politically Restricted Post under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and subsequent amendments introduced by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

We are waiting to hear from you and would love you join us!

To find out more about WME, WM ADASS and our collaboration, please visit our careers site here.

Supporting documents
Specialist Consultant (WME) Job Description Final.pdf