The report of the Chief Executive is now attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive which set out a proposal to retain the Deputy Director of Children’s Services and regrade the post of Head of Locality in the Directorate for Children’s and Education.

The Deputy Strategic Director post was an SS4 post which reported directly to the Strategic Director of Children’s and Education Services and had strategic leadership responsibility for complex and multifaceted statutory services, lead responsibility for the delivery of the Children and Young People plan, Ofsted Action Plan, Directorate Business Plan and contributed towards the Council’s priorities as set out within the Our Corporate Plan.

The post holder had been in post since 2017, and during this time they had made a significant contribution to the continual improvement of the service and the experiences outcomes for Manchester’s children; as evidenced in Manchester’s Children’s Services being judged no longer inadequate in 2017 and the positive findings reflected in the most recent Ofsted focused visit published in January 2020.

The continual progress and success of the service had made the post holder 'attractive' and a target for recruitment agencies working for neighbouring authorities; offering significant financial incentives. Whilst expressing a commitment to Manchester City Council, personal circumstances and career aspirations were competing pull/push factors, which were compounded by the role being 'evaluated down' in 2017 (immediately prior to appointment) and the post holder being at the top of grade SS4, thus restricting the financial remuneration. 

It was for these reasons that it was proposed that the Council made a retention payment to the Deputy Director Children Services to the value of £10,000 per annum, with a review period at 18 months which was consistent with the standard arrangements for Market Rate Supplement payment.

In addition to the Deputy Director post, the Head of Locality post was and continued to be subject to the Senior Officer Appraisal approach; to date the existing post holders had made positive contributions to the Directorate’s progress. The posts were established to build and strengthen local partnerships, provide sufficient operational management/leadership capacity to drive the quality of social work practice, performance and compliance. However, in accordance with and driven by the Directorate Plan and ambition, the posts had evolved over time and the breadth and span of responsibility had increased to support the significant progress and strategic direction of the Directorate.

The increased portfolio of accountabilities and responsibilities of these posts would be reflected in the Senior Officer Appraisal arrangements and ensure the post holders continued to make a positive contribution in the delivery of the Council and Directorate priorities; as set out within the Our Manchester Strategy, Children and Young People Plan and Our Corporate Plan.

Decisions

The Committee:-

1.         Recommends to Council that a market rate retention supplement of £10,000 be made to the Deputy Strategic Director of Children’s Services to ensure the retention of the current post holder in light of local market forces. This has the effect of increasing the salary to £115,940.

2.         Approves the regrade of three Head of Locality posts from SS1 (£60,857 - £65,865) to SS2 (£68,526 - £74,175).