Context and Background
The Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle represents the Church of England across almost the whole of the county of Cumbria. The Diocese was created nearly 900 years ago. It is made up of three "archdeaconry" units: Carlisle; Westmorland and Furness; and West Cumberland, with a total of 11 Deaneries. Around 150 stipendiary and self-supporting clergy minister within the Diocese, along with over 100 licensed Readers and a growing number of commissioned Local Lay Ministers.
The Diocese is currently working with ecumenical partners to implement the shared Vision and Strategy “God for All”, see http://www.godforall.org.uk/
Within the Diocese there are 334 Churches in 275 parishes, serving a population of just under 500,000 people. The Diocese covers an area of over 2,500 square miles, including the Eden Valley and the beautiful Lake District national park which contains England’s highest mountain -• Scafell Pike -• and deepest lake -• Wastwater. Outside the urban centres at Carlisle and along the West Coast the Diocese is largely rural with a smattering of historic market towns such as Kendal, Penrith, Cockermouth and Appleby.
The Carlisle Diocesan Board of Finance (CDBF), which is a limited, charitable company, and provides the corporate, financial and administrative backbone of the Diocese, is based at Church House in Penrith. The CDBF has an annual turnover of around £8m, owns and manages around 150 diverse properties, has a range of investment assets worth over £20m including significant stakes in two Lake District hydro-•electric plans, and, along with Rydal Hall Ltd, employs approximately 60 staff. The CDBF is also the custodian trustee for numerous Parochial Trusts with a value of £7m. As an unincorporated Board our budget is overseen by CDBF, with whom good working and personal relationships exist.
The DBE has responsibility for over 100 schools across the County. This figure includes two secondary schools (one of which is very large), and a significant number of small rural primary schools. Thus while we represent around 30% of the schools in Cumbria, our relative proportion of pupils is much smaller. However, our vision is not only for the 12,000+ pupils in Church schools, but for each and every child and young person across the County, in line with the God for All vision already noted, that: by 2020 every person in Cumbria of all ages and backgrounds will have had an opportunity to discover more of God and God's purpose for their life.
The attached Vision for Education document takes a national Vision and focusses it into Cumbria through the lens of God for All. It thus represents a significant amount of recent strategic and relational work across the Diocese and our partners. The incoming Deputy Diocesan Director of Education will therefore inherit a clear and compelling direction of travel, understood and owned across (and beyond) the various Diocesan and school networks.
ROLE DESCRIPTOR PART 1 JOB TITLE: Deputy Diocesan Director of Education
REPORTS TO: Director of Education
DEPARTMENT : Diocesan Board of Education (DBE)
PURPOSE OF ROLE : To promote and take forward our Vision for Education, successfully leading the implementation of the Board’s strategic planning in support of the Diocesan “God For All” vision. To provide leadership to the DBE team, leading in school effectiveness across the Diocese and securing effective training and appointments in church schools. To support and advise schools and partners as they seek to create robust and sustainable communities around Christian values. To represent the Board of Education both locally and nationally. To work with the Director to lead the Board in its responsibilities under the DBE Measure 1991.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES :
1. To support the Director in leading the education team, ensuring that it operates effectively and maintains a supportive Christian ethos, managing the DBE resources including both people and budget. This leadership will entail maintaining oversight of DBE policy development in line with God for All, the Vision for Education and our strategic priorities. 2. To safeguard, promote and celebrate the distinctive character of Church of England schools, particularly in relation to RE and Collective Worship. To organise and manage the SIAMS inspection schedule for the Diocese. 3. To ensure that high quality advice and support is delivered to Church schools, including, but not limited to: school liaison and school effectiveness, training and school governance, headship recruitment, maintenance and development of school buildings. 4. To lead strategic development work in relation to Church schools, including, but not limited to: health and well being, curriculum innovation, governance and leadership in church schools. 5. To work within local networks to monitor the effectiveness of church schools and to discern and deliver strategies to support school improvement. 6. To oversee and manage our consultant team, including deployment, ensuring appropriate skill sets are available and that consistent procedures are in place. Liaising with the Director on agreeing priorities and funding available. 7. To encourage and support the development of local church and mission community strategies for welcome, worship and provision for work with children and young people in liaison with the God for All team. To encourage churches and mission communities to be working with all schools, including through after school clubs and other activities, in fulfilment of the mission of the church and to secure sustainability of churches and schools in local communities.
8. To represent the Diocesan Board of Education as and when required with key stakeholders locally and nationally. 9. To undertake other duties that may from time to time be necessary.
FINANCIAL IMPACT NETWORK (How much and for what ) (Key people with whom the role liaises)
DIRECT : The DBE budget is c. £200k, set INTERNAL : Chair and Members of the by the DBF Board of Education, Diocesan Secretary, Archdeacons, Bishop of Carlisle, God for All team, DBF INDIRECT : Income from DBE Services, training and partnership agreements c. EXTERNAL : Headteachers, School £40k. Statutory trust (Barchester) with c. Governors, LASL, Rural Deans, Parish £6mill invested. Oversight and involvement Clergy and Laity, Local Authority and other with ESFA funding (£1.3 million 2018- Partners, Ecumenical Church Leaders, NW •2019). Dioceses, National Society, the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership and the DfE / RSC
NOMINATED DEPUTY (where applicable): n/a
Authorised by Line Manager: Date:
This Role Descriptor and associated statements has been fully explained to me. I understand and accept its content and my responsibilities.
Signature of post holder: Date:
PERSON SPECIFICATION PART 2 ESSENTIAL CRITERIA DESIRABLE CRITERIA
TECHNICAL COMPETENCE Qualifications
Graduate level qualification Masters degree in relevant area
Experience
Professionally in primary or secondary Teaching experience education Church work in a school context Proven line management and leadership Involvement in a SIAMS inspection Working with/in a governing body Working across a range of different networks Leading and delivering school improvement
Development and delivery of training
Has led significant change within an organisation
Effective budget management
Knowledge and Skills
Able to integrate and implement high-level Change management vision through detailed strategy Leadership of worship in a schools context Understands the role of the DBE within a Church of England Diocese Academy and academy trust structures and working practice Aware of Ofsted and SIAMS inspection structures
Familiar with current law, policy and trends within and with respect to Education, including buildings
Safeguarding best practice
High order communication and networking skills
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCE Personal Effectiveness ▪▪ meets deadlines and targets ▪▪ a problem solver not thrown by obstacles ▪▪ a hard worker, able and ready to tackle a diverse workload with energy and stamina ▪▪ a team-builder, working well with others to achieve outcomes
Personal style ▪▪ professional, approachable, trustworthy and inspires confidence ▪▪ demonstrates a ‘reservoir of hope’ through perseverance, patience, humility, openness and celebration ▪▪ deeply reflective on the ‘why’ of education ▪▪ customer - and partner - focused
Methods of working ▪▪ organised ▪▪ focuses on outcomes not process ▪▪ self-starter ▪▪ happy to do significant hands-on work and direct and manage a small team
Team skills ▪▪ team player, works well with range of colleagues and partners ▪▪ creates a culture of living well together and actively builds community
People management ▪▪ develops, nurtures and encourages others ▪▪ encourages change ▪▪ celebrates success, empowering others
Communication ▪▪ ability to listen to, and read, the culture of a community ▪▪ communicates credibly, effectively and sensitively with a range of audiences ▪▪ influencing skills
Leadership ▪▪ contributes to shared leadership across the Diocese ▪▪ a visionary and strategic thinker ▪▪ holds in tension strengthening existing structures with creative vision and risk taking in building a sustainable future ▪▪ a servant leader, secure in the love of Christ
Work-related ▪▪ willing to work flexibly, working some evenings and weekends ▪▪ holds a full driving licence with a car available for work-related travel
BENEFITS
Salary approx £41k p/a
Pension non-contributory, defined contributions scheme (employer’s contribution is 15% of salary) Car mileage paid at 45ppm
Office provision office space in Church House, Penrith
Mobile phone smartphone with remote access to email
Working agreed expenses fully covered expenses Other benefits ▪▪ 26 days annual leave plus public holidays ▪▪ additional time off between Christmas and New Year at the discretion of the employer ▪▪ 35 hrs a week flexi-time system in operation ▪▪ time off in lieu of hours worked at evenings and weekends • a limited number of unsociable hours will need to be worked in terms of dealing with emergencies or attending diocesan events or committees
An Occupational Requirement exists for the post-holder to be a practicing Christian under Part 1 of Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010.
Job share applications are welcome for this post.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all, and expect staff to share that commitment. The successful candidate will require enhanced DBS clearance.
This post will include an initial 6-month probationary period.
Useful links:
The Church of England’s Vision for Education: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/education-and-schools/vision-education
Growing Faith: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-01/GS%202121.pdf
Other Church of England education publications of interest can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/education-and-schools/education-publications#no-back
Diocese of Carlisle / Education: https://www.carlislediocese.org.uk/education/
God for All: https://www.carlislediocese.org.uk/god-for-all-strategy/ and https://www.godforall.org.uk/