Head of Centre for Learning

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Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House Ipswich IP1 2BX-Hybrid
• Salary:£60,135 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours -flexible working options available
• Contract:Secondment for 12 months

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Suffolk County Council. We're looking for a creative and driven Head of Centre for Learning to help us reimagine public services for the 21st century. If you're passionate about finding new solutions and making a real difference, we want to hear from you.

Reimagine the possibilities.

The Centre for Learning is a new service, grown from the CYP and ASC Workforce Development service, that brings together all aspects of training, learning and professional development across many different areas within Adult Social Care and Children and Young People's Services. The Centre for Learning is grounded in strong relational values that champion trust, respect, and empowerment. It nurtures a culture of continuous learning where professionals are encouraged to form meaningful relationships and adopt a solution-focused mindset that highlights strengths and explores possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

As one of the Heads of the Centre for Learning, you will champion this relational culture and take responsibility for the strategic development and implementation of a comprehensive workforce offer across Adult Social Care and Children and Young People's Services.

You will lead a multi-professional team of Faculty Leads, Consultants and Co-ordinators in the implementation of the workforce offer, ensuring it is responsive, high quality, timely and value for money.

You will:

• work in partnership with workforce leads across SCC and from partner organisations across Suffolk, regionally and nationally, including health, Police, higher education institutions, private, voluntary and community services and other local authorities.
• be a highly experienced and skilful facilitator - able to lead workforce discussions across multiple professional disciplines and management levels.
• have extensive knowledge of the training, learning and development landscape (locally, regionally and nationally).
• have a sound knowledge of current professional. development requirements for professionally registered roles, e.g. Social Workers and Occupational Therapists.
• develop and implement a strategy that ensures the workforce has the right skills mix to deliver good outcomes for children, young people, families and adults.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Centre for Learning will work collaboratively with internal and external partners to develop learning solutions which support the development of practice to achieve the best outcomes for children, young people and adults in Suffolk.

Our purpose is to ensure that individuals, families, carers and communities in Suffolk benefit from a multi-professional workforce that is highly skilled and appropriately trained.

The range of activity includes, but is not limited to:

• supporting self-directed and practice-based learning.
• supporting the recruitment, retention and professional development of registered roles, e.g. social work, occupational therapy and nursing.
• developing, commissioning and/or delivering specialist learning solutions.
• providing consultancy support across a broad spectrum of specialist themes.
• the creation and maintenance of on-line resources for blended learning solutions.
• supporting the implementation of directorate-specific transformation and integration programmes.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Loretta Greenacre (she/her), for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 264850 or emailing loretta.greenacre@suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload asupporting statementanswering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

1. Describe how you've used workforce data to inform recruitment or development strategies. What systems or tools did you use, and what decisions did it influence?
2. Give an example of how you've built and sustained partnerships with external organisations (e.g. health, police, higher education). What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
3. How do you stay informed about national and local developments in professional development requirements for registered roles such as Social Workers or Occupational Therapists?
4. Can you share an example of how you've championed a relational culture in your team or organisation? How did you embed values like trust, respect, and empowerment?

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.ukor calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 3 September 2025.

Interview date: Week commencing 8 September 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).