Chief Executive - Barking and Dagenham School Improvement Partnership ("BDSIP")

Candidate Brief for the position of Chief Executive - Barking and Dagenham School Improvement Partnership ("BDSIP") - March 2024

Vision

Our vision is to become our schools' most trusted partner, working together to deliver the best outcomes for all our young people.

Background

BDSIP was established in 2017 as a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee and jointly owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the borough's schools who sign up to becoming members. The company delivers a range of services both statutory and traded, which were previously delivered by the Council to schools. It is also the vehicle to drive and support the development of a successful school-led system for the Borough for the future.

The company takes full responsibility for the employment of its staff, the delivery of outcomes defined through the Council's contract with the company for statutory and priority services and the generation of income from traded services. It enables a new and strengthened formal partnership, fit for the future, between the Council and schools. Its shared educational purpose sustains the family of LBBD schools and provides high quality, best value services to ensure continued improvements in educational standards for all children and young people in the borough.

The company is a strategic forum for the further development of a school led system across the borough through the sharing of proven effective practice and by enabling schools to design the services that will have the greatest impact. As a not-for-profit company, BDSIP has the ability to reinvest any surplus to allow the company to provide additional support for local schools. The company brokers school to school support, bringing together the best of both school led and Council provided support services, and provides membership benefits for schools to include networking, support and provision of resources.

BDSIP

• Operates independently from the Council and can enter into contracts and access funding not available to local authorities.
• Provides a cost-effective school led improvement system for the borough.
• Enables schools and the Council to buy services from a company that has as its core purpose, the raising of outcomes and standards for all LBBD children and young people.

Commissioning and Contract Management

All schools are able to purchase services, should they wish to. The Council is both a member of the company and a commissioner of statutory and priority services from the company, who delivers these on the Council's behalf, through an annual Service Delivery Agreement. This agreement contains Key Performance Indicators and is monitored quarterly in line with the Council's contract regulations. The Council's corporate core and commissioning function manages and monitors the contract whilst the Council's Education Commissioning Director identifies, sets and monitors the strategic priorities, statutory requirements and educational outcomes which it requires the company to deliver on its behalf.

Funding and Services

The company is funded through a combination of Council funding for a range of statutory duties, membership fees and income from schools for traded services.

Our services are:

• School Improvement partner programme and curriculum support.
• Governor Services and Governor Training.
• Professional development, including support for recruitment and retention.
• 14 -19 services including work experience, careers and Aim Higher.
• Information Technology support.
• Attendance and Inclusion advisory support.
• Digital support services

Governance

All schools have the opportunity to become members of the company and rights and responsibilities are set out in the articles of association and membership rules. Strategic leadership of the company is undertaken by the company's board. The Chief Executive and the company's management team are responsible for the day-to-day operational running of the company. Membership of the board reflects a proportionate representation of the membership of the company. Board members are directors of the company and are drawn from both schools and the Council.

The governance structure consists of:

Company Members (equivalent of shareholders)

• London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
• Schools (membership is open to any school, academy, 16-19 provider or other state funded provider of education in LBBD).

Company Directors:

• Non- executive Chair (1) - appointed by the board.
• Non-executive Directors (3-5) - elected by schools on a phased basis.
• Non-executive Director (1) Governor.
• Non-executive Director (2) - LBBD.
• Executive Director - CEO of the company.
• Independent Non- Executive Directors (up to 2).

The directors have a legal duty to act in the best interests of the company, to promote its success and to avoid any conflicts of interest. The role of the board of directors is to:

• Be responsible for the good governance of the company.
• Set the company's strategic aims.
• Provide the leadership to achieve those aims.
• Supervise the management of the business and hold the management team to account.
• Report to shareholders on their stewardship.

In addition, the Board must ensure it has oversight of the following functions:

• Proper application of funds and risk management.
• Process of appointments to the Board.
• Chief Executive's remuneration.

It is the responsibility of the Company to manage relationships with its members. Schools and the Council are also customers and the CEO and senior management team monitor quality assurance and value for money in the delivery of services to ensure continued growth of the business. The partnership between the Council, the company and its schools has at its heart, the best interests of the children and young people of the borough and will evolve over time as needed. 

Job Description

The Chief Executive is responsible for leading BDSIP, ensuring that the organisation thrives as a successful social enterprise, providing consistently excellent services to schools and other customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clear and decisive leadership to the organisation and its staff.
• Forge and develop effective and credible relationships with key stakeholders, including headteachers in client schools and business development target schools, local authorities and delivery partners.
• Lead by example, setting the tone and cultural norms for the organisation to ensure that BDSIP is a high performing organisation, which balances its social and commercial responsibilities, providing a great environment where staff can pursue enriching and developing careers.
• Work effectively with the Board as chief executive and Board Member to determine and refine the organisation's strategy and business plan, ensuring that the board is able to both challenge and support the organisation effectively.
• Oversee the development and delivery of services to schools, the local authority and others, ensuring high standards and consistency of customer service in line with BDSIP's customer service standards and values.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities, in line with BDSIP's agreed strategic priorities, delivering financial sustainability and growth.

Person Specification

Knowledge and experience

• Appropriate qualification in a relevant discipline and/or considerable relevant experience.
• Knowledge of the evolving education landscape in England, and of the opportunities this presents for BDSIP as a professional services company providing support to the education sector.
• Experience of working within or alongside the education sector and a genuine interest in the sector (desirable).
• Experience of building and maintaining positive and commercial relationships and partnerships, delivering services lead to improved outcomes.

Abilities

• Significant experience of leading teams, including through change, with a focus on culture, improvement and efficiency.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly establish credibility, forge strong relationships with headteachers and other senior professionals and to deliver difficult messages appropriately when required.
• Strategic capacity and operational grip - with the ability to work to a Board as well as to lead an agile organisation.
• Financial governance experience balanced with commercial nous and entrepreneurial flair.
• Resilient, with a determination to succeed and a willingness to share and celebrate success.
• Excellent spoken, written and analytical skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to safeguarding, equalities and diversity.

How to Apply

Applications should be sent to Jackie Day, BDSIP’s Company Secretary. In order to apply please submit by e-mail to Jackie.day@bdsip.co.uk a BDSIP application form setting out your interest in the role and details of how you meet the Knowledge and Experience and Abilities criteria outlined in the Person Specification, to be received by 5pm on 5th April 2024.

Please include in your application your current salary and names and contact details of three referees. (Referees will not be approached until the final stages and not without your prior permission).

Timetable

Closing Date for Applications - 5pm on Friday 5th April 2024 Panel Interviews - Week beginning 29th April 2024