Quality Improvement Officer (Early Learning & Childcare)

Proposed Interview Date: Friday 25 June 2021

Purpose and Values of Education & Children’s Services Directorate

The Education & Children’s Services Directorate is committed to Improving Life Chances for All through a wide range of direct services which support our children, young people, families and the wider Fife community. Our approach to improvement is rooted in our core values:  Compassion, Ambition, Respect and Equity which reflect the ethos, culture and practice principles of all staff across the directorate. We strive to ensure that our attitudes and behaviour reflect these core values in all our dealings with children, young people, their families, and the wider community in partnership with those who support them.

Supporting Statement

As part of the application process, you must provide a Supporting Statement which tells us how your skills, knowledge and experience make you a good candidate. This should be uploaded where you see Supporting Documents and URLs "upload CV".  We know this is confusing and we are working to resolve it, however we only want a supporting statement and not a CV.  Without this supporting statement, your application will not be progressed. More information is available on our Career site at www.fife.gov.uk/jobs/howtoapply. 

Ways you have modelled and promoted the Professional Values (social justice, trust, respect and integrity) and Professional Commitment in your current and previous roles.

(Consider the following: how you have ensured equity of opportunity for all; how you have developed relationships built on trust and respect that enable others to take responsibility; how your moral and ethical principles inform your practice and how your own professional learning underpins your development as a leader and the development of others.)

How have you demonstrated your knowledge, skills and understanding when contributing to the leadership of change?

(Consider the following: how have you developed and promoted an informed and critical stance which focusses on improvements in curriculum and pedagogy; how have you promoted and enhanced collaboration and leadership at all levels; how have you promoted and modelled your  organisation’s vision, values and aims.)

How you have supported and sustained colleagues in creating a positive environment for all learners?

(Consider the following: how have you inspired and motivated others to have high expectations within a safe, caring and purposeful learning environment which is welcoming and inclusive, well managed and well organised; how have you encouraged and facilitated learner participation in planning and deciding about their own learning and the wider decision making within the learning community.)

Ways in which you have you built and developed approaches to increase and promote positive partnerships.

(Consider the following: how you have contributed to change at operational and strategic level)

Ways in which you have used self-evaluation to make changes at operational and strategic level

(Consider the following: how have you used self-evaluation to improve approaches to learning, teaching and assessment; how have you supported the professional learning of others, how have you ensured a wide variety of stakeholders are involved in decision-making processes and how have you made best use of resources to support the development of the curriculum, pedagogy, people and teams.)

Job Details

The Quality Improvement Officer (Early Learning & Childcare) takes a lead in raising standards in line with national priorities, enabling the Education & Children’s Services Directorate to satisfy Fife Council, Scottish Government, Education Scotland and Care Commission criteria on performance monitoring and continuous improvement, in conjunction with the appropriate manager. The QIO will play a key role in overseeing the development and implementation of Early Learning & Childcare, promoting the culture of collaboration, throughout the Directorate and amongst key partners, which will lead to improved outcomes for young people.

The Quality Improvement Officer (Early Learning & Childcare) will:

(a) be familiar with all aspects of Education and Children’s Services policy and be a representative of the Executive Director of Education and Children’s Service, as well as the Chief Social Worker, in all aspects of involvement with the Directorate, schools, outside agencies and the South East Improvement Collaborative (SEIC);

(b) define, produce, analyse and use performance information to challenge and support the Directorate, services and schools to improve;

(c) collate a range of performance information about the Directorate, services and schools in the council area and use this information in a systematic way with Directorate leadership and management teams;

(d) devise and promote strategies to address areas where performance should be improved, monitor such strategies and communicate on progress made;

(e) be knowledgeable about local and national priorities and help to ensure that these are being taken forward appropriately by the Directorate and schools;

(f) identify and promote high quality practice;

(g) identify and promote Directorate development opportunities within the improvement agenda;

(h) draw on their knowledge of the Directorate to support, inform and report on strategic planning and policy development;

(i) support and monitor the key processes associated with service and school improvement planning;

(j) support the application of procedures associated with Education Scotland and Care Commission inspections.

Qualifications, Registration and Skill Requirements

You are required to have high levels of interpersonal skills and abilities which will enable you to lead and manage, both at strategic and operational levels, to ensure continuous improvement.

Before confirming your appointment, you will be required to obtain Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland and become a member of the relevant PVG scheme.

You are required to be fully registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and to model all behaviours expected of a teacher in Scotland in line with the relevant Professional Standards.

The Person

• Work with Education Managers, Improvement Officers, School Leaders and practitioners to develop, plan and take forward the Directorate’s strategy relating to Early Learning & Childcare.
• Design and implement a range of ways of communicating successes linked to Early Learning & Childcare structure/delivery across the Directorate to support the professional learning and shared understanding of what works across school leaders and staff.
• Work effectively with colleagues from Scottish Government, Education Scotland and Care Commission to support our strategic focus for Early Years ensuring all work is linked to national, regional or local priorities.
• Work with Education Managers and Improvement Officers to report on progress to Education & Children’s Services Committee, Local Area Committees and to Scottish Government as required.