The University of Central Lancashire is a vibrant, international, modern University, facilitating an exceptional experience with students across a wide range of subjects, combining a growing reputation for research and academic excellence with an entrepreneurial spirit, with a real understanding of the demands of the commercial world.
This is an exciting opportunity to assume responsibility of an established school within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing. With approximately 430 staff and over 8000 students, the Faculty includes a rich and diverse range of subjects including Social Work, Social Care and Community Engagement, Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences.
The School includes undergraduate and post graduate Social Work Qualifying programmes; programmes focused on children, adults, families, schools, and volunteering and a broad range of Continuing Professional Development. The school has a reputation for high impact world ranking research. The research group themes focus on violence and harm; social policy; psychosocial welfare; children, policy and participation; mental health, community and citizenship.
You will possess a strong record of successful academic leadership in Social Work and Social Care education and management of research, innovation and enterprise. You will have experience of managing both staff and budgets; leading, motivating and partnership working with individuals and teams.
You will have extensive demonstrable experience of working with the QAA, governance systems, and the regulatory processes related to the management of social work and social care education. This will be underpinned by your understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing UK Health and Social Care Higher Education.
As a member of the Faculties Executive Team, the Head of School will provide academic and operational leadership for the School, having particular regard for the student experience; maintaining the quality of the academic portfolio and contributing to the formulation and implementation of strategy and policy; supporting the attainment of critical success factors and efficient and effective deployment of resources.
Amongst the key essentials required for this post, you must be able to demonstrate substantial academic operational management experience within the HE sector. With excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills, you must have demonstrable experience of building and sustaining excellent working relationships both internally and externally. It is essential you possess a Social Work qualification. A higher degree in an appropriate discipline is essential. For candidates who meet the criteria a professorial title will be considered.
If you have the vision, energy and skills to positively drive the School ahead on its forward journey then we are interested in hearing from you.
We offer an attractive salary and benefits package and the opportunity to work in an excellent environment at UCLan’s home campus, in the heart of the growing, vibrant City of Preston – just a short drive from the beautiful countryside of the Ribble Valley and within an hour of Liverpool, Manchester and the Lake District.
Applicants need to meet all essential criteria on the person specification to be considered for interview.
This post is located at the Preston Campus.