Decision details

The Greater Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub is responsible for leading and developing Greater Manchester’s partnership response to Child Exploitation by driving systemic change, implementing best practice approaches in line with local and national research and supporting local areas further developing their multi agency responses to tackling child exploitation.

A key part of this role is leading and co-ordinating agreed peer challenge processes to all 10 local areas and supporting all key stakeholders in developing innovative approaches. Facilitating communities of practice to embed learning and best practice across Greater Manchester is a fundamental element of this role as well as promoting Greater Manchester to be at the forefront of best practice. The hub works in partnership with other key programmes such as the Violence Reduction Unit, Programme Challenger and Child Centred Policing.

The current holder of the Head of Complex Safeguarding post is due to take 12 months maternity leave from October 2024 to October 2025. Recruitment processes, both internal and external to GMCA, have taken place via the normal, HR-led GMCA processes, however these avenues have not yielded suitable candidates. Julia has a wealth of expertise (previously holding a Director of Children Services post at a local authority) and has worked in the GM system since 2018, therefore is experienced in the GM system. The costs outlined above (costed at £450 per day, 4 days a week across 12 months, working a total of 46 weeks out of 52 when leave is built in, totalling £82,800) is slightly less than the salary with on costs of the current post holder. As per GMCA procurement procedure pertaining to consultancy contracts, Julia will not have any line management responsibilities for any GMCA staff.

GMCA Safer & Stronger Communities Team (Complex Safeguarding) wish to pay £82,800 to appoint Julia Hassall to provide consultancy services relating to the SSC’s Head of Complex Safeguarding role which is currently vacant due to the current post holder taking maternity leave for 12 months from October 2024. Services provided would include most aspects of the Head of Complex Safeguarding job description but would not include line management of GMCA staff. This arrangement will be governed by a contract between GMCA & Julia beginning in October 2024 and concluding in October 2025.

Julia is costed at £450 per day, 4 days a week across 12 months, working a total of 46 weeks out of 52 when leave is built in. Payment will be made in instalments with approval for each payment coming from an assistant director within the SSC team. Julia is being appointed as a sole trader, not a ltd company, and is therefore subject to appropriate IR35 procedures which have been undertaken and approved by GMCA commercial services (procurement).