Ask the Expert: Working for a large authority

I am a senior manager in the children’s social care department of a small local authority. I am moving to a much larger local authority. What should I do to prepare?

The issues you face in the new job will essentially be the same, but the scale of the task will be different and there are some key issues to plan for.

If it is a two-tier authority, think about how you will make links with the lead politicians in the district councils and work with them. Also, large organisations such as health and police will have a local as well as authority-wide management structure and they too will be key contacts.

Making contact with schools in the different parts of the authority is important. Ensure you travel to the distant parts of the authority. It is a good idea to move your meetings around the authority so you and your team are seen out and about.

The job is large, so you should produce a plan and publish an itinerary as to when you will be out, keeping this up to date.

Answered by Paul Clark, director of the Potential Organisation. He was director of children’s services in Harrow for seven years