Introduction to Stoke-on-Trent City Council from Chief Executive, Jon Rouse
We are committed to making Stoke-on-Trent a place where all residents can feel safe, supported and proud - but we know families are stretched, and we are now the council with the highest proportional number of children in care in England. We are determined to change this.
We are building capacity within our children and family services team, taking a new direction in how we deliver services. We are focusing on prevention, reducing the number of those that come into contact with statutory services, and achieving permanency and stability for those that need our support.
We have made a start through our strong partner relationships with organisations and community groups, providing more co-produced methods of service. A recent report also highlighted the success of our pioneering programme, Family Matters. But we recognise that there is still much more to do. That is where you can be part of our journey. We need a different culture, not only for ourselves but also for the partnerships our families depend on.
This critical role will work across all directorates, our partners and communities, reporting directly to the Corporate Director of Children and Families. We want all young people in Stoke-on-Trent to have the best possible start in life, the best education and the best life chances. They should be safe, healthy, nurtured and loved. Children and young people are our number one priority, and we need every adult in Stoke-on-Trent to care passionately and express that through relationships, community and business life.
This is an exciting time for Stoke-on-Trent and a great time to join the city council.
-Jon Rouse, Chief Executive
Our values
Our values and behaviours define us. Our values represent what the city council stands for, and our behaviours translate that into day-to-day actions. They aren't just a set of words which are kept in the top drawer; our values are important to everyone working here at the city council. They are something that we should all try to live by.
Our values shape how we interact with our colleagues, our local communities, and our partners. They represent what we believe in and who we aspire to be. They provide a powerful articulation of our core beliefs, and through the application of these beliefs we can build a better future. Our values are at the heart of our vision - and our success in delivering this will be dependent upon everyone playing their part. Our values are:
- We will use our powers and resources, combined with the expertise of our dedicated workforce, to benefit the communities which we serve, enabling residents to shape more decisions about their lives and local environments.
- We will be clear about the challenges that the council is facing, how we are going to address them and whether we are making progress. We will always be open to new and better ideas.
- We care about the lives of our residents. We will provide help and support without judgement and will actively seek the views of our citizens to improve the services we deliver.
- We will be dedicated and supportive partners to all those who want to make our city a better place, forging strong relationships which span sectors and geographies.
- We will take ownership of our commitments and responsibilities, be honest about where we can do better and demonstrate the utmost responsibility for the efficient use of public resources and assets.
- We will champion our city and our citizens at every opportunity, talking up its many strengths and nurturing civic pride. We will promote our city’s culture, heritage and future potential to wider audiences without downplaying the significance of local challenges.
Our strategy
In our strategic plan - Our City, Our Wellbeing - we set out our strategic vision and priorities for Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the wider city. It is as much a corporate plan for the council’s directorates and teams as it is a strategic blueprint for improving Stoke-on-Trent by creating shared wealth and reducing inequality.
To achieve our vision, the strategy proposes to organise our plans against seven themes, each of which will contribute to improved community wellbeing:
- Healthier - Creating a healthier standard of living for all our citizens
- Wealthier - Reducing hardship and enabling greater shared prosperity
- Safer - Building empowered communities, safe from the threat of harm
- Greener- Conserving our environment and living more sustainably
- Cleaner - Working together to clean up our city and our communities
- Fairer- Tackling inequality and improving life chances for everyone
- Skilled – Providing opportunities for people to improve their skills and education
You can find a full copy of the strategy here
