Head of paid service
The move to chief executive, the statutory role and the leader.
- Level
- Bitesize
- Learning time
- 2 hours
- Where
- Becoming a Chief Executive
- Price
- £39
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Read the full terms
Certificate of Completion
Overview and Outcomes.
Overview
This module explores the step from director to chief executive: the seven shifts new chief executives describe and the four faces of the job, from head of paid service to convenor of the place. It draws on Keith Grint's tame, wicked and critical problems, Mark Moore's strategic triangle, trade press figures on new appointments and an illustrative composite case, so you can step up with your eyes open. This module examines the statutory core of the top job: section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 in England and section 54 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. It covers protecting the monitoring officer and section 151 officer, who appoints whom, shaping structure and capacity, the golden triangle, and lessons from the Thurrock and Liverpool inspections. This module explores the partnership at the apex: the leader holds the mandate and the chief executive holds the organisation. It draws on James Svara's dichotomy, duality and complementarity, Mouritzen and Svara's Leadership at the Apex, the Local Government Association's 2025 protocol guidance and Louise Casey's Rotherham findings, and closes with a practical relationship charter for leaders, chairs and chief executives.
What you'll develop
In this Bitesize, you will develop the ability to:
- Describe the seven shifts and the four faces of the chief executive's job, including the statutory basis of the role in England and Wales.
- Apply Grint's tame, wicked and critical problems and Moore's strategic triangle to decide how to respond to issues reaching the chief executive.
- Outline the legal duties of the head of paid service in England and the chief executive in Wales, including the duty to report to council.
- Explain the guarantees a chief executive should give the monitoring officer and section 151 officer so that their advice stays independent.
- Distinguish political and managerial leadership using Svara's four dimensions of mission, policy, administration and management.
The Modules.
2 hours of learning.
- 01Foundations: From Director to Chief ExecutiveThis module explores the step from director to chief executive: the seven shifts new chief executives describe and the four faces of the job, from head of paid service to convenor of the place. It draws on Keith Grint's tame, wicked and critical problems, Mark Moore's strategic triangle, trade press figures on new appointments and an illustrative composite case, so you can step up with your eyes open.38 min
- 02Head of Paid Service: The Statutory Role in PracticeThis module examines the statutory core of the top job: section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 in England and section 54 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. It covers protecting the monitoring officer and section 151 officer, who appoints whom, shaping structure and capacity, the golden triangle, and lessons from the Thurrock and Liverpool inspections.38 min
- 03The Leader and the Chief ExecutiveThis module explores the partnership at the apex: the leader holds the mandate and the chief executive holds the organisation. It draws on James Svara's dichotomy, duality and complementarity, Mouritzen and Svara's Leadership at the Apex, the Local Government Association's 2025 protocol guidance and Louise Casey's Rotherham findings, and closes with a practical relationship charter for leaders, chairs and chief executives.39 min
Keep going.
Part of the Becoming a Chief Executive topic, also sold whole as The top job.
Go deeper, and pay only the difference
- You are hereBitesize, 2 hours, £39
- Next stepFocus, Running the organisation, 3 hours, £69. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £30.
- The whole topicExplore, The top job, 6 hours, £129. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £90.
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Prices per person. Read the full terms
Also part of: Leading the whole, Toward the chief executive role
