Head of Department Childcare and Health in Barnsley

Contract Type: Permanent Full time 37 hours per week

Interviews to take place: Tuesday 10 th November 2026

The Opportunity

As our Head of Department – Childcare and Health, you will lead a dedicated and ambitious team, ensuring our learners receive an outstanding educational experience that equips them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in their chosen careers.

You will provide strategic leadership across a diverse curriculum area spanning Further Education (FE), Adult Provision and Higher Education (HE), driving excellence in teaching, learning and assessment whilst ensuring exceptional learner outcomes.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across the college, you will create an inspiring and inclusive culture where both students and staff are empowered to achieve their full potential.

A key aspect of the role will be shaping and developing a curriculum that is innovative, responsive and aligned to local, regional and national skills priorities. You will identify opportunities for growth, introducing new programmes and pathways that meet employer demand and support the future development and sustainability of the department.

As an experienced leader, you will champion a culture of continuous improvement and high performance, coaching, mentoring and developing staff to deliver outstanding educational experiences. Through effective quality assurance processes, data-informed decision making and a relentless focus on standards, you will drive improvements in achievement, retention and progression across all areas of provision.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with employers, healthcare providers, schools, universities and community organisations will be central to your success. These partnerships will enhance the learner experience through meaningful industry engagement, work placements and progression opportunities, ensuring our students are fully prepared for the next stage of their educational or professional journey.

You will also have responsibility for departmental planning, financial management, resource allocation and performance monitoring, ensuring the department operates effectively whilst maximising opportunities for growth, income generation and curriculum innovation.

Safeguarding, student wellbeing and personal development will be at the heart of your leadership. You will create an environment where learners feel supported, valued and inspired to achieve their ambitions, whilst ensuring the highest standards of safety, conduct and inclusion are maintained.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and experienced leader to shape the future of a thriving curriculum area and play a key role in the strategic success of the college. In return, you will join a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation, invests in professional development and is committed to transforming lives through education.

About You

We're looking for an inspirational and collaborative leader with the vision, drive and determination to lead a successful and growing curriculum area.

You will have substantial leadership experience within further education, higher education or a comparable educational setting, together with a proven track record of improving learner outcomes, driving quality and leading successful teams. You will be passionate about creating opportunities for learners and committed to delivering an outstanding educational experience.

You'll have extensive knowledge of curriculum planning and development, with the ability to identify emerging industry trends and translate these into innovative, high-quality provision. Your strategic mindset will enable you to recognise opportunities for growth, respond to changes in the labour market and ensure our curriculum remains relevant, responsive and future-focused.

A strong understanding of quality improvement and performance management is essential. You will be confident using data and management information to evaluate performance, identify priorities and implement effective interventions that drive continuous improvement. You'll bring experience of leading change, raising standards and embedding a culture of excellence across your teams.

You will also possess strong commercial awareness, with experience of managing budgets, optimising resources and contributing to the financial sustainability and growth of provision. Your ability to balance strategic planning with operational delivery will be key to your success.

Excellent people leadership skills are fundamental to this role. You will know how to motivate, develop and empower staff, creating a positive and inclusive culture where colleagues feel supported, valued and inspired to perform at their best. Through clear communication and visible leadership, you will build trust, engagement and accountability at all levels.

To be successful, you will have significant experience within Health, Childcare, Education, Science, Social Care or a closely related curriculum area, together with a thorough understanding of current sector developments, qualifications and workforce priorities.

Above all, you will share our commitment to excellence, innovation and student success, with the ambition and expertise needed to shape the future of the department and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve.

Required

Regular CPD relevant to the role

Significant sector experience

Management and/or leadership experience within the sector

Work experience in the relevant sector

Demonstrable experience of improving quality within the sector

Experience of managing budgets

Experience of coaching or mentoring others

A proven track record of managing performance improvement and delivering change

Reasons to join us

• We offer substantial annual leave entitlement (Up to 47 days per year including bank and public holidays)
• Holiday purchase scheme to buy additional annual leave days
• We invest in our people through funded CPD opportunities, regular staff development training and paid volunteering days
• Career advancement opportunities with tailored support for staff to progress
• Free Barnsley College courses to support your professional and personal development (subject to approval)
• 24/7 access to same day appointments with a GP
• Exclusive discounts and cashback for retail, dining and leisure as part of YouatWork
• Access to health cash plans as members of the Westfield Health Scheme or Health Shield
• Discounted college gym membership with onsite facilities
• Supporting employee mental health through access to free counselling services and the Foundations App
• Discounts schemes for greener travel including Northern Rail, Trainline and Cycle to Work
• Free Microsoft Office 365 for personal use on up to five machines
• Access to discounted hair and beauty therapies at our onsite salon
• On site subsidised Starbucks and food outlets offering a variety of dining options
• Free breakfast provided daily for all staff members
• Our shared purpose - We believe in transforming the lives of both our learners and staff

The Barnsley College Advantage

When you join us, you can expect to benefit from The Barnsley College Advantage. This is the advantage of:

• Being supported to achieve your personal and professional goals
• A range of flexible working opportunities
• Autonomy, Empowerment and Accountability
• Short- and Long-Term development commitments
• Access to experiencing work in a range of areas
• Working in a Value and Behaviour led organisation
• Reward and Recognition
• Having your voice heard at every level

Closing date for applications is Sunday 1 st November 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early depending on the level of interest.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be able to demonstrate this at the point of appointment. Please note that we are unable to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this position.

Barnsley College is committed to creating a dynamic and diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all candidates regardless of their gender, disability, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or faith. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure from DBS.

Please be aware that it is a Criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

W e are committed to sustainability, embedding environmentally responsible practices across everything we do and preparing our learners for a low‑carbon future. Find out more about our approach: View our Sustainability Strategy

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