Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve adult social care services, ensuring quality and performance.
- Company: Join Blackpool Council, a dynamic organisation focused on community impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive local government benefits and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant influence and career growth in a complex environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of adults and communities.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in adult social care and relevant qualifications required.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 90000 £ per year.
Blackpool Council is seeking an inspirational and experienced senior leader to join our Adult Social Care leadership team as Assistant Director of Adult Social Care (Operations). This is a critical statutory leadership role with responsibility for the operational delivery, quality, and performance of adult social care services. You will play a pivotal role in improving outcomes for adults with care and support needs, their carers and families, while ensuring the council meets its duties under the Care Act 2014 and related legislation.
About the role
Reporting directly to the Director of Adult Social Care (DASS), you will provide strategic and operational leadership across adult social care operations, including:
- Community and hospital social care
- Mental health services
- Learning disability and autism
- Safeguarding assurance and professional practice
- Transformation, governance and business support
You will line manage five Heads of Service, oversee a combined staffing and commissioning budget of approximately £60m, and deputise for the DASS as required at corporate, regional and partnership levels. A key priority will be to lead improvement activity and ensure services are Local Authority Assurance and Inspection-ready, with the ambition of achieving Good or Outstanding CQC outcomes, while maintaining strong financial control and workforce sustainability.
What you’ll be accountable for:
- Providing visible, values-led leadership across Adult Social Care Operations
- Ensuring statutory compliance with the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act and safeguarding duties
- Driving service improvement, quality assurance and performance management
- Leading and supporting inspection preparation and regulatory engagement with CQC
- Managing complex budgets and delivering within the Medium-Term Financial Plan
- Strengthening multi-agency working across health, housing, voluntary and community partners
- Promoting strong professional practice, safeguarding assurance and ethical and defensible decision-making
- Developing a resilient, skilled and motivated leadership and workforce culture
What we’re looking for:
- You will be an accomplished senior leader with substantial experience working at a Head of Service and/or strategic level within Adult Social Care.
- A recognised social work qualification (BA Hons, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent)
- Registration with Social Work England
- Significant senior leadership experience within adult social care services
- In-depth knowledge of adult social care legislation, safeguarding, regulatory frameworks and best practice
- Proven experience of leading service improvement, managing large budgets and operating in a complex political environment
- Strong partnership, influencing and negotiation skills
Why join Blackpool?
Blackpool is an ambitious council serving communities with some of the most complex needs in the country. This is an opportunity to make a genuine system-wide impact, working with committed partners and political leaders who are determined to improve outcomes for local people.
We offer:
- A senior leadership role with real influence
- Competitive local government benefits and pension
- A supportive, values-driven organisational culture
If you are interested in joining Blackpool Adult Social Care Leadership Team and want to have a conversation about the role, please email our Director of Adult Social Care Nick Henson at nick.henson@blackpool.gov.uk who will be more than happy to discuss further with you.
At this point in time we are not able to offer a Visa sponsorship in this role due to operational reasons.
Assistant Director of Adult Services - Operations employer: Blackpool Council
Contact Detail:
Blackpool Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director of Adult Services - Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the adult social care sector. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Blackpool Council and its adult services thoroughly. Understand their challenges and think about how your experience can help them improve outcomes. We want to see you shine and show how you can lead and deliver real impact!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating your leadership style and how you’ve driven service improvements in the past. We’re here to help you nail that interview!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Blackpool Adult Social Care Leadership Team. Let’s get you in there!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Director of Adult Services - Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Assistant Director of Adult Services. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a senior leadership position, don’t hold back on sharing examples of your leadership experience. We want to see how you've driven service improvements and managed teams effectively in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your achievements and qualifications without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered for the role. Plus, you can find all the details you need there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blackpool Council
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act, and Mental Health Act. Being able to discuss these laws confidently will show that you understand the framework within which you'll be operating.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples of your past leadership roles, especially in adult social care. Highlight how you've driven service improvements and managed complex budgets, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Showcase Your Partnership Skills
Think about times when you've successfully collaborated with other agencies or stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you can strengthen multi-agency working, as this is a key part of the job.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your decision-making and problem-solving skills in real-life scenarios. Practise articulating your thought process and how you would handle challenges in adult social care operations.