At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead safeguarding services to ensure children receive the support and protection they need.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking council dedicated to improving lives in Havering.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive leadership team, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to excellence and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the future of safeguarding services.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with significant leadership experience in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 207 - 207 £ per hour.
Grade 12 – £77,550 - £87,084pa (plus £10k Market Supplement)
About the Job
Our People Directorate vision is “Supporting our residents to stay safe and well.” Within Starting Well, we are committed to ensuring every child grows up safe, supported and able to achieve their full potential. We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our senior leadership team as Head of Service – Safeguarding, leading our safeguarding service and driving continued improvement in outcomes for children and families across Havering.
This is a pivotal strategic leadership role with responsibility for ensuring high-quality safeguarding services for children who require support, protection and intervention. Reporting into the Assistant Director and leading Service Managers, Team Managers and safeguarding teams, you will provide visible leadership across the service, ensuring children receive timely, effective and relationship-based interventions that improve safety, stability and long-term outcomes.
As Head of Service, you will:
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across safeguarding services, ensuring compliance with statutory duties, legislation, guidance and best practice.
- Lead a culture of high-quality, child-centred safeguarding practice that focuses on achieving positive outcomes for children and families.
- Drive service improvement through effective quality assurance, performance management, audit activity and learning from reviews and inspections.
- Lead and support Service Managers and Team Managers to deliver excellent practice, strong supervision and effective workforce development.
- Work collaboratively with partners across health, education, police, voluntary sector organisations and safeguarding partnerships to ensure children receive coordinated support.
- Provide strategic leadership for safeguarding performance, risk management, governance, commissioning and service development.
- Lead transformational change programmes and contribute to wider Starting Well priorities, helping shape the future of children's services in Havering.
- Ensure resources and budgets are managed effectively, delivering value for money whilst maintaining excellent services for children and families.
This is a unique opportunity to influence strategic safeguarding practice across the borough and play a key role in Havering's continued improvement journey. You will join an ambitious and supportive leadership team committed to excellence, innovation and achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people.
About You
You will be an accomplished and inspiring senior leader with substantial experience within statutory children's services and a strong track record of delivering excellent safeguarding outcomes. You will combine strategic vision with operational leadership and possess the credibility to influence practice, partnerships and organisational improvement.
Essential Requirements
- Qualified Social Worker (CQSW, DipSW or equivalent professional qualification).
- Current registration with Social Work England.
- Significant senior leadership experience within Children's Services, including safeguarding services and service improvement.
- Extensive knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, Working Together principles and the legal framework governing children's services.
- Proven experience of leading large operational services, managing managers, developing high-performing teams and creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Strong understanding of quality assurance, performance management, inspection frameworks and service improvement methodologies.
- Experience of working effectively within complex multi-agency environments, building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience of strategic planning, resource management and budget accountability.
- Ability to analyse complex safeguarding issues, manage risk effectively and make sound decisions under pressure.
- Strong communication, influencing and presentation skills, with experience of engaging senior leaders, elected members, partners and inspectors.
Most importantly, you will be passionate about improving the lives of children and families, committed to relationship-based practice and capable of leading with integrity, compassion and ambition.
What Matters Most
You will bring a genuine commitment to children and young people, a passion for improving outcomes and a belief that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish. You will be ambitious and committed to supporting staff to do their best work and motivated by the opportunity to help Havering continue its improvement journey with pace, integrity and ambition.
If you are an inspiring leader who wants to make a real difference for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.
The closing date for the receipt of applications is 2/8/26 however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early. You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interview date to be confirmed.
Additional Information
We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees.
The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role. We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.
Head of Service - Safeguarding in Romford employer: Borough of Havering
Havering is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a significant impact on the lives of children and families. With a strong commitment to systemic practice, access to accredited training, and a supportive work culture, you will have the opportunity to lead a talented team in a role that is both meaningful and rewarding. Join us in a vibrant community where your expertise is valued, and together we can create positive outcomes for those we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service - Safeguarding in Romford
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Borough of Havering.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Borough of Havering!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Borough of Havering, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Borough of Havering or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service - Safeguarding in Romford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Borough of Havering:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Borough of Havering! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Havering
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
