At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead quality assurance and drive positive change for children and families in Camden.
- Company: Join Camden, a local authority committed to radical social change.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27-31 days annual leave, flexible working, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's services and shape a better future.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified Social Worker with leadership experience in children's services.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for transformational change in a supportive team environment.
The predicted salary is between 86889 - 96983 £ per year.
Salary: £86,889 - £96,983
Location: 5 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG/Hybrid
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time
Closing Date: Sunday 1st February 2026 at 23:59
Interview: Friday 13th February 2026
About Camden
Camden is changing on the inside to make life better for everyone. Our residents and communities are at the heart of everything we do. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today and we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind.
What You’ll Be Doing / How You’ll Be Involved
We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our team and drive positive change for children and families. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact by shaping services and leading transformational improvements across our local authority children’s services. Reporting to our Director for Relational Practice, you will be a key member of Camden’s Children and Learning Directorate and will play a vital role in the development of children and learning services and will be responsible for providing leadership across quality assurance, safeguarding, practice improvement, and workforce development.
Leading a high‑performing, supportive and cohesive team that is keen to achieve even more, you will be tasked with:
- Strategic responsibility for our quality assurance framework, building on the achievements we have already delivered, reviewing, and enhancing as required
- Ensuring that quality assurance runs across all children’s and learning services (e.g. including SEND and Youth Justice) and that all services are relational, attend to rigour, imagination, and are innovative
- Enabling social workers and practitioners to consistently deliver exceptional services
- Collaborating with our Principal Social Worker to embed continuous improvement and evidence impact
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require an Enhanced DBS. Please note Camden also offers the DBS update service.
All About You
To be considered for this exciting opportunity it is essential the successful candidate is a fully qualified Social Worker with current registration with Social Work England (SWE). You will have a proven track record of successful leadership within local authority children’s services and possess in‑depth theoretical knowledge of social work practice. Additionally, you will also have a Leadership/Management Qualification (e.g. ILM Level 4 or 5) and/or previous demonstrable experience managing teams or services, leading change and building strong partnerships. A strong commitment to anti‑racist and relational approaches is essential, along with demonstrable experience in leading transformational change that delivers measurable improvements for children and families.
This role is a unique and exciting opportunity to make a real difference for children and young people in the London Borough of Camden. We strongly encourage applicants to write their applications themselves. While we understand the growing use of AI tools, we believe that personal reflection and authenticity are key to a strong application. Please avoid using AI‑generated content when applying.
What We Offer
At Camden, you’ll receive a host of benefits including:
- Reimbursement of SWE fees
- 27 days annual leave for new starters, rising to 31 days after 5 years
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible working opportunities
- Interest free loans
- Access to our incredible staff networks
- Career development and training
- Wellbeing support and activities
Salary range: £86,889 - £96,983 per year
Head of Children\'s Quality Assurance employer: Camden Council
Contact Detail:
Camden Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Children\'s Quality Assurance
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, attend events, and connect with others on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Camden’s values and recent initiatives. Show us that you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about making a difference in children’s services.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to leadership and transformational change. We want to hear your stories of success and how you’ve made an impact in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Camden.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Children\'s Quality Assurance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: We want to hear your voice! Make sure your application reflects who you are and your unique experiences. Avoid using AI-generated content; it’s all about your personal touch.
Tailor Your Application: Take the time to align your skills and experiences with the job description. Highlight how your background in social work and leadership fits perfectly with our vision for children and families at Camden.
Showcase Your Impact: When detailing your previous roles, focus on the measurable improvements you've made. We love seeing how you've driven change and enhanced services for children and families.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our official website. It’s the best way to ensure we receive your application directly and can consider you for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Camden Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in Camden's quality assurance framework and the specific challenges facing children’s services. Brush up on recent developments in social work practice, especially around safeguarding and relational approaches, so you can speak confidently about how you would lead improvements.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of your past leadership experiences, particularly in local authority settings. Think about times when you’ve successfully led teams through change or improved service delivery. Be ready to discuss how you foster a supportive team environment and drive performance.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Highlight your ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, including social workers and other practitioners. Prepare to discuss how you’ve built strong partnerships in the past and how you plan to continue this at Camden to ensure exceptional service delivery.
✨Be Authentic
Camden values authenticity, so be yourself during the interview. Share your personal motivations for wanting to make a difference in children’s lives and how your values align with Camden’s commitment to anti-racist and relational practices. This will help you connect with the interviewers on a deeper level.