At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic programmes in adult social care across five boroughs, driving impactful change.
- Company: Join the North London Councils Partnership, a high-performing team recognised for excellence in social care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Engage with senior local government officials and shape the future of adult social care.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in community health and social care while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and strong strategic thinking abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 86889 - 96983 £ per year.
Salary: £86,889 - £96,983 (Dependant on experience)
Grade: Level 6 Zone 2
Location: 5 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG/Hybrid
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time
Closing Date: Monday 27th July 2026 at 23:59
Interview: Week commencing 3rd August 2026
About North London Councils Partnership
The post sits within the North London Councils Partnership, which is hosted by Camden Council. The North London Councils Partnership is a local authority led partnership supporting 13 boroughs to deliver programmes of work that address shared priorities in social care in partnership, and promote a strong local authority presence within North London’s Integrated Care System (ICS). The Partnership is a high profile, high performing team that in 2021 won the national LGC award for Adult Social Care demonstrating the impact of our work.
What You’ll Be Doing / How You’ll Be Involved
This key leadership role directs the North Central London (NCL) adult social care (ASC) programme across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington Councils. It develops and leads a cross-borough market shaping and management programme covering key ASC service priorities including accommodation-based services, digital development and matrix leadership of workforce-related activity. The role provides strategic leadership of joint work with health partners, influencing them to support excellent outcomes for residents, and builds effective professional ASC leadership networks across the 5 boroughs.
- Adult Social Care markets strategy and programme: Lead the development and delivery of cross-borough programmes of work with the ASC market that yield benefits for the local authorities, NHS partners and residents. Drive strategic collaborative and aligned commissioning approaches for ASC services across NCL to secure provision in line with local need and to yield substantial cost avoidance and/or financial savings, whilst ensuring the market remains sustainable.
- Champion a data driven and evidence-based approach to innovative programme strategy, delivery and reporting, including cyclical market analysis of trends, opportunities and risks; sustainable cost modelling; data digitisation and access for boroughs; expanding the range of data sources; and demonstrating impact and performance.
- Provide strategic leadership and coordination on ASC issues and in response to changing circumstances or guidance where there is aspiration to develop aligned approaches, coordinate responses or joint strategies.
- Oversee complex market shaping workstreams (including quality, price, market oversight and sufficiency, digital), to deliver specified outcomes and savings against challenging timeframes.
Strategic direction to NCL ASC Programme Board and Integrated Care System: Form trusting, credible relationships with a range of partners through an ability to think strategically, persuade, negotiate and influence a complex local agenda. This will include working closely with the 5 Directors of Adult Social Care and senior commissioners to agree approaches across the 5 boroughs.
Lead on planning for the NCL ASC Programme Board reporting to the 5 Directors of Adult Social Services (DASS) and their leadership teams, providing expert advice and guidance that drives forward programme delivery and ensures the Partnership is achieving the anticipated outcomes.
Develop excellent strategic relationships with care providers to promote health and social care input (e.g. digital social care), understand providers’ challenges and opportunities, improve outcomes and quality, and inform supportive effective council-NHS partnerships.
Provide strategic and programme input on behalf of the 5 local authorities into a range of ICS workstreams with a focus on building effective joint planning and integrated working across health and social care.
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
We are looking for a proven and growing leader who is looking to further develop their skills, experience and impact in delivering complex change. You will benefit from direct exposure to senior local government officers and politicians across five local authorities. You will bring an ability to think strategically, persuade, negotiate and influence a complex and evolving local commissioning and market management agenda. You will also bring the skills required to develop and deliver a complex and evolving programme of commissioning and market shaping work that yields benefits for the local authorities, NHS partners and residents.
To be successful in this post, you will be excellent at building credible relationships across a wide range of stakeholders across the 5 Councils and NHS partners. You will be experienced at working collaboratively and successfully across agencies to deliver improved outcomes and will be confident in your ability to act as a system leader, developing excellent partnerships across the local authority and health landscape and inspiring confidence in stakeholders and staff at a time of significant change. You will be able to deal with conflicting views at a senior level including offering pragmatic and palatable solutions. You will be confident at analysing health and social care datasets to support a deeper understanding of local services and using your commissioning knowledge and experience.
Head of Strategy and Programmes - Adult Social Care - london, south east england, uk employer: Camden Council
Camden Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, flexible working opportunities, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Camden fosters a supportive work culture that encourages professional growth and collaboration. As a Public Health Researcher, you will play a vital role in addressing health inequalities while benefiting from comprehensive training and development resources in a vibrant London location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategy and Programmes - Adult Social Care - london, south east england, uk
✨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 Camden Council.
✨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 Camden Council!
✨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 Camden Council, 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 Camden Council 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 Strategy and Programmes - Adult Social Care - london, south east england, uk
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 Camden Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Camden Council! 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 Camden Council
✨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.
