At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative adult social care and health initiatives for a thriving community.
- Company: Bradford Council, committed to creating fairer opportunities and stronger communities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of one of the UK's most diverse districts and drive meaningful change.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in social care, strategic vision, and a passion for community wellbeing.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team dedicated to innovation and excellence in public service.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 100000 £ per year.
Bradford is a district on the rise: ambitious, confident and determined to deliver lasting change. With one of Europe’s youngest and most diverse populations, Bradford’s potential is huge. Following a brilliant year as UK City of Culture, the city is channelling its energy into a bold, long-term plan to create fairer opportunities and stronger communities. We are transforming places, strengthening neighbourhoods, reshaping public services and improving outcomes across the district.
As Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health, you will play a defining role in this journey, ensuring that high-quality social care goes hand-in-hand with place-based regeneration to deliver the strongest possible outcomes for residents. The quality of our Adults’ services has been recognised with a ‘Good’ rating from the CQC, and we are determined to continue our improvement and strive for the best.
This is a system-leading role responsible for adult social care, health integration, and housing strategy. Our approaches to tackling poverty, transforming housing and embedding localities are working and you will be responsible for maintaining and driving these successes through transformation and organisational design.
As the statutory DASS, you will provide clear, strategic leadership across the portfolio, ensuring all our duties are met and that services for older people, adults with learning disabilities, adults with mental health needs and those transitioning to adulthood are high-quality, responsive and focused on promoting independence, choice and wellbeing.
You will oversee performance, innovation and continuous improvement across a large and complex directorate, with accountability for a budget of over £250 million and a workforce of around 1,420 staff. Partnership working will be at the heart of your success. You will nurture strong relationships with members, NHS partners, the voluntary and community sector, regulators and regional bodies, driving integrated models of care and whole-system approaches that support early intervention, prevention and better outcomes.
You will champion the voice of adults, carers and families, ensuring services are co-designed, evidence-led and rooted in the real experiences of the people they support. As a key member of the CLT you will help shape the Council’s strategic direction, support its transformation programmes and ensure that Adult Social Care plays a central role in Bradford’s wider development.
You will lead with clarity, compassion and ambition, creating a high-performing, inclusive culture where staff are empowered to innovate and communities can thrive. This is a rare and career-defining role for a system leader ready to make a profound difference to the future of one of the UK’s most diverse and forward-looking districts and an opportunity to lead a service that is committed to setting a new benchmark for excellence across the region.
For more information please contact Tim Farr on 07756 293292 or tim.farr@starfishsearch.com
Closing Date: 26th April 2026
Longlisting: 29th April 2026
Technical Interviews: w/c 4th May 2026
Shortlisting: 14th May 2026
Final Panel: w/c 25th May 2026
Strategic Director Adult Social Care and Health in Bradford employer: City of Bradford MDC
Contact Detail:
City of Bradford MDC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Director Adult Social Care and Health in Bradford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks 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 the organisation and its values. Understand their goals, especially around adult social care and health. This way, you can tailor your responses to show how your vision aligns with theirs, making you a standout candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors. Focus on articulating your experience and how it relates to the role of Strategic Director. The more comfortable you are speaking about your skills, the more confident you'll feel during the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly. Let’s make this happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Director Adult Social Care and Health in Bradford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through. We want to see how your values align with our mission to create fairer opportunities and stronger communities in Bradford.
Be Specific: Use concrete examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to drive transformation. We love seeing how you've made a difference in previous roles, especially in social care or health integration.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Strategic Director role. Highlight your experience with budget management and partnership working, as these are key aspects of the position.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to lead in one of the UK’s most dynamic districts.
How to prepare for a job interview at City of Bradford MDC
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health. Familiarise yourself with Bradford's current initiatives, challenges, and successes in social care. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show how you can contribute to their ambitious plans.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how it aligns with the council's vision. Think about examples where you've successfully led teams through transformation and innovation, especially in complex environments. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and empower staff.
✨Emphasise Partnership Working
Since partnership working is crucial for this role, come ready with examples of how you've built strong relationships with various stakeholders. Discuss your experience in integrating services and driving collaborative models of care that lead to better outcomes for communities.
✨Be Person-Centred
Remember that the focus is on improving lives. Prepare to talk about how you've championed the voices of service users, carers, and families in your previous roles. Share specific instances where you've co-designed services based on real experiences, ensuring they are responsive and evidence-led.