Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and oversee services for Children in Care and Care Leavers, ensuring high-quality support.
- Company: Join Halton Borough Council, dedicated to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £85,000, with potential for permanent appointment and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive and impactful environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with management experience in children's services and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Initial locum contract with the possibility of a permanent role; apply now to join a passionate team.
The predicted salary is between 68000 - 102000 £ per year.
Halton Borough Council is looking for a passionate and experienced leader to drive excellence in services for Children in Care and Care Leavers. This is a key senior role, responsible for ensuring high-quality support, safeguarding, and improved outcomes for children and young people.
Key Responsibilities:
- Children in Care & Care Leavers: Oversee care planning, permanency arrangements, and transitions into adulthood, ensuring children and young people receive the support they need.
- Fostering & Adoption: Lead recruitment, assessment, and support of foster carers and adopters, ensuring compliance with regulations and best practice.
- Residential Services: Manage the council’s residential children’s home, ensuring high standards of care and regulatory compliance.
- Performance & Quality Assurance: Develop and implement service improvement plans in line with Ofsted requirements, using data and audits to drive continuous improvement.
- Leadership & Workforce Development: Provide strong and visible leadership, supporting and developing teams to maintain high professional standards and effective service delivery.
- Budget & Resource Management: Ensure effective financial oversight and efficient use of resources, securing external funding where possible.
About You:
- Qualified social worker with Social Work England registration and significant management experience in children’s services.
- Proven leadership in local authority or similar settings, with a strong understanding of statutory responsibilities and best practice in child protection, fostering, adoption, and care leaver support.
- Skilled in strategic planning, performance management, and quality assurance.
- Strong partnership working experience, including collaboration with agencies, courts, and safeguarding boards.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to influence and inspire teams.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a service that makes a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people. Apply now to be part of a dedicated team committed to achieving the best outcomes for children in Halton.
Head of Service - Children in Care employer: Connect2Halton
Contact Detail:
Connect2Halton Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service - Children in Care
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in children's services, especially those who have experience in local authorities. Attend relevant conferences or workshops to meet potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends in child protection and care.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Halton Borough Council's current initiatives and challenges in children’s services. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your understanding of the local context during interviews and discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how it aligns with the council's vision for improving outcomes for children in care. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams in similar settings.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your strategic planning skills by thinking about how you would approach service improvement plans. Consider how you would use data and audits to drive continuous improvement and be prepared to discuss this in detail.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service - Children in Care
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in children's services, particularly in leadership roles. Emphasise your qualifications, such as your Social Work England registration, and any specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive excellence in care.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for improving outcomes for children in care. Discuss your management experience and how it aligns with the responsibilities of the Head of Service role. Use specific examples to illustrate your leadership style and successes.
Highlight Key Skills: In your application, make sure to highlight key skills mentioned in the job description, such as strategic planning, performance management, and partnership working. Use bullet points for clarity and to draw attention to these essential competencies.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial in a leadership role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Connect2Halton
✨Show Your Passion for Child Welfare
Make sure to express your genuine passion for improving the lives of children in care. Share personal anecdotes or experiences that highlight your commitment to child welfare and how it has shaped your career.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples of your leadership experience in children's services. Discuss how you've successfully led teams, managed projects, and implemented service improvements, particularly in line with Ofsted requirements.
✨Highlight Your Strategic Planning Skills
Be ready to discuss your approach to strategic planning and performance management. Explain how you have used data and audits to drive continuous improvement in previous roles, showcasing your analytical skills.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Think through potential challenges you might face in this role and how you would address them, particularly in fostering and adoption contexts.
