Director of Children and Family Services
Director of Children and Family Services

Director of Children and Family Services

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Derian House

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and inspire a team to support children and families facing life-limiting conditions.
  • Company: Derian House, a compassionate children's hospice dedicated to making a difference.
  • Benefits: 33 days holiday, pension scheme, retail discounts, free parking, and subsidised meals.
  • Other info: Flexible hours and opportunities for professional development in a supportive environment.
  • Why this job: Shape innovative programmes and make a real impact on families' lives.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in children's, youth, or family services with a creative and compassionate approach.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

At Derian House, we help children and young people with life-limiting conditions make the most of every precious moment. We also stand alongside their families, offering comfort, support, and hope.

We are now looking for an inspirational Director of Children and Families Services to shape and grow the future of our non-clinical support services, including family support, counselling, play, youth work, wellbeing and bereavement services.

This is a unique opportunity to:

  • Grow and expand services so we can reach even more families
  • Lead and inspire a passionate, multi-skilled team
  • Create innovative programmes shaped by the voices of children and families
  • Build partnerships that strengthen our reach and impact

You will be an experienced and visionary leader, with a proven track record in children’s, youth, social or family services. Creative, compassionate, and ambitious, you’ll bring the skills to inspire others and the drive to grow something extraordinary.

Be part of something special. Join us and help ensure that no child or family faces life’s hardest moments alone.

Closing date: 9am Monday 6th October; however, if we receive lots of suitable applications, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don\’t delay with submitting your application.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday with some flexibility to meet service need.

Location: Derian House Children’s Hospice, Chancery Road, Chorley, PR7 1DH.

Selection and Assessment process: This will be a 2 stage process; initial preliminary 20 minute discussions, held virtually, and then for those who we decide to progress there will be an onsite face to face assessment and interview. We anticipate the processes will take place from earlier/mid-October.

For informal discussion about this fantastic opportunity please contact Karen Edwards, CEO.

Benefits: We offer 33 days holidays per year, including bank holidays and increasing with length of service, a contributory pension scheme, retail discounts via a benefits platform, free parking and subsidised meals in our diner.

Derian House is the place where you can make a real difference for children and families and a great place to enhance and develop your career. Derian staff are actively encouraged to further develop their skills and knowledge in accordance with their career aspirations. As an employer, Derian House is committed to investing in training to support this development.

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Director of Children and Family Services employer: Derian House

At Derian House, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families facing life-limiting conditions. Our supportive work culture fosters innovation and collaboration, allowing you to lead a passionate team while benefiting from generous holiday allowances, a contributory pension scheme, and opportunities for professional growth through ongoing training. Join us in Chorley, where your leadership can truly transform lives and where every day offers the chance to make a difference.
Derian House

Contact Detail:

Derian House Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Director of Children and Family Services

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the children and family services sector, especially those connected to Derian House. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just set you apart from other candidates.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those virtual discussions! Research common questions for leadership roles in social services and practice your responses. We want to see your passion and vision shine through, so be ready to share your ideas on how to grow and inspire teams.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your creativity! Think about innovative programmes you've developed or been part of in the past. Bring these examples to the table during your interviews to demonstrate how you can shape services at Derian House.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our mission to support children and families during their toughest times.

We think you need these skills to ace Director of Children and Family Services

Leadership Skills
Visionary Thinking
Service Development
Team Management
Creative Programme Design
Partnership Building
Compassionate Communication
Experience in Children’s Services
Youth Work Expertise
Family Support Knowledge
Counselling Skills
Wellbeing Service Development
Bereavement Support Experience
Ambition and Drive

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for supporting children and families shine through. We want to see how your values align with our mission at Derian House, so don’t hold back on sharing your motivation!

Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in children’s, youth, or family services. We’re looking for someone with a proven track record, so connect the dots between your past roles and what we do here at Derian House.

Be Creative: This is a chance to showcase your innovative ideas! Think about how you can shape and grow our non-clinical support services. We love fresh perspectives, so feel free to share any unique programmes you’ve developed or would like to implement.

Apply Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We might close the vacancy early if we get lots of great applications, so head over to our website and apply as soon as you can. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Derian House

✨Know Your Impact

Before the interview, take some time to reflect on how your previous experiences have positively impacted children and families. Be ready to share specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and innovative approaches in similar roles.

✨Showcase Your Vision

Prepare to discuss your vision for the future of non-clinical support services. Think about how you can grow and expand these services at Derian House, and be ready to present creative ideas that are shaped by the voices of children and families.

✨Engage with Empathy

During the interview, show your compassionate side. Engage with the interviewers by discussing how you would lead a multi-skilled team with empathy and understanding, ensuring that everyone feels valued and inspired to contribute to the mission.

✨Build Partnerships

Be prepared to talk about your experience in building partnerships that strengthen service reach and impact. Share examples of successful collaborations you've led or been part of, and how they benefited the communities you served.

Director of Children and Family Services
Derian House
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