At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative services for vulnerable children and young people, ensuring their wellbeing and stability.
- Company: Dudley Council, dedicated to improving children's services and outcomes.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and leadership development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to inclusive leadership and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the future of social care.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in children's social care with a focus on improvement and quality.
The predicted salary is between 76597 - 81370 € per year.
This is an exciting opportunity for a proven leader in children's social care to play a pivotal role improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people at scale, while leading complex transformation.
As Principal Service Lead - Through Care, you'll lead some of the most important services in Children's Social Care - shaping the experiences and outcomes of children in care, care experienced young people, fostering, residential homes, placements and emotional wellbeing services across Dudley. This is a role with genuine influence: leading strategic improvement while maintaining a strong operational grip on quality, safeguarding, permanence and stability for children and young people with complex needs.
Working as part of the Children & Young People Leadership Team, you'll help drive the Council's improvement journey, embedding trauma-informed, child-centred practice and ensuring services deliver consistently high standards. You'll work across the wider system - partnering with education, health, providers, elected members and social care leaders - to modernise services, strengthen corporate parenting and build sustainable, high-performing teams.
From developing fostering sufficiency and improving placement stability to overseeing residential provision and supporting care leavers into adulthood, this is a rare opportunity to shape services that have a lasting impact on children's lives.
Who we're looking for:
We're looking for an exceptional, values-led leader at Head of Service level who can combine strong statutory grip with big ambition for children's lives. You will bring credibility in children's social care leadership and the ability to drive improvement across Through Care, strengthening fostering, residential provision, placements, and emotional wellbeing support so that children experience real stability, not just services.
You'll understand regulation and quality inside-out (including safeguarding responsibilities and the operational discipline needed to meet statutory and governance requirements), and you'll use that knowledge to enable great practice rather than constrain it.
Above all, you will be relentless in building the conditions for children to thrive growing our foster carer community, shaping, and delivering plans that bring children closer to home, and developing stable, nurturing homes where care is consistent, relationships are prioritised, and love is felt in everyday practice.
If you are the kind of leader who can hold risk, inspire teams, and turn strategy into lived experience for children creating stability built on love, belonging and high expectations then we would be delighted to hear from you.
Why join Dudley MBC?
Joining Dudley Council is an opportunity to play a leading role in a borough-wide improvement journey where your expertise, leadership and ideas will genuinely shape the future of Children's Services. Alongside the opportunity to lead strategically and make a visible impact, Dudley offers a highly competitive package, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working opportunities and ongoing investment in leadership development and professional learning.
You'll join an organisation that values inclusive leadership, wellbeing, collaboration and continuous professional development, while offering the scale and complexity needed to further develop your career at senior leadership level.
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Principal Service Lead - Through Care in Netherton employer: Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Dudley Council is an exceptional employer that offers a unique opportunity to lead transformative change in Children's Services, making a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people. With a strong commitment to inclusive leadership, professional development, and employee wellbeing, Dudley provides a supportive work culture alongside competitive benefits such as flexible working arrangements and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Join us in shaping a brighter future for our community while advancing your career in a dynamic and impactful environment.
Contact Detail:
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Service Lead - Through Care in Netherton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the children's social care sector, especially those already working at Dudley MBC. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might not be in the job description.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the key challenges in children's social care. Think about how your experience aligns with the role of Principal Service Lead - Through Care and be ready to share specific examples of your leadership and impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for improving outcomes for children and young people. During interviews, let your genuine commitment shine through. Talk about your vision for fostering and residential services and how you plan to make a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Service Lead - Through Care in Netherton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Principal Service Lead role. Highlight your experience in children's social care and how it aligns with the job description. We want to see how you can make a real impact!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a proven leader, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership style and successes in previous roles. Share examples of how you've driven improvement and built strong teams. We love hearing about your journey and how you inspire others!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and passion for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures we receive all the necessary information and helps us keep track of your application. Plus, it’s super easy to do – just click that apply button!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Principal Service Lead role. Brush up on your knowledge of children's social care, especially around fostering, residential provision, and emotional wellbeing services. Being able to discuss specific examples of how you've improved outcomes for children in similar roles will really impress.
✨Show Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how it aligns with the values of Dudley MBC. Think about times when you've inspired teams or driven significant change. Highlight your ability to balance operational discipline with a big ambition for children's lives, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with the wider system you'll be working within, including partnerships with education, health, and other stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you would modernise services and strengthen corporate parenting, showing that you can think strategically while keeping the needs of children at the forefront.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges in children's social care. Prepare scenarios where you’ve had to hold risk, manage complex situations, or implement trauma-informed practices. This will demonstrate your practical experience and readiness to tackle the demands of the role.
