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- Tasks: Lead and improve services for children and families, ensuring high standards of care and safeguarding.
- Company: Lewisham Council, a forward-thinking local authority committed to community welfare.
- Benefits: Flexible working, opportunity for meaningful change, and strong political engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while leading a dedicated team.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work, significant leadership experience, and knowledge of safeguarding legislation.
- Other info: Join a dynamic environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Lewisham Council is seeking an experienced and inspirational Head of Service to provide strategic and operational leadership within our Family Help and Care / Families, Quality and Commissioning Division. As a senior leader, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high-quality services that protect children, support families, and promote the best possible outcomes for children and young people across the borough.
You will lead large, complex services in a fast-paced and politically aware environment, driving continuous improvement, ensuring strong performance against KPIs, and embedding excellent social work practice. This role requires a confident leader who can work collaboratively across agencies and with communities to deliver sustainable change.
Key Responsibilities- Provide strategic leadership as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, translating corporate priorities into clear service objectives.
- Lead and continuously improve services for children and young people, ensuring high standards of safeguarding, care, and quality.
- Drive performance improvement against local and national KPIs, including inspection readiness.
- Ensure robust governance, audit, quality assurance, and performance monitoring arrangements.
- Lead and manage significant budgets, ensuring value for money and compliance with financial regulations.
- Develop and support managers through effective supervision, appraisal, and workforce development.
- Lead and contribute to change programmes, service redesign, and cross-directorate projects.
- Work in close partnership with safeguarding, quality assurance, commissioning, and partner agencies.
- Ensure children, young people, and families’ voices are central to service design and delivery.
- Champion equality, diversity, anti-racist practice, and inclusive service provision.
- Provide out-of-hours senior management cover as required.
You will be a highly experienced senior leader with a strong track record in children’s social care, able to operate confidently in a complex, high-risk environment.
Essential requirements include:- Degree in Social Work (or equivalent) and registration with Social Work England.
- In-depth knowledge of the Children Act, safeguarding legislation, and national policy priorities.
- Significant senior leadership experience managing children’s social care services in a diverse community.
- Proven ability to lead service improvement and manage organisational change.
- Strong experience of managing large and complex budgets.
- Experience of Ofsted inspection frameworks.
- Excellent strategic thinking, decision-making, and communication skills.
- Strong partnership-working experience at strategic and operational levels.
- Clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive leadership.
- Resilience, credibility, and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
Opportunity to lead meaningful change in a forward-thinking London borough. Work at a senior strategic level with strong political and corporate engagement. Flexible working approach where operationally possible.
Head of Service – Family Help & Care / Families, Quality & Commissioning in Blackheath employer: GTS Group Ltd
Contact Detail:
GTS Group Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service – Family Help & Care / Families, Quality & Commissioning in Blackheath
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care sector, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Lewisham Council’s values and recent initiatives in family help and care. We want you to showcase how your experience aligns with their goals. Practise common interview questions and think about how you can demonstrate your leadership skills and commitment to safeguarding.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for the role! When you get the chance to speak with hiring managers, let your enthusiasm for improving children’s services shine through. We believe that genuine passion can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals who are ready to make a difference in the community. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service – Family Help & Care / Families, Quality & Commissioning in Blackheath
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in children's social care. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Head of Service, so don’t hold back on showcasing your leadership and strategic thinking!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive performance improvement and manage complex services. We love seeing quantifiable results, so if you’ve improved KPIs or led successful change programmes, shout about it!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and motivate others, so share your passion for working with children and families. A genuine connection to the role will make your application stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need to make your application as strong as possible!
How to prepare for a job interview at GTS Group Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the role. Familiarise yourself with the Children Act, safeguarding legislation, and the latest national policy priorities. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to high-quality service delivery.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading large teams and managing complex services. Think about specific instances where you drove performance improvement or led successful change programmes. This is your chance to shine as a confident leader!
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with various agencies and communities, be ready to discuss your partnership-working experience. Share stories that illustrate how you’ve successfully collaborated to achieve common goals, especially in a politically aware environment.
✨Champion Diversity and Inclusion
Given the emphasis on equality and anti-racist practice, come prepared to talk about how you’ve promoted diversity in your previous roles. Highlight any initiatives you’ve led or been part of that centred around inclusive service provision and how you’ve ensured that the voices of children and families are heard.
