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- Tasks: Lead Hampshire's Children's Services, ensuring quality and sustainability during transformative change.
- Company: Hampshire County Council, a top-performing authority with a commitment to excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £185,000, hybrid working, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of children's services in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Visionary leader with experience in guiding high-performing organisations through change.
- Other info: Join a dedicated team focused on delivering vital services to Hampshire's diverse population.
The predicted salary is between 185000 - 185000 £ per year.
Employer: Hampshire County Council
Location: Winchester with hybrid working arrangements
Salary: £185,000 per year
Closing date: 13 Feb 2026
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time
Sector: Business leadership & executive, Community & Social Care, Government & politics, Director (business), Local government
Hampshire is a fantastic county, home to an increasingly diverse population with justifiably high expectations of their political leaders and public servants. The County Council is consistently one of the top performing authorities in the Country in all key areas of service delivery across all externally validated measures. Hampshire's Children's Services have been judged as "Outstanding" on two consecutive occasions since 2019. It is a well-led organisation with an eye to the future and an enduring commitment to delivering vital services to the residents of Hampshire.
The County Council is hugely ambitious for the future but also retains a dedicated focus on the importance of upholding quality service delivery for today. Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation present a unique opportunity to secure the best possible outcomes for all of Hampshire's residents. For Children's Services, this means ensuring excellent services during a period of significant change and transformation. The scale of the system is significant, with 550 schools and budgetary accountability of £500m. The challenges facing the sector nationally are ever present in Hampshire, with SEND and home to school transport pressures well recognised and addressed.
Across the directorate, services are well-led and managed, well-regarded by children, young people and their families, and relationships with partners are constructive. This means a professionally qualified and forward-thinking Director of Children's Services is essential to lead the Directorate and its workforce as it navigates these major changes. As DCS, you will ensure the quality and sustainability of core services, provide leadership across the system and hold and develop key relationships with our partners and stakeholders in the face of change and degrees of uncertainty.
As a CMT member, you will make a full contribution to the leadership of the County Council and be skilled at working beyond directorate and organisational boundaries. Critical to this is that excellent services endure and form a key component of a public service system that is fit for future purpose. You will bring the exceptional ability to lead high-performing organisations through periods of transformative change, leveraging the strengths of a talented team while effectively managing a substantial budget amidst evolving challenges and financial pressures within the sector and system. Irrespective of where you are now, you will be a visionary leader with the foresight, experience and leadership attributes to guide Hampshire's Children's Services through ambitious and transformative times. This is a pivotal role at a critical moment to shape the future of Hampshire.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the Directorate of Children's Services and ensure the quality and sustainability of core services.
- Provide leadership across the system and develop key relationships with partners and stakeholders amid change and uncertainty.
- Contribute to the County Council leadership as a Chief Management Team (CMT) member and work beyond directorate boundaries.
- Navigate significant change and transformation while maintaining high service standards for children, young people and families.
- Manage a substantial budget and respond to evolving financial pressures within the sector and system.
Qualifications / Experience:
- Professionally qualified and forward-thinking leader with experience guiding high-performing organisations through transformative change.
- Proven ability to lead complex systems with strong budget management and stakeholder engagement.
Director of Children\'s Services employer: Hampshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hampshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Children\'s Services
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to Hampshire County Council. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in children's services. Show us you’re not just a candidate but a thought leader who’s ready to tackle the challenges facing Hampshire's children and families.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to clearly articulate your vision for the role and how you plan to lead through change. We want to hear your passion and commitment to making a difference in the community.
✨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, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Hampshire County Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Children\'s Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Director of Children's Services role. Highlight your experience in leading high-performing organisations and managing substantial budgets, as these are key aspects that Hampshire County Council is looking for.
Showcase Your Vision: We want to see your visionary leadership skills! In your application, share examples of how you've successfully navigated transformative change in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to lead Hampshire's Children's Services through ambitious times.
Highlight Collaborative Skills: Since this role involves developing key relationships with partners and stakeholders, make sure to emphasise your collaborative approach. Share instances where you've worked beyond directorate boundaries to achieve common goals, as this aligns with the County Council's focus on teamwork.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply 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 about the role and the application process there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hampshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Hampshire County Council's recent achievements and challenges, especially in Children's Services. Familiarise yourself with their 'Outstanding' ratings and be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Director of Children's Services, your leadership approach is crucial. Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams through change, managing budgets, and building relationships with stakeholders. Be specific about your strategies and outcomes.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This role requires working beyond directorate boundaries. Think of instances where you've successfully collaborated with other departments or external partners. Be ready to discuss how you can foster constructive relationships within the council and the community.
✨Prepare for Tough Questions
Expect questions about navigating financial pressures and maintaining service quality during transformation. Reflect on past experiences where you've tackled similar challenges and be prepared to share your thought process and solutions.
