At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape services for children in care, ensuring their voices are heard.
- Company: Hull City Council, dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent pension, generous leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive culture focused on diversity, equality, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and drive meaningful change in the community.
- Qualifications: Master's level qualification, Social Work registration, and commitment to professional development.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
Hull City Council is looking for an exceptional leader to join us as Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting within our Children, Young People and Families Directorate. This is an exciting and new opportunity to shape the future of children in our care and our care leavers across the city.
As a key member of our Senior Leadership Team, you will drive our ambition for every child to thrive, championing a strong child-centred culture and ensuring that the voices of children and families are integral to everything we do.
About the Role
In this role, you will provide strategic leadership for all children looked after and care leaver services, including our regulated children’s homes, supported accommodation, fostering and adoption provision.
- Lead the development and delivery of Corporate Parenting services, ensuring excellence and aspiration for every child
- Influence policy and practice at local, regional and national levels, working with Government departments, Ofsted, Health, Police and wider partners
- Act as a visible, compassionate and ambitious leader, modelling strengths-based practice and a culture of high support and high expectations
- Oversee a budget of £38.5 million and lead approximately 370 FTE colleagues across the service
- Ensure organisational readiness for all statutory inspections and compliance with safeguarding duties
- Represent the Council in key forums, strengthening relationships with Elected Members, partners, external agencies and the community
- Be part of the Council’s emergency response rota under the Civil Contingencies Act.
What We’re Looking For - We are seeking a leader with:
- Essential Qualifications & Professional Standing
- A recognised professional or managerial qualification (Master’s level or above) and
- A Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England and
- A commitment to continuous professional development.
Experience You Will Bring
- Extensive senior leadership experience improving outcomes for children and families within a large, complex organisation
- A track record of driving service improvement and cultural change
- Strong political awareness and experience working effectively with Elected Members
- Expertise in partnership working, commissioning, and delivering high-quality services across agencies
- Significant financial and resource management experience
- Demonstrable success leading multi-disciplinary teams at scale.
Skills & Leadership Qualities
- A compelling, credible leadership style that inspires trust and excellence.
- Ability to think strategically, influence across systems and translate vision into action.
- Highly developed communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to deliver innovative solutions to complex issues.
- Child-centred, relational and strengths-based approach.
Our Values
You will embody and champion our leadership values of: People First | Respect | Learning | Ambition | Partnership. These underpin how we work with children, families, partners and colleagues across the city.
Why Hull?
Hull is a place of strong identity, community pride and ambition for its children. With major investment across Children’s Services, this is an opportunity to be at the forefront of meaningful, lasting change and to make a difference that matters.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Pauline Turner, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Families on 01482 616 325.
Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:
- A competitive salary
- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
- Supportive and forward-thinking culture
- Great career development opportunities
Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.
We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.
We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.
Hiring manager: Pauline Turner
Contact number: 01482 616325 x6325
Closing date: 9 June 2026.
Proposed interview date: 15 July 2026. Please note: The proposed interview date is subject to change and will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates as soon as possible.
Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting employer: HULL CC
Hull City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and forward-thinking culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while driving meaningful change for children and families in the community. With competitive salaries, excellent pension schemes, and ample opportunities for career development, this role as Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting allows you to make a significant impact in a city known for its strong community pride and ambition for its youth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the sector, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. The more people know you’re looking for opportunities, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Hull City Council and its values. Understand their approach to corporate parenting and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly cares about making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership pitch! You’ll want to convey your vision and how you can drive change within the organisation. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate your strengths and how they relate to the role of Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting.
✨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 Hull City Council and contributing to the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for improving outcomes for children and families shine through. We want to see how your values align with ours, so don’t hold back on sharing your motivation for this role!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills. Use the job description as a guide and demonstrate how your background in leadership and service improvement makes you the perfect fit for us.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that directly address the essential criteria. Avoid jargon and make it easy for us to see why you’re the right candidate!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need to make your submission as strong as possible.
How to prepare for a job interview at HULL CC
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand Hull City Council's vision for children and families. Familiarise yourself with their current initiatives, challenges, and successes in corporate parenting. This will help you demonstrate your commitment and how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how it embodies the values of People First, Respect, Learning, Ambition, and Partnership. Use specific examples from your past experiences to illustrate how you've inspired trust and driven service improvement in complex environments.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to think strategically. Prepare scenarios where you've successfully navigated challenges in children's services, showcasing your analytical skills and innovative solutions to complex issues.
✨Engage with the Panel
Remember, interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the council's future plans. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if this is the right fit for you. Engaging with the panel can leave a lasting impression.
