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 - 70000 £ 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. You will:
- 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)
- A Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England
- 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.
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. 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.
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 in Hull employer: Hull City Council
Contact Detail:
Hull City Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting in Hull
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the sector. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Hull City Council. A friendly chat can open doors!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Hull City Council’s values and recent initiatives. Show us you’re not just a fit for the role but also for our culture. Tailor your examples to highlight how you embody our People First and Partnership values.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors. Focus on articulating your leadership style and how you’ve driven service improvements in past roles. Confidence is key when you’re in front of the panel!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting in Hull
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Passion: When you're 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 share your experiences that demonstrate your commitment to a child-centred approach.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting. Highlight your relevant experience in leadership and service improvement, and don’t forget to mention any partnerships you've built that have made a difference.
Be Clear and Concise: We appreciate clarity! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Hull City Council.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hull City Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Assistant Director of Corporate Parenting role. Familiarise yourself with Hull City Council's current initiatives and challenges in children's services, as well as relevant legislation and best practices. This will show your commitment and understanding of the sector.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how it aligns with the council's values of People First, Respect, Learning, Ambition, and Partnership. Think of specific examples where you've inspired trust and driven service improvement, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage with Real Scenarios
Be ready to tackle hypothetical scenarios related to corporate parenting. Think about how you would handle complex issues, influence policy, or lead a multi-disciplinary team. This demonstrates your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for the role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your interest in the role and the council’s vision for children and families. Inquire about their current priorities, challenges they face, or how they measure success in corporate parenting. This shows you’re not just interested in the position but also in making a meaningful impact.