At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic programmes in adult social care across five boroughs, driving impactful change.
- Company: Join Camden Council's award-winning North London Councils Partnership.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, flexible working, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diversity and support for all applicants.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in social care while collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in health or social care commissioning required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
About North London Councils Partnership
The post sits within the North London Councils Partnership, which is hosted by Camden Council. The North London Councils Partnership is a local authority led partnership supporting 13 boroughs to deliver programmes of work that address shared priorities in social care in partnership, and promote a strong local authority presence within North London’s Integrated Care System (ICS). The Partnership is a high profile, high performing team that in 2021 won the national LGC award for Adult Social Care demonstrating the impact of our work.
What You’ll Be Doing / How You’ll Be Involved
This key leadership role directs the North Central London (NCL) adult social care (ASC) programme across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington Councils. It develops and leads a cross-borough market shaping and management programme covering key ASC service priorities including accommodation-based services, digital development and matrix leadership of workforce-related activity. The role provides strategic leadership of joint work with health partners, influencing them to support excellent outcomes for residents, and builds effective professional ASC leadership networks across the 5 boroughs.
- Adult Social Care markets strategy and programme
- Lead the development and delivery of cross-borough programmes of work with the ASC market that yield benefits for the local authorities, NHS partners and residents.
- Drive strategic collaborative and aligned commissioning approaches for ASC services across NCL to secure provision in line with local need and to yield substantial cost avoidance and/or financial savings, whilst ensuring the market remains sustainable.
- Champion a data driven and evidence-based approach to innovative programme strategy, delivery and reporting, including cyclical market analysis of trends, opportunities and risks; sustainable cost modelling; data digitisation and access for boroughs; expanding the range of data sources; and demonstrating impact and performance.
- Provide strategic leadership and coordination on ASC issues and in response to changing circumstances or guidance where there is aspiration to develop aligned approaches, coordinate responses or joint strategies.
- Oversee complex market shaping workstreams (including quality, price, market oversight and sufficiency, digital), to deliver specified outcomes and savings against challenging timeframes.
- Strategic direction to NCL ASC Programme Board and Integrated Care System
- Form trusting, credible relationships with a range of partners through an ability to think strategically, persuade, negotiate and influence a complex local agenda. This will include working closely with the 5 Directors of Adult Social Care and senior commissioners to agree approaches across the 5 boroughs.
- Lead on planning for the NCL ASC Programme Board reporting to the 5 Directors of Adult Social Services (DASS) and their leadership teams, providing expert advice and guidance that drives forward programme delivery and ensures the Partnership is achieving the anticipated outcomes.
- Develop excellent strategic relationships with care providers to promote health and social care input (e.g. digital social care), understand providers’ challenges and opportunities, improve outcomes and quality, and inform supportive effective council-NHS partnerships.
- Provide strategic and programme input on behalf of the 5 local authorities into a range of IC workstreams with a focus on building effective joint planning and integrated working across health and social care.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require an Enhanced DBS. Please note Camden also offers the DBS update service.
All About You
We are looking for a proven and growing leader who is looking to further develop their skills, experience and impact in delivering complex change. You will benefit from direct exposure to senior local government officers and politicians across five local authorities. You will bring an ability to think strategically, persuade, negotiate and influence a complex and evolving local commissioning and market management agenda. You will also bring the skills required to develop and deliver a complex and evolving programme of commissioning and market shaping work that yields benefits for the local authorities, NHS partners and residents.
To be successful in this post, you will be excellent at building credible relationships across a wide range of stakeholders across the 5 Councils and NHS partners. You will be experienced at working collaboratively and successfully across agencies to deliver improved outcomes and will be confident in your ability to act as a system leader, developing excellent partnerships across the local authority and health landscape and inspiring confidence in stakeholders and staff at a time of significant change. You will be able to deal with conflicting views at a senior level including offering pragmatic and palatable solutions. You will be confident at analysing health and social care datasets to support a deeper understanding of local services and using your commissioning knowledge and experience to identify and action priorities for change.
You will be educated to degree level or equivalent, potentially with a professional qualification in health or social care. You will have extensive knowledge and experience of local authority and potentially health commissioning and ASC provider market management. You will have significant experience and understanding of building support for and managing complex, multidisciplinary projects across several partners that develop new approaches to address system challenges.
What We Offer
At Camden, you’ll receive a host of benefits including:
- 27 days annual leave for new starters, rising to 31 days after 5 years
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible working opportunities
- Interest free loans
- Access to our incredible staff networks
- Career development and training
- Wellbeing support and activities
Closing Date: Monday 27th July 2026 at 23:59
Interview: Week commencing 3rd August 2026
Inclusion and Belonging
At Camden, we want every colleague to feel they belong and can thrive. We welcome applications from all parts of our community, and particularly encourage people from Black, Asian and Other Ethnic Heritage communities, LGBTQ+ people, disabled and neurodiverse people, survivors of domestic abuse, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds or with care experience. We know that different voices and perspectives make us stronger, and we are committed to providing the support, adjustments and flexibility people need to succeed.
Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier‑free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long‑term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact us on 020 7974 6655, at resourcing@camden.gov.uk or post to 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG.
Anonymised Application – in keeping with Camden’s commitment to inclusion the recruitment to this role is anonymised and supports the objective of reducing the impact of unconscious bias.
Head of Strategy and Programmes, Adult Social Care employer: LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN
The London Borough of Camden is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment for Senior Social Workers. With a strong commitment to employee development, flexible working arrangements, and a vibrant team culture, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families in Greater London. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that values your expertise and fosters professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategy and Programmes, Adult Social Care
✨Connect with Local Educational Institutions
Get involved with universities and colleges in your area, especially those that offer adult continuing education programmes. Attend open days or even guest lectures to network with faculty members and find out about potential job openings before they even get advertised.
✨Leverage Professional Education Networks
Join professional networks focused on adult education, such as the Adult Learning Australia or the International Society for Technology in Education. These communities often have job boards or can point you towards opportunities at places like LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN just waiting for the right candidate!
✨Showcase Your Passion for Lifelong Learning
In your interviews, share your own experiences and thoughts on lifelong learning. Highlight any courses or workshops you've taken recently to demonstrate your commitment to personal development and the importance of education. This is a big plus for roles in this field!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don't forget to check out our careers page at LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN. Applying directly through our website not only makes your application stand out but also shows you're genuinely interested in joining us. We love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategy and Programmes, Adult Social Care
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Experience in Education:When crafting your CV for the Head of Strategy and Programmes, Adult Social Care role, make sure to emphasise any relevant experience in adult or continuing education. This could be teaching credentials, training sessions you've facilitated, or programmes you’ve developed. The more specific you can be about your contributions and outcomes, the better!
Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills:In the adult continuing education sector, strong communication and interpersonal skills are key. Use your cover letter to share specific examples of how you’ve worked with diverse groups or handled different learning styles. Let us see how you've engaged learners—you’re selling your teaching style here!
Connect Your Passion to Our Mission:At LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN, we value candidates who resonate with our mission to empower lifelong learners. Make sure your cover letter reflects your passion for adult education and your alignment with our goals. A genuine connection can really make your application stand out!
Keep it Professional Yet Personable:While it’s important to maintain professionalism in your application, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. We’re looking for someone who can connect with our learners, so a friendly, approachable tone can help convey that vibe in your written materials. Apply through our website and let us see the real you!
How to prepare for a job interview at LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN
✨Showcase Your Passion for Lifelong Learning
When interviewing for a role in adult continuing education at LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN, it's super important to highlight your passion for lifelong learning. Share personal anecdotes or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to education and how you've fostered a love for learning in others – this is something hiring managers love to see!
✨Prepare for Adult Education Methodologies
Be ready to dive into your knowledge of andragogy and educational theories during the interview. Expect questions about how you would adapt your teaching styles for adult learners – think about specific strategies you’ve used in the past and be prepared to discuss how they positively impacted your students.
✨Discuss Your Experience with Diverse Learners
At LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN, you’ll likely encounter a diverse range of adult learners, so don’t shy away from discussing your experience with different demographics. Be prepared to share your successes in engaging learners from varied backgrounds, and how your approach has adapted to meet their unique needs.
✨Demonstrate Your Ability to Collaborate
Given that this is a full-time role, teamwork will be essential. Be ready to talk about your experiences working in collaborative settings, whether it be with fellow educators, administrators, or community partners. Highlight specific projects where your collaborative efforts contributed to successful educational outcomes.
