At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape early help and safeguarding services for children and families.
- Company: Join Harrow Children's Services, a key player in child welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to influence change in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of improving outcomes for children and families in your community.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and substantial experience in children's services required.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Join Harrow Children's Services. Help shape our front door, strengthen early help and improve outcomes for children and families. Harrow is looking for an experienced, confident and ambitious social work qualified leader to take on the role of Head of MASH and Early Help. This is a key strategic role at the front door of Children's Services, working with partners to ensure children, young people and families receive the right help, at the right time, from the right service.
The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub is central to Harrow's safeguarding arrangements, bringing together information, professional judgement and partnership expertise to support timely, proportionate and effective decision-making. Alongside this, our Early Help offer plays a vital role in identifying need earlier, strengthening families and preventing escalation wherever possible.
As Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across MASH and Early Help, leading multi-disciplinary teams and working closely with Social Care, Police, Health, Education and wider partnership colleagues. You will drive high-quality practice, strengthen decision-making, support service improvement and ensure that children and families experience coordinated, responsive and effective support.
What makes this role special?
- Lead services that sit at the heart of Harrow’s safeguarding and prevention system, ensuring children are identified, assessed and supported effectively.
- Shape the development of integrated, multi-agency practice across the front door and early help arrangements.
- Champion strengths-based, relationship-based and family-led practice, with a clear focus on early intervention, prevention and sustainable outcomes.
- Use performance insight, audit, quality assurance and professional curiosity to drive continuous improvement and support confident decision-making.
- Work collaboratively with other senior leaders and partners to strengthen safeguarding responses, manage risk well and promote inclusive, anti-racist, culturally competent practice.
About You
We are looking for a strategic and resilient leader with a strong background in children's social care, safeguarding and early help. You will bring credibility, sound judgement and the ability to lead in a complex, fast-paced environment where partnership working, risk management and high-quality practice are essential. You will be confident in providing both support and challenge, developing managers and practitioners, and creating the conditions for reflective, evidence-informed and child-centred practice. You will also be able to translate strategy into delivery, using data and intelligence to improve services, manage demand and demonstrate impact for children and families.
Your experience will include:
- A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
- Substantial experience in children's services, including leadership of safeguarding, MASH, assessment and Early Help services.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, thresholds, information-sharing and multi-agency decision-making.
- A proven ability to lead service improvement, strengthen practice quality and use performance information to evaluate impact.
- Experience of managing people, budgets and resources effectively within a complex service environment.
- Excellent communication and partnership skills, with the ability to engage confidently with staff, senior leaders, elected members, schools, partners and communities.
- A strong commitment to equality, anti-racist & culturally competent practice, professional curiosity and improving outcomes for children, young people and families.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape Harrow’s early help and safeguarding front door at a pivotal time for Children's Services.
Closing date: 20 September 2026
Interviews: 8 - 9 October 2026
For further information about these roles please contact roisin.madden@harrow.gov.uk
Head Of Service - Mash And Early Help in Harrow employer: London Borough Of Harrow
Harrow Children's Services is an exceptional employer dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families in the community. With a strong focus on collaborative, multi-agency practice, we foster a supportive work culture that values professional development and encourages innovative approaches to safeguarding and early help. Our commitment to equality and culturally competent practice ensures that employees can thrive in a dynamic environment while making a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Service - Mash And Early Help in Harrow
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at London Borough Of Harrow.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from London Borough Of Harrow!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like London Borough Of Harrow, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at London Borough Of Harrow or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Service - Mash And Early Help in Harrow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to London Borough Of Harrow:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to London Borough Of Harrow! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at London Borough Of Harrow
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
