This is an exceptional opportunity to join Barnet Children's Services at one of the most exciting and significant periods of reform in children's social care. As a member of the Children's Services Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Service will lead Barnet's front door arrangements, adolescent safeguarding response and Youth Justice Service at a time of significant national reform and local transformation.
As Barnet implements the Families First for Children reforms, the service is redesigning how children, young people and families access help, support and protection. At the heart of this transformation is the evolution of the well-established Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) into the new Family Access and Support Service (FAS), creating a more accessible and strengths-based front door for families whilst maintaining a strong safeguarding response. This is far more than a traditional Head of Service role.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing strategic leadership for Family Access and Support (formerly MASH), including the Children's Out of Hours Service
- Overseeing Risk Outside the Home (ROTH), Barnet's developing adolescent safeguarding and exploitation service
- Leading Barnet's Youth Justice Service and Child First approach
- Managing strategic partnerships across safeguarding, community safety, education, health, police and the voluntary sector
- Driving service transformation, workforce development and continuous improvement
Barnet is ambitious for its children, young people and families. The council is investing in reform, innovation and workforce development, creating services that are better connected, more effective and focused on delivering the best possible outcomes. If you are an inspiring leader with the vision, ambition and expertise to help shape the future of Children's Services in Barnet, they would love to hear from you. Join them and help create safer childhoods, stronger families and better futures for Barnet's children and young people.
About you
Barnet is looking for a confident and values-led leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people. The successful candidate will be a qualified Social Worker with substantial leadership experience within Children's Social Care and a proven track record of delivering excellent services within complex multi-agency environments.
The ideal candidate will:
- Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
- Have significant experience of leading safeguarding, assessment, Family Help and/or front door services
- Have experience of working strategically across Youth Justice, adolescent safeguarding or wider partnership arrangements
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of child protection, contextual safeguarding, exploitation and serious youth violence
- Have experience of managing large-scale change and service transformation
- Possess strong partnership and influencing skills
- Have experience of leading high-performing teams and developing future leaders
- Show a commitment to relationship-based, strengths-led and child-centred practice
- Be able to balance strategic vision with operational delivery
Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and stringent safer recruitment procedures, which may include AI detection screening, biometric ID/right to work checks, qualification and registration checks, up to six years of employment history screening, credit checks, and occupational health screening.
Barnet Council values diversity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. The council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process for disabled applicants and those with health conditions.
About Barnet
Barnet - in the north-west of London - is the second largest borough by population and home to over 389,000 people.
With 30 flourishing town centres and over 200 family-friendly parks, nature reserves and greenspaces, Barnet is a brilliant place to live, study, work, and raise a family.
If you think working in Barnet might be for you, then we would love to hear from you. You can arrange to come for a pre-interview visit or call us for an informal chat. You can also find out more about working in Barnet by watching the video below.
Discover the benefits of a social work career, then browse London's social work jobs!
We provide members of our children’s services workforce with:
- Free Parking
- Competitive renumeration packages (including Barnet Flex – talk to us about this)
- Access to Pool Cars/Parking Permits
- 30 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
- Work-life balance options may include flexi-time, job-share, homeworking, part-time
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Interest-free season travel ticket loan
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Relocation package of up to £8,000
- Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
- Childcare voucher scheme, salary sacrifice scheme
- Occupational Health advice/Health and Wellbeing Programme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Modern purpose built offices based in the heart of our Community at Colindale, 5 minutes walk from the underground station.
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Head of Service - Multiple Teams employer: London Social Work for Children
Haringey Council is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions diversity and community engagement. With a strong commitment to professional development through the Haringey Academy and access to clinical support, social workers are empowered to make meaningful impacts in the lives of children and families. Located in the dynamic borough of Haringey, employees benefit from a supportive environment, competitive remuneration, and the opportunity to be part of a transformative journey towards excellence in children's services.
Contact Details:
London Social Work for Children Recruitment Team
