Location: Walsall, West Midlands Pay: £475–£550 per day (subject to confirmation) Contract: Interim – 4 months, with potential to extend Start Date: 12 October 2026 Hours: 37.5 hours per week IR35 Status: Inside IR35
### About the Role
Lynx Employment Services is recruiting an experienced Interim Head of Service – Children in Our Care, Care Leavers and Disabled Children & Young People's Services for a senior leadership opportunity within a local authority in the West Midlands.
This is a high-profile interim appointment, providing leadership, stability and strategic direction across key children's social care services while permanent recruitment is undertaken.
The successful candidate will be an experienced, values-led senior leader with a strong track record in children's social care, safeguarding, corporate parenting and service improvement.
### Key Responsibilities
Provide strategic and operational leadership across Children in Care, Leaving Care, Corporate Parenting and Disabled Children's Services.
Maintain high standards of safeguarding, permanence planning and outcomes for children and young people.
Lead and support service improvement and transformation initiatives.
Contribute to the Families First and reunification agendas.
Strengthen partnerships with health services, education providers and other agencies.
Address complex challenges relating to placement sufficiency, SEND provision and funding.
Maintain service performance, quality assurance and effective governance.
Provide confident leadership and direction to managers and multidisciplinary teams.
Support the continued delivery of high-quality, child-centred services.
### Essential Requirements
Significant senior management experience within local authority children's social care. Proven leadership experience across Children in Care, Care Leavers and safeguarding services. Strong understanding of permanence, corporate parenting and statutory responsibilities. Experience of leading service improvement and managing complex operational challenges. Excellent partnership-working skills, particularly with health and education services. Ability to manage competing priorities, budgets and service pressures. Strong leadership,...
Interim Head of Service – Children's Services in Walsall employer: Lynx Employment Services
As a leading employer in the compliance sector, we offer a dynamic work culture that prioritises flexibility and employee well-being, allowing you to thrive in a predominantly remote role while still enjoying the benefits of occasional collaboration in our Shrewsbury office. Our commitment to professional development ensures that you have ample opportunities for growth and advancement, making this an ideal environment for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
