Head of Children\'s Quality Assurance, Performance and Youth Justice in Milton Keynes

We are recruiting a Head of Children's Quality Assurance, Performance and Youth Justice to join Milton Keynes City Council and play a leading role in keeping children and young people safe and helping them thrive. Our Children's Services oversee and deliver all services for children and young people who are vulnerable, considered at risk of harm or who have experienced harm. Around 80 percent of the work we deliver is statutory, with the remaining 20 percent focused on early help support such as family centres. This balance means you'll work at both strategic and operational levels, ensuring strong safeguarding while supporting families earlier to prevent harm.

Site-based role – you will work from the council's designated workplace. Interviews for this role will be held on 11 May.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for safeguarding, quality assurance, performance and youth justice services.
• Ensure strong multi-agency working and high-quality practice across Children's Services and partner organisations.
• Lead on inspection readiness and improvement activity, including Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation.
• Oversee performance and data analysis, ensuring insight is used to drive service improvement and better outcomes for children and young people.
• Provide strategic leadership for Youth Justice Services, including delivery of the statutory Youth Justice Plan and partnership governance.
• Manage significant budgets and lead multidisciplinary teams, creating a supportive culture where colleagues can do their best work.

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualified social worker registered with Social Work England, with substantial experience in safeguarding and statutory children's services.
• Strong leadership experience with the confidence to make complex decisions and support colleagues in challenging environments.
• Deep understanding of quality assurance, performance management and inspection frameworks within Children's Services.
• Experience of working effectively with partners across health, education, police, probation and the voluntary sector.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior level and represent the council in external forums.
• Values-led approach that reflects our commitment to being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

Additional Requirements

• You will need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If offered the role, you must provide evidence of your licence and appropriate vehicle insurance, including business use coverage.
• We will conduct an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the pre-employment process.

Benefits

• Great holiday benefits – most roles include 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years.
• A holiday purchase scheme allows staff to buy up to five additional days each year.
• Excellent pension – all employees are eligible for the National Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme and discounts on entertainment, travel and high-street items.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low-emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card – social care staff can qualify for discounts from national retailers and local businesses.