Head of safeguarding and quality assurance – Adults (Full Time)

Knowsley Council is an award‑winning Local Authority, named Local Authority of the Year in the Municipal Journal Awards 2024. We are an Accredited employer under the Liverpool City Region Fair Employment Charter, demonstrating that we are committed to the principle of fair employment and we are dedicated to providing a healthy, fair, inclusive and just workplace. Our local authority is in a strong financial position, with a balanced budget that ensures stability and growth. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a Senior Leadership Team committed to making a positive impact in our community.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Knowsley Council’s Adult Social Care Service as ‘Good’ in how we are meeting our responsibilities under the Care Act (2014).

Knowsley Council are seeking an experienced Head of Service, Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, to join our Adult Social Care Service. As Head of Service, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of adults who access support from our services. With responsibility for the strategic leadership and direction of adult safeguarding, quality and practice across all service areas within adult social care, you will play a critical role in delivering our transformation plan, driving forward service improvement, learning and innovation, helping to ensure high‑quality outcomes are achieved for adults in Knowsley.

Reporting to the Director of Adult Social Care and Commissioning, you will act as the strategic lead for Care Quality Commission (CQC) assurance and inspection readiness. Working as part of a supportive and collaborative senior management team within Adult Social Care Services, you will also fulfil the role of Principal Social Worker.

As our Head of Service and Principal Social Worker (PSW) you will be a visible and enthusiastic leader, with an ability to act as a bridge between frontline practice and our departmental senior management team, ensuring strategic decisions are informed by operational and practice realities. You should have significant experience of operating at a senior management level in Adult Social Care, advanced theoretical and practical knowledge across the relevant legislative and statutory frameworks that underpin social work practice, as well as substantial experience of successfully implementing strategies to improve services.

If you enjoy working with passionate staff who truly care about what they do and a senior leadership team who work together to achieve a shared vision, you may be the perfect candidate for this role.

At Knowsley Council we will consider requests for flexible working. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, hybrid working, compressed hours, part‑time. We welcome applications from residents and beyond, regardless of background, belief, or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their underrepresentation in our workforce.

At Knowsley we value our applicants and want them to feel well‑informed and welcomed. If you have any questions about this specific job role or what it is like to work at Knowsley, please contact: Paul Dalby – Director of Adult Social Care and Whole Life Commissioning – paul.dalby@knowsley.gov.uk.