At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve services for children in care and care experienced young people.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on making a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development opportunities, and a chance to impact the community.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and strong relationships.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping the future of vulnerable children and young people.
- Qualifications: Social work qualification and significant experience in children's social care leadership.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
The Head of Service – Corporate Parenting provides strategic and operational leadership for services supporting children in care, care experienced young people, fostering, kinship care and permanence.
The role ensures children receive high-quality care, stable placements, strong relationships and effective support to thrive throughout childhood and into adulthood.
As a senior leader, the postholder will provide strategic direction and operational oversight to deliver excellent care planning, timely permanence, high-quality placements and successful preparation for adulthood.
They will promote relationship-based practice, high professional standards and continuous improvement through visible, restorative leadership.
Working closely with senior leaders, practitioners, elected members, carers and partner agencies, the postholder will strengthen corporate parenting arrangements and drive improved outcomes by using performance data, quality assurance, audit findings and feedback from children, young people and carers to inform service improvement.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for Corporate Parenting services, ensuring high-quality support for children in care, care experienced young people, families and carers.
- Lead service improvement across children in care, fostering, kinship care and permanence, delivering measurable improvements in practice, performance and outcomes.
- Ensure effective oversight of permanence, care planning, placement stability, pathway planning and transitions to adulthood.
- Promote a strong corporate parenting culture across the Council and ensure statutory responsibilities are met.
- Use performance data, audit, inspection findings and feedback from children, young people and carers to drive continuous improvement.
- Champion restorative, strengths-based and relationship-based practice.
- Lead workforce development to support confident, child-centred and evidence-informed practice.
- Ensure children’s voices and lived experience inform service development, decision making and quality assurance.
- Work closely with education, health, housing and other partners to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities.
- Contribute to the wider strategic leadership of Children’s Services, fulfil the role of Agency Decision Maker and lead significant resource management.
Requirements
- Recognised social work qualification.
- Current Social Work England registration.
- Evidence of significant post-qualifying professional development relevant to statutory child and family social work, safeguarding leadership and service development.
- Management or leadership qualification, or equivalent senior leadership experience
- Significant senior management experience within statutory children’s social care.
- Strong knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance and policy relating to children we care for, care experineced young people, fostering and kinship care.
- Experience of leading corporate parenting services and managing complex risk, performance, quality and workforce pressures.
Head of Service - Corporate Parenting in Salisbury employer: Solantys
Surrey County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a flexible hybrid working environment that promotes work-life balance while providing meaningful legal work in the public sector. Employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth, mentorship, and the chance to make a significant impact within the community through their legal expertise. With a supportive culture and commitment to employee development, this role as an Employment Lawyer is not just a job, but a rewarding career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service - Corporate Parenting in Salisbury
✨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 Solantys.
✨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 Solantys!
✨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 Solantys, 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 Solantys 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 - Corporate Parenting in Salisbury
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 Solantys:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Solantys! 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 Solantys
✨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.
