Head of Service - Children's Social Care

Location: Solihull, UKSalary: 85,084 - 89,847 per yearEmployment: Full timeCategory: Social CarePosted: 2026-09-08Apply: https://solihull.wm-jobs.co.uk/members/?j=2452&jobboard=jobsgopublicEmployer: Solihull Metropolitan Borough CouncilJob IntroductionHead Of Service – Children's Social CareBand J - 85,084 up to 89,847per annum. Incremental progression is dependent on performance.Are you passionate about delivering excellent services to Children and Young People and want to be part of an organisation that is committed to continuous improvement to the way it supports children and families? This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council as we embrace Children’s Social Care and SEND reforms through innovation and positive change. We are currently recruiting for two Head of Service positions with Children's Social Care:Head of Service – Early Help, Prevention & Stable Loving HomesHead of Service – Children's Transformation and StrategyWe are committed to being ambitious in the way that we will work with children, young people, their families and carers in a restorative way. We are focussing on protecting children and young people and keeping them safe, whilst developing our early help and preventative services to ensure that we provide children and families with the support they need at the right time. We are transforming our service delivery, and we have committed a considerable investment in expanding our permanent and skilled workforce. Head of Service – Early Help, Prevention & Stable Loving HomesAs Head of Service for Early Help, Prevention and Stable Loving Homes, you will have a proven track record or transferable experience of leading and delivering high-quality children’s services across Early Help, Family Hubs, Best Start in Life, Youth Justice, Residential Services and services supporting permanence, stability and family networks. We are looking for an inspirational, inclusive and engaging leader who can provide strategic and operational leadership across prevention, early intervention and support for vulnerable young people, including exploitation, missing and contextual safeguarding, while strengthening partnership working and embedding practice standards that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.Head of Service – Children's Transformation and StrategyAs Head of Service for Children’s Transformation and Strategy, you will have a significant track record of leading strategic improvement, transformation and change within a complex organisation. We are looking for an inclusive and engaging leader who can maintain a clear strategic overview across Children’s Services, strengthen governance, assurance and reporting arrangements, lead inspection readiness and improvement activity, and identify opportunities to innovate, transform and improve services in line with Directorate and Council priorities.We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including up to 30 days annual leave, flexible working, high street discount offers, up to 6k relocation allowance, and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme – click to find out more:Working for Children and Families in Solihull | social work roles | Solihull, UKBoth roles require visible, collaborative and inclusive leadership across Children’s Services, working closely with colleagues, partners and communities to build strong relationships, strengthen governance, drive improvement and deliver high-quality services for children, young people and families. Being office based is vital in establishing these relationships and providing the leadership presence needed to support effective partnership working, service transformation and delivery. This is complemented by our hybrid working model, which enables our workforce to work flexibly in line with service needs while continuing to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people.About youYou will be a dynamic, forward-thinking strategic senior manager, with a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Children’s Services and extensive experience of leading in a fast-paced, complex environment. This may include experience across Early Help, Youth Justice, Residential Services and Family Hubs, or across transformation, innovation, governance, assurance, development and improvement. You will have experience in the development and delivery of services and be confident in demonstrating strong leadership and management skills, driving forward excellent practice, continuous improvement and positive change.You will need to be a strong inclusive leader, who is able to influence, build and maintain strong internal and external relationships to ensure consistency, effective communication and working together.You’ll be incredibly passionate about the challenges and ambitions in consistently safeguarding children and young people in Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.If you have what it takes to deliver a demanding, change-driven, high-profile role where you have the scope to help shape the future for children and young people, we’d love to hear from you.For further information please contact: Lauren Kocan – lauren.kocan@solihull.gov.ukClosing Date – 20 September 2026Interviews will be held on 1st or 2nd October 2026.Candidates will be required to complete online Psychometric assessments prior to the interview as part of the recruitment process. This post will require an enhanced DBS check. Please note: As part of our compliance and safer recruitment requirements, references will be sought for all successful candidates following interview. A reference must be provided by the candidate’s current or most recent employer or training provider. Where this does not cover the last three years, an additional reference will be required from the candidate’s next most recent employer or training provider. Posts subject to statutory regulation may require additional scrutiny. Personal/character references will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.This is an essential car user post as the demands of the job make it operationally essential and there is a contractual requirement to make a suitable vehicle available to ensure the requirements of the job can be carried out effectively. Applicants must be able to drive, have a driving licence and be a car owner, however for disabled applicants, reasonable adjustments will be made where required. This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers. Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and a commitment to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.