Head of Service - CIC

Salary: Up to £85,000 per annumContract: Initial locum with potential for permanent appointmentLocation: Halton Borough Council

Halton Borough Council is looking for a passionate and experienced leader to drive excellence in services for Children in Care and Care Leavers. This is a key senior role, responsible for ensuring high-quality support, safeguarding, and improved outcomes for children and young people.

• Children in Care & Care Leavers: Oversee care planning, permanency arrangements, and transitions into adulthood, ensuring children and young people receive the support they need.

• Fostering & Adoption: Lead recruitment, assessment, and support of foster carers and adopters, ensuring compliance with regulations and best practice.

• Residential Services: Manage the council's residential children's home, ensuring high standards of care and regulatory compliance.

• Performance & Quality Assurance: Develop and implement service improvement plans in line with Ofsted requirements, using data and audits to drive continuous improvement.

• Leadership & Workforce Development: Provide strong and visible leadership, supporting and developing teams to maintain high professional standards and effective service delivery.

• Budget & Resource Management: Ensure effective financial oversight and efficient use of resources, securing external funding where possible.

• Qualified social worker with Social Work England registration and significant management experience in children's services.

• Proven leadership in local authority or similar settings, with a strong understanding of statutory responsibilities and best practice in child protection, fostering, adoption, and care leaver support.

• Skilled in strategic planning, performance management, and quality assurance.

• Strong partnership working experience, including collaboration with agencies, courts, and safeguarding boards.

• Financial management experience, ensuring cost-effective service delivery.

• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to influence and inspire teams.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a service that makes a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people.

Apply now to be part of a dedicated team committed to achieving the best outcomes for children in Halton.

Connect2Haltonis a trading style of Halton & Kent Commercial Services LLP- A joint venture between Halton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Halton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.