Assistant Director - Countywide Services

Oxfordshire County Council; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation up to £8,000

30 days annual leave + bank holidays

Flexible working

Employer pension contribution (up to

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Oxfordshire County Council’s children’s services is seeking a senior leader to drive the delivery of strategic and operational priorities across in‑house foster homes, children’s homes and supported accommodation.

You will translate strategy into high‑quality service delivery, be accountable for safeguarding, performance and change, and require a recognised social work qualification and registration with Social Work England, plus a full driving licence.

Qualifications

• Leadership and strategic oversight experience.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to drive continuous improvement and change.

Responsibilities

• Lead a service function delivering strategic and operational priorities.
• Ensure high‑quality care in in‑house foster homes, children’s homes and supported accommodation.
• Drive performance and safeguarding while contributing to business planning and improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Education

Social work qualification

Job description

Help Shape the Future for Oxfordshire’s Children

About Us

Oxfordshire children’s services is a family safeguarding authority dedicated to strength-based working with our children and their families, underpinned by motivational interviewing, trauma informed and restorative practice.

Oxfordshire is a diverse county encompassing both market towns and rural landscapes, and it offers a wealth of historical sites, vibrant cultural events, and prestigious academic institutions. You will be working in an organisation that is free thinking, supportive, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. We are not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced and innovation thrives.

About the Role

In this role you will lead a service function, ensuring your teams deliver the strategic and operational priorities of the service and play a key role in business planning and continuous and innovative improvements. You will have direct accountability for ensuring our children are offered good quality care in our in house foster homes, children’s homes and supported accommodation. You will be responsible on a regional basis for the RAA which is due an inspection on Adoption support.

You will be accountable for delivery, effectiveness, corporate support and community outcomes, the role is critical to the achievement of change and performance. The focus is on driving performance by translating strategy into successful service delivery that delivers excellence for the residents of Oxfordshire and forthcoming LGR.

You will be responsible for driving OCC’s Delivering the Future Together (DTFT) values, being a role model within and throughout the organisation as organisational leaders, to deliver excellent services to Oxfordshire’s residents. Delivering the Future Together, is our ambitious transformation programme enabling the organisation, to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. Lead on OCC’s value of ‘daring to do it differently’, as the organisation continues to strive to do better.

You’ll need a full driving licence and the flexibility to work countywide.

The post requires a recognised social work qualification and registration with Social Work England.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Delia Mann, Deputy Director for Children’s Social Care and Early Help: [e-mail]

Interviews will be held on 9th of September 2026 and this will include a 10 minute presentation. The topic of the presentation will be sent to shortlisted candidates prior to the interview.

Rewards and Benefits

• Relocation expenses of up to £8,000
• A good to outstanding OFSTED rating
• Regular training opportunities
• A flexible, agile organisation
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• 24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.
• Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes

• As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding

• Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working

• We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.