Assistant Director - Living and Ageing Well (reference: SCC/TP/287909/3224)

Surrey County Council; Reigate; On-site; GBP 87,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council is seeking a visionary Assistant Director to lead the Living and Ageing Well initiative. This pivotal role focuses on improving adult social care services through innovative practices and strategic leadership, impacting the lives of residents across Surrey. With a commitment to inclusive service delivery, this position offers the opportunity to shape the future of local adult care services in an ambitious and supportive environment.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, rising to 31 days

Generous local government salary related pension

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Lifestyle discounts including gym and shopping

Paid volunteering days

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven and inspirational leader across health landscapes.
• Substantial senior management experience in social care.
• Deep knowledge of social care legislation and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for adult social care services.
• Drive service transformation and integration.
• Build partnerships with health, community, and government stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Collaboration

Continuous Improvement

Political Acumen

Education

Professional qualification in social care or related health field

Job description

Assistant Director - Living and Ageing Well

Details

• Reference: SCC/TP/287909/3224
• Positions: 1
• Category: Executive Senior Management
• Contract type: Permanent
• Working hours: 36 hours per week
• Posted on: 27 May 2025
• Closing date: 15 June 2025
• Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, RH2 8EF

Description

The salary for this role is £87,561 - £98,431 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

Are you a visionary leader passionate about transforming adult social care and improving lives?

We are seeking an exceptional individual to join our Adults, Wellbeing & Health Partnerships directorate in the position of Assistant Director – Living & Ageing Well.

About Us

The Adults, Wellbeing & Health Partnerships directorate is on a significant and ambitious transformation programme, with a focus on driving collaboration between the Council and Health in order to deliver our joint accountabilities to improve care and wellbeing outcomes to Surrey's adult population. A key focus is on independence, prevention and early intervention strategies, tackling inequalities and improving access to services to ensure that no-one is left behind.

You'll be part of a forward-thinking leadership team, shaping the future of services for our residents. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to make a real difference.

About the Role

This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering high-quality adult social care services across a designated area of Surrey. You will lead locality and hospital-based teams, ensuring services are person-centred, outcome-focused, and promote independence and wellbeing.

You will drive strategic transformation, champion innovation, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. With a strong focus on prevention, early intervention, and tackling inequalities, you will work collaboratively across the health and social care system to deliver integrated, impactful services.

Some of the key responsibilities for this role include:

• Providing strategic leadership for operational adult social care services, including safeguarding, assessments, and continuing health care.
• Leading and inspiring high-performing teams, embedding a culture of excellence and accountability.
• Representing the directorate at local, regional, and national forums, influencing policy and championing Surrey's vision.
• Driving service transformation and integration, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Managing significant budgets and contributing to the directorate's financial strategy.
• Building strong partnerships with health, community, and government stakeholders to enhance service delivery.

The contractual base for this role is the Council's headquarters at Woodhatch Place in Reigate, however travel around the County for meetings and visiting teams is required. Agile working is supported, meaning you can work however, whenever, and wherever suits you best around requirements to physically attend a Surrey location.

About You

We are looking for a proven and inspirational leader with the ability to work across geographies and health landscapes in conjunction with our partner Health organisations. You will be able to drive continuous improvement initiatives and promote a culture of ambition, performance excellence and accountability, aligned to public values and The Surrey Way.

Your application will clearly evidence that you have:

• A professional qualification in social care, occupational therapy, or a related health field.
• Substantial senior management experience in a complex social care environment.
• Deep knowledge of adult social care legislation, policy, and best practice.
• A proven track record of leading transformation and delivering improved outcomes.
• Political acumen and the ability to influence at all levels.
• A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusive service delivery.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to role requirements, flexible working requests, transferable skills, or barriers to employment.

• The job advert closes at 23:59 on 15/06/2025.
• Shortlisting is planned for the week commencing 16/06/2025.
• Interviews are planned for the week commencing 23/06/2025.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values .

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.