Director - Children's Social Care

Enfield Council; Enfield; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Enfield is seeking a Director for Children’s Social Care to lead transformative service improvements and ensure safeguarding excellence. The role involves managing operational delivery, compliance, and collaboration with stakeholders. Candidates should possess effective senior leadership experience in children's services and a commitment to diversity. The council offers an excellent salary, career development opportunities, and a blend of remote and office work.

Benefits

Excellent pension through LGPS

Up to 32 days annual leave

Career development and training opportunities

Health and leisure discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in children's social care is essential.
• Knowledge of statutory responsibilities and regulatory frameworks required.
• Ability to drive service transformation and improvement is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of children's social care services.
• Drive transformation aligned with government reforms.
• Champion safeguarding and quality assurance.

Skills

Effective senior leadership experience in children’s social care

Comprehensive understanding of statutory responsibilities

Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Strategic thinking

Excellent partnership and stakeholder engagement skills

Job description

Director – Children’s Social Care

Location: Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 4th January 2026
Reference: PEO-002372

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for improving outcomes for children and families? Enfield Council is seeking an exceptional individual to lead our Children’s Social Care services, driving transformation, safeguarding excellence, and delivering high-quality support across the borough. Enfield is a diverse and vibrant borough with a strong commitment to supporting its children and families. We offer a collaborative working environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to make a real impact.

About the Role

As Director – Children’s Social Care, you will lead the strategic and operational delivery of all children’s social care services. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of children’s services in Enfield, ensuring statutory compliance, continuous improvement, and alignment with national reforms.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and manage all aspects of children’s social care, ensuring safe, effective, and value-for-money services.
• Drive transformation aligned with government reforms and local priorities.
• Champion safeguarding and quality assurance, embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with elected members, partners, and stakeholders to deliver integrated, outcome-focused services.
• Represent Enfield Council at regional and national forums, promoting the borough’s interests.

What We’re Looking For

• Effective senior leadership experience in children’s social care.
• Comprehensive understanding of statutory responsibilities and regulatory frameworks.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Strategic thinker with a track record of delivering service transformation and improvement.
• Excellent partnership and stakeholder engagement skills.

Key Dates

Technical Assessment Date: 15th January 2026

Interview Date: 4th February 2026

For more information please contact Carol Watson at [e-mail]. If you have any difficulties accessing this information, please contact Debola Olufon, Senior Recruitment Advisor at [e-mail]

Enfield’s Social Care Centre of Excellence confirms our commitment to creating and maintaining an environment for new and existing staff to be the best and deliver high quality social work to our most vulnerable children and young people. It brings our recruitment, professional development and support into the one portal for social care staff to see what we have to offer and how we are supporting them to continue to learn and develop on a professional basis. For more information please visit https://new.enfield.gov.uk/centreofexcellence/about-us/

“This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment”.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications have been received. Therefore, we advise that you complete fully and submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We do not see your name or title when shortlisting your application. This is one of many initiatives to build a more talented and diverse workforce. However, if you put your name on your CV or Statement it will be visible to us. For this reason, we ask that you do not include your name on these documents. Please note it is your responses to the Essential/Desirable criteria, as detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification which is available on the job advert, that will determine if you are shortlisted for an interview, therefore we encourage you to always address the essential and desirable criteria in your application/CV.

Why it's great to work for Enfield Council:

• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Up to 32 days annual leave depending on grade and length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year and an extra day off at Christmas.
• A blend of remote and office based working for most roles.
• Interest free season ticket loan repayable over three or ten months.
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
• Employee Assistance Programme to provide advice and counselling services. This is a free and confidential service available to staff and members of their family.
• Health and leisure discounts and tax-free bikes for work.
• 1 month's paid sabbatical for registered Social Workers working in Children's Social Care.

We are passionate about our people and how we deliver services to our community in Enfield. That’s why we encourage a culture that puts our customers at the heart of everything we do - by empowering our people to work together to find solutions, be open, honest and respectful, take responsibility and listen and learn. If you value these behaviours too, we’d love to hear from you - and of course we are always happy to talk flexible working, click here to find out more.