Head of Service - Integrated Children's Pathways & Support

The Methodist Church in Britain; Normanton on Trent; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Life assurance

On-site day nursery

Season ticket loan

Lease car salary sacrifice

Pension scheme

Flexible working

Training in Family Safeguarding Model

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Reading Borough Council seeks an experienced senior leader to provide strategic direction for the Children’s Single Point of Access, Children with Disabilities and Integrated Assessment services. You will lead two Service Managers and their teams, ensuring safeguarding and high-quality decision-making within a collaborative, partnership-driven framework.

The role emphasises performance improvement, cross-agency collaboration, and shaping future priorities within the Children’s Services

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker required
• Registered with Social Work England
• Senior leader with substantial knowledge of children's social care
• Proven track record delivering high-quality services and leading through change

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across the Children's Single Point of Access, Children with Disabilities and Integrated Assessment services
• Lead and support two Service Managers and their teams
• Ensure effective safeguarding arrangements and high-quality decision-making
• Drive performance, quality assurance and service improvement
• Develop and strengthen partnerships across education, health, police, voluntary and community organisations
• Influence strategic planning across the children's partnership landscape
• Promote innovation, learning and continuous improvement
• Keep children, young people and families at the heart of service design and delivery
• Contribute to the Children's Services leadership team, shaping future priorities and direction

Skills

Influencing & relationship building

Emotional intelligence

Strategic thinking

People development

Change leadership

Resilience

Ambition for improvement

Passion for outcomes

Education

Qualified social worker

Job description

This leadership post sits within Reading Borough Council's children's services, at the front door of children's social care. The role covers the Children's Single Point of Access, Children with Disabilities and Integrated Assessment services, with two Service Managers to lead. The work centres on partnership with health, schools, police and voluntary groups, and hybrid working is offered. Applicants must be registered with Social Work England.

What the job involves

• Provide strategic leadership across the Children's Single Point of Access, Children with Disabilities and Integrated Assessment services
• Lead and support two Service Managers and their teams
• Ensure effective safeguarding arrangements and high-quality decision-making
• Drive performance, quality assurance and service improvement
• Develop and strengthen partnerships across education, health, police, voluntary and community organisations
• Influence strategic planning across the children's partnership landscape
• Promote innovation, learning and continuous improvement
• Keep children, young people and families at the heart of service design and delivery
• Contribute to the Children's Services leadership team, shaping future priorities and direction

What’s required

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker

Registration & licences

• Registered with Social Work England

Experience

• Experienced senior leader with substantial knowledge of children's social care
• Track record of delivering excellent services and leading through change

Skills & knowledge

• Skill in influencing, negotiating and building relationships across agencies
• Understanding of the complexity of partnership working
• Emotional intelligence and strategic thinking
• Commitment to developing others and a high-performing culture
• Resilience and ambition in delivering sustainable improvement
• Passion for better outcomes for children, young people and families

What’s offered

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy more
• Local Government Pension Scheme with life assurance of three times annual salary
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Practice development programme and training in the Family Safeguarding Model
• Reflective supervision and wellbeing support
• On-site day nursery rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season ticket loan for rail or bus fares
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme