Head of Service - Permanence

Connect2Dorset; Dorchester; Hybrid; GBP 96,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£600 per day

Hybrid working arrangement

Immediate start available

Job summary

Connect2Dorset is recruiting for an accomplished Head of Permanence to lead Dorset’s Permanence Service, directing practice across Children in Care and permanence planning to secure lasting outcomes for children and young people.

You will manage the Service Manager and three Permanence Teams, collaborate with multi-agency partners, and drive delivery against statutory requirements, budgets, and performance indicators. Hybrid working arrangement with immediate start available.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience within Children's Services.
• Proven experience leading Children in Care and Permanence Services.
• Strong understanding of the Children Act 1989 and relevant statutory frameworks.
• Experience managing complex safeguarding and permanence arrangements.
• A track record of delivering service improvement and positive outcomes.
• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and managing budgets.
• The ability to influence at senior strategic level across organisations.
• Social Work qualification and registration (where applicable).

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership – Lead the development and delivery of Dorset's Permanence Strategy, drive permanence planning innovation and policy.
• Operational Leadership – Manage Permanence Services and oversee high-risk cases within statutory requirements and budgets.
• Partnership Working – Collaborate with health, safeguarding partnerships, schools, and other local partners.
• Leadership & Management – Build high-performing culture, workforce development, and governance across teams.
• Delivery & Outcomes – Monitor service performance and implement improvements to deliver positive outcomes for children in care.

Skills

Leadership

Children's Services

Permanence Services

Children Act 1989

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Multidisciplinary teams

Senior-level influence

Social Work qualification

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Connect2Dorset is the ethical recruitment partner to Dorset Council, providing temporary, contract, and interim opportunities across the organisation. Built on values of being ethical, trustworthy, and caring, our profits are reinvested into our Local Authority shareholders, helping to support local communities and public services.

The Opportunity

As Head of Permanence, you will provide leadership across a range of statutory children's social care services, ensuring high-quality practice and positive outcomes for children and young people.

You will oversee Dorset's Permanence Service, including direct line management of the Service Manager and three Permanence Teams, while influencing practice across wider Children in Care services.

Working alongside senior leaders and multi-agency partners, you will play a key role in ensuring every child experiences effective care planning, permanence planning, and enduring relationships that support them throughout their lives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development and delivery of Dorset's Permanence Strategy.
• Drive innovation in permanence planning, reunification, lifelong links, life story work, and preparation for adulthood.
• Contribute to corporate and departmental strategy, policy development, and service transformation.
• Lead service improvement programmes and ensure delivery against key performance indicators.
• Provide expert professional advice on statutory social work practice and legislation.

Operational Leadership

• Lead and manage Permanence Services and associated operational teams.
• Provide clear oversight and governance for complex and high-risk cases.
• Ensure services operate in accordance with statutory requirements, regulations, and best practice.
• Monitor and improve service performance, quality assurance, and outcomes.
• Deliver effective services within agreed budgets and resources.

Partnership Working

• Work collaboratively with: Children’s Health Teams, Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs), Virtual School Teams, Fostering Services, Residential Services, Safeguarding Partnerships, Local Authority and Community Partners.
• Represent Dorset at strategic meetings, partnerships, and safeguarding forums.
• Promote early help and prevention approaches across the children's system.

Leadership & Management

• Provide direct line management to operational managers and senior leaders.
• Develop a positive, high-performing culture that promotes continuous improvement.
• Support workforce development, supervision, and best practice.
• Lead budget management and resource planning within allocated services.
• Deputise for Directors and Assistant Directors when required.

About You

We are looking for an accomplished senior leader with significant experience within Children's Social Care and statutory services.

You will have:

• Extensive leadership experience within Children's Services
• Proven experience leading Children in Care and Permanence Services
• Strong understanding of the Children Act 1989 and relevant statutory frameworks
• Experience managing complex safeguarding and permanence arrangements
• A track record of delivering service improvement and positive outcomes
• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder management skills
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and managing budgets
• The ability to influence at senior strategic level across organisations
• Social Work qualification and registration (where applicable)

Why Join Dorset?

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people while working within an ambitious and innovative local authority.

What’s on Offer

• £600 per day
• Immediate start available
• Hybrid working arrangement
• High-impact strategic leadership role
• Opportunity to influence system-wide change
• Collaborative and supportive senior leadership environment
• Chance to shape best practice for children in care and care-experienced young people

Connect2Dorset is a trading style of Dorset & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Dorset Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Dorset is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates