Head Of Service - Safeguarding

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 83,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking an experienced leader to guide safeguarding teams and enhance outcomes for children. This role involves oversight of service improvement plans and management of service leads. Candidates should have a relevant social work qualification, significant senior management experience, and a strong track record in strategic planning and financial governance. A generous benefits package is included.

Benefits

Salary of £82,587

Relocation support up to £8,000

27 days annual leave increasing to 32

Generous Pension Scheme

Paid SWE Registration

Qualifications

• Must have current Social Work England registration.
• Experience in leading children's social care services.
• Track record in corporate performance and governance.

Responsibilities

• Manage safeguarding service improvement plans.
• Enhance performance management for vulnerable children.
• Supervise and support service leads and their teams.

Skills

Senior management experience

Building relationships

Strategic planning

Financial management

Education

Relevant social work qualification

Job description

Overview

Would you like to join a transformational council that is invested in systemic practice with a permanent, dedicated senior leadership team?

Are you passionate about driving improvement in outcomes for children, young people and their families?

We are looking for an innovative and ambitious individual who places children and young people at the centre of everything they do. This aspirational experienced leader will lead our safeguarding teams, including our children and families’ teams, disabled children’s team, harm outside the home, and adolescent team.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the strategic management and oversight of the safeguarding service improvement plan, as well as key decision-making forums such as legal gateway panel. You will need to enhance performance management and systematic oversight of our most vulnerable children to ensure their planning is timely and appropriate in line with their needs. You will manage service leads and provide high quality supervision, guidance and support to them and their teams.

You will be aspirational for children, families and workforce and be able to prioritise your work to meet competing deadlines. You will have experience in developing and shaping services to improve the outcomes for our children and families, supporting our teams through periods of change.

Our Children’s Services is focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for our children and young people. We are creating an empowering environment where social work practice can thrive, where social workers are encouraged to be innovative and creative to ensure the services we offer to children and families help improve their lives.

Location

You will be working from our new state-of-the-art council office on the riverside in Stockton, with free parking, a great riverside café, and large modern office spaces.

Qualifications and Experience

• Have a relevant social work qualification and current Social Work England registration
• Substantial, recent senior management experience in leading children’s social care services
• Successful track record of strategic planning, corporate performance and governance, and strong financial management
• Ability to build excellent relationships with staff, colleagues, partners and corporate leaders

Benefits

Stockton-on-Tees provides a very attractive employment offer and excellent benefits. Alongside regular supervision, access to training and shared learning, mental health and well-being support, we offer a wider range of benefits including:

• Salary of £82,587
• Relocation support of up to £8,000 to assist with your move to Stockton
• 27 days annual leave per year rising to 32 with 5 years service. Ability to purchase additional leave is also available
• Generous Pension Scheme through the LGPS with ability to pay extra and plan for retirement
• Your SWE Registration paid for
• Access to a number of employee benefits including salary sacrifice Car Lease Scheme, discounts at high street and online retailers, employee assistance programme, physiotherapy and more

How to apply

For more information about working for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, please visit the Careers section on our website: Stockton.gov.uk/careers

If you would like an informal discussion about the roles before you apply, please contact Louise Hollick on 01642 528490 or [e-mail]

Interview and guidance

We anticipate that we will interview on 30th October 2025.

Guidance for applicants: You must ensure that anything submitted in your application is factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. While we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications, submissions must be truthful and relevant to your own experience.

Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address you have registered with North East Jobs, including your invite to interview if you are short-listed. Please check your email after the closing date for notification from [e-mail]. All communication will also appear in the My Messages section of your North East Jobs account.