Head of Service, Social Care & Public Guardian

ST HELENA GOVERNMENT; London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The St Helena Government seeks a Senior Manager for Children and Adults Social Care to lead services, manage budgets, and enhance community outcomes. This position offers a unique chance to contribute to Social Care integration on St Helena Island, requiring a UK Qualified Social Work qualification and experience in policy development and change management. Excellent benefits include relocation allowances and an annual pension contribution.

Benefits

International Supplement

Relocation Allowances

Annual Pension Contribution of 7.5% of salary

Annual Leave of 30 days plus Public Holidays

Qualifications

• Experience in leading statutory social care services.
• Current registration required for UK Social Work qualification.
• Experience in writing and implementing policy and strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational delivery of Social Care services.
• Manage the Social Care budget and resources.
• Support Health and Social Care integration.

Skills

Leadership

Budget Management

Change Implementation

Policy Development

Analytical Thinking

Education

UK Qualified Social Work qualification

BA Honours/Masters or DipSW

Job description

Location:St Helena Island, South Atlantic

Contract:2 years FTC available immediately

Salary:£65k pa, depending on experience and qualifications, plus International Supplement

Enjoying unique lifestyle opportunities, St Helena Island is a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Although better placed to develop economically and socially as a result of opening our international airport in 2017, we are not at the stage of self-sufficiency and therefore remain dependent on UK government aid.

Leading the operational delivery of Children and Adults Social Care (which includes the Probation Service), you will help define the service strategy to improve care and wellbeing outcomes, maintaining the focus on improvement and prevention and early intervention strategies.

You must support Health and Social Care integration, providing the expertise to maintain integration between all functions and services. Responsible for the Social Care budget and resources, you will make sure QA systems are in place, reviewed and developed and that training programmes are delivered. Helping to develop and deliver the Public Service’s strategic agenda, you will build and nurture strong relationships with UK Government departments and agencies and with professional bodies.

A successful senior level manager in Social Care, developing and leading high performing teams, you are a strong leader, inspiring others to deliver transformational projects and impactful results. Holding a UK Qualified Social Work qualification, BA Honours/Masters or DipSW (current registration required).

You have a background of leading statutory social care services and developing them in line with regulatory standards and evidence of improvement under your leadership. You have experience in writing and implementing policy and strategy and in analysing and interpreting information to develop solutions or solve problems. Adept in planning and implementing change, you have managed and controlled budgets, resources and funding.

In addition, you must demonstrate our core values of fairness, integrity and teamwork and use your diverse expertise and experiences to ensure your time on the Island has the broadest benefit to St Helena. As an officer funded through the Technical Co-Operation Programme you will be expected to share your knowledge and skills beyond the workplace contributing to workforce, community and capacity development in St Helena.

Our Benefits Package Includes:

• An International Supplement, full details of which are in the Overseas Vacancy Information at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh
• Relocation Allowances, full details of which are in the Overseas Vacancy Information at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh
• Annual Pension Contribution of 7.5% of salary
• Annual Leave of 30 days per annum plus Public Holidays

How to Apply:

An application form is available at our website via the button below where further information can also be found, or you may contact Kedell Worboys on 0203 818 7610 or via email: [e-mail].

Applications must be received by 17 July 2025.

Interviews are planned for week commencing 4 August 2025

To be considered for this role, you must complete our application form. Failure to do so will mean that your application will not be considered. Please do not submit your CV.

The Public Service positively accepts applications from all members of the community regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and will consider all applications on the basis of merit, in accordance with the person specification.

The St Helena Public Service welcomes all applications from across our whole community, including our St Helenian diaspora wishing to return to St Helena. If you are a St Helenian currently living and working overseas, please contact us at [e-mail] to discuss how we can support you.