Interim Assistant Director of Children's Services

Panoramic Associates; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading local authority is seeking an Interim Assistant Director of Children's Services to provide strategic and operational leadership during a critical transformation. You will oversee functions such as safeguarding and quality assurance while driving service improvements. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in children's services, leadership in change management, and the ability to work in a hybrid role. This is a unique opportunity to influence impactful, child-centred services.

Benefits

Competitive day rate

Flexible working arrangement

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Assistant Director or Head of Service in children's services.
• Track record of leading service improvements and managing change.
• Understanding of safeguarding frameworks and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and strategic leadership in children's services.
• Drive service improvement plans and maintain oversight of delivery.
• Lead functions including safeguarding and quality assurance.

Skills

Experience in local authority children's services

Leadership and change management

Understanding of safeguarding frameworks

Building trust in multi-agency partnerships

Confident decision-making

Job description

Job Title: Interim Assistant Director of Children's Services

Location: South East

Contract: 6 months

Rate: £675-£725 per day (Inside IR35)

Role: Hybrid (2 days per week on-site)

A proactive and ambitious South East local authority is seeking an experienced Interim Assistant Director of Children's Services to provide operational and strategic leadership across key service areas during a pivotal period of transformation.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a council that is committed to delivering high-impact, child-centred services. Working alongside the Director of Children's Services and senior leadership team, you will drive forward service improvement plans while maintaining oversight of front line delivery.

You will be responsible for leading key functions, including safeguarding, children in care, and quality assurance, with a strong focus on performance, partnership engagement, and inspection readiness.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience as an Assistant Director or Head of Service within a local authority children's services setting
• Strong track record of leading improvement journeys and managing change
• Deep understanding of safeguarding frameworks, risk management, and service delivery
• Ability to build trust across multi-agency partnerships and lead high-performing teams
• Confident, visible leadership and clear decision-making in complex environments

The Role:

• High-impact leadership role during a critical period of service development
• Supportive, stable senior leadership and clear political backing
• Opportunity to shape and embed lasting change across services
• Flexible hybrid working arrangement
• Competitive day rate (Inside IR35)

If you're looking for a role where your leadership can make a tangible difference, this is the right time and the right place.