Principal Service Lead

Civic Recruitment Limited; Dudley; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bi-weekly pay

Senior leadership role

Job summary

Civic Recruitment Limited is recruiting for a Principal Service Lead - Through Care in Dudley to join the Children & Young People Leadership Team. The role focuses on improving services for Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering and Emotional Wellbeing, with strategic direction and safeguarding at the core.

The post requires extensive senior leadership experience within Local Authority Children’s Social Care, a drive for service improvements, and the ability to manage complex team-based

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with current registration with Social Work England.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in Children's Social Care.
• Proven success in driving service improvements and achieving positive inspection results.
• Comprehensive experience leading services for Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering, Residential Services and Disabilities.
• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory duties.
• Experience leading large operational teams and multi-agency partnerships.
• Experience at senior leadership levels (AD/Head of Service/Principal Service Lead) and Ofsted improvement programs.

Responsibilities

• Offer strategic leadership across Through Care services.
• Oversee services for Children in Care, Care Experienced Young People, Fostering, Residential Care, Placements, Family Time, Children with Disabilities and Emotional Wellbeing Services.
• Propel continuous service enhancement, quality assurance, and performance management.
• Ensure robust safeguarding practices and adherence to statutory requirements.
• Lead inspection readiness and improvement initiatives.
• Advocate for exemplary corporate parenting and amplify the voices of children and young people.
• Cultivate and lead high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
• Efficiently manage complex service delivery, budgets and resources.
• Forge strong partnerships with Health, Education, Police, and other agencies.
• Deliver cost-effective solutions while maintaining high-quality outcomes for children and families.
• Contribute strategically as part of the Children & Young People Leadership Team.

Skills

Senior leadership

Multi-agency partnerships

Strategic change

People management

Safeguarding knowledge

Ofsted improvement experience

Local authority leadership

Education

Registered Social Worker (Social Work England)

Job description

Dudley, United Kingdom | Posted on 14/08/2026

At Civic Recruitment and Limited, we know that individuals are more than just fixed expenses; they are the cornerstone of every thriving organisation. That’s why we are passionate about transforming recruitment in the public and private sectors.

In the modern job market, organisations in both public and private sectors face significant workforce challenges. Public sector entities, such as local councils and central government departments, often struggle with lengthy recruitment processes, limited access to qualified candidates, and stringent budgetary and regulatory constraints. Private sector businesses, on the other hand, encounter high turnover rates, difficulties managing a mix of permanent and temporary staff, and challenges in sourcing specialised talent for niche industries. These sector-specific obstacles, coupled with the universal complexities of payroll management, create a pressing need for efficient workforce solutions.

Civic Recruitment Limited addresses these challenges with innovative recruitment and payroll solutions tailored for diverse organisational needs. Recognising the critical hurdles organisations face, the company leverages its expertise to streamline processes, reduce recruitment times, and alleviate administrative burdens. With an extensive database of over 1 million pre-screened candidates, Civic Recruitment Limited is well-positioned to cater to the specific needs of both public and private sectors.

Job Description

Principal Service Lead - Through Care – 7 Month Contract

Location: Dudley

Contract: 7 Month Contract

Hours: Full Time

Working Pattern: Hybrid Working – 3 Days On Site

Summary

Dudley Council is in search of a seasoned and driven Principal Service Lead - Through Care to become a key member of the Children & Young People Leadership Team. This critical senior leadership position is tasked with enhancing the quality of services for Children in Care, Care Leavers, Fostering, Residential Care, Placements, Family Time, Children with Disabilities, and Emotional Wellbeing Services. The role involves providing strategic direction, spearheading service enhancements, fortifying safeguarding practices, and ensuring that children and young people receive exceptional support to achieve optimal outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Offer strategic leadership across Through Care services.
• Oversee services for:
  • Children in Care
  • Care Experienced Young People
  • Fostering Services
  • Residential Care
  • Placements
  • Family Time Services
  • Children with Disabilities
  • Emotional Wellbeing Services
• Propel continuous service enhancement, quality assurance, and performance management.
• Ensure robust safeguarding practices and adherence to statutory requirements.
• Lead efforts in inspection readiness and improvement initiatives.
• Advocate for exemplary corporate parenting and amplify the voices of children and young people.
• Cultivate and lead high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
• Efficiently manage complex service delivery, budgets, and resources.
• Forge strong partnerships with Health, Education, Police, and other agencies.
• Deliver cost-effective solutions while maintaining high-quality outcomes for children and families.
• Contribute strategically as part of the Children & Young People Leadership Team.

Requirements

Requirements:

• Qualified Social Worker.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in Children's Social Care.
• Proven success in driving service improvements and achieving positive inspection results.
• Comprehensive experience in leading services for:
  • Children in Care
  • Care Leavers
  • Fostering
  • Residential Services
  • Children with Disabilities
• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, children's social care practices, and statutory duties.
• Experience in leading large operational teams and managing complex service areas.
• Demonstrated experience in collaborating with multi-agency partnerships.
• Strong leadership, change management, and performance enhancement skills.
• Experience at the level of Assistant Director, Head of Service, or Principal Service Lead.
• Experience in supporting Ofsted improvement programs.
• Experience in managing transformation and redesign initiatives.
• Previous leadership experience within a Local Authority.

What's on Offer?

• 7 Month Contract
• Location: Dudley
• Hybrid Working – 3 Days On Site
• Bi-weekly Pay
• A senior leadership role within a forward-thinking Children's Services department.
• An opportunity to influence strategic service delivery and improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.
• Work within a prominent leadership team committed to continuous improvement in Through Care services.

Ideal candidates may have experience as a Principal Service Lead, Head of Service, Assistant Director, Service Manager, Through Care Lead, Children in Care Service Manager, Fostering Service Manager, or Senior Children's Social Care Leader.