Overview
North Somerset is a place where relationships matter. We’re a small, friendly authority with big ambitions, and we’re looking for an exceptional leader to join us as our next Assistant Director of Children’s Services. This is a pivotal role at a critical time, offering the opportunity to lead transformational change. We have ambitious plans to make a positive difference to the lives of our children and young people. With the arrival of our new Chief Executive, Mandy Bishop, this is an exciting time to join us as we embark on a new phase of reform and transformation.
A qualified social worker, you will be responsible for providing professional leadership to our multi-skilled workforce and driving practice improvement. Our Practice Approach is Building Connections—underpinned by strengths-based, restorative, and trauma-informed practice—and we are looking for a leader who truly believes in family-led decision-making and keeping children within their local community and extended family networks.
As Assistant Director, you will lead our children’s support and safeguarding services, including early help, family support, corporate parenting, youth justice, and quality assurance. We are undergoing a period of change to implement the Families First Reforms, with a restructure in November, and this role will be central to implementing that change. You will need to bring experience of improvement, a clear understanding of what good looks like, and the ability to work across boundaries with a genuine interest in connection and collaboration. We are looking for someone to support our continuous improvement journey towards the best outcomes for all our children.
We are a Council with strong values, good members, and a clear sense of purpose and commitment to transformation. Like all councils we have financial challenges, but you will be well supported politically, and we have recently been supported with additional investment for the creation of our own in-house residential provision. In return we ask that you are a strong corporate player, able to build relationships across adult’s services and other directorates and provide strong financial credibility and assurance around spend and strategic direction.
This is a place where you can truly make your mark. With strong political support, a programme of transformation underway, and a partnership ready to innovate, you’ll be joining at a time of real opportunity.
Responsibilities
* Lead our children’s support and safeguarding services, including early help, family support, corporate parenting, youth justice, and quality assurance.
* Drive practice improvement across the multi-skilled workforce; lead and implement the Families First Reforms and manage the November restructure.
* Provide professional leadership and work across boundaries with a focus on connection and collaboration to achieve best outcomes for children.
Qualifications and requirements
* Qualified social worker.
* Experience of improvement and a clear understanding of what good looks like.
* Ability to work across boundaries with a genuine interest in connection and collaboration.
* Strong corporate awareness with the ability to build relationships across adults’ services and other directorates and provide financial credibility and assurance around spend and strategic direction.
Application and contact
For a confidential discussion, please contact Tile Hill: Anita Denton 07725 554802 or anita.denton@tile-hill.co.uk; or Helen Alwell 07931 543313 or helen.alwell@tile-hill.co.uk.
Closing Date for applications: Sunday 5th October at midnight
To apply please click the Apply Now link below.
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