Further Information Head of Service – Safeguarding
Location: Stockton-on-Tees | Salary: £82,587 | Relocation Support: Up to £8,000
Are you ready to lead with heart, purpose and ambition?
We’re Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and we’re on a transformational journey to create a Children’s Service that truly puts children, young people and families at the centre of everything we do.
We’re looking for an innovative and ambitious leader working in our permanent, dedicated and supportive senior leadership team. Someone who’s passionate about driving improvement, shaping services and making a real difference in the lives of our most vulnerable children.
About the role
As our new Head of Service – Safeguarding within Children's Services, you’ll lead our safeguarding teams, including:
1. Children and Families
2. Disabled Children
3. Harm Outside the Home
4. Adolescent Team
You’ll take strategic ownership of our safeguarding service improvement plan and key decision-making forums like the Legal Gateway Panel. You’ll champion performance, ensure timely and appropriate planning for children and support service leads with high-quality supervision and guidance.
What we’re looking for
You’ll be:
5. A qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration
6. An experienced senior leader in children’s social care
7. Strategic, confident and financially savvy
8. A relationship-builder who inspires trust and collaboration
9. Aspirational for children, families and your teams
Why join us?
We’re proud of our new state-of-the-art riverside offices in Stockton, complete with free parking, a modern café and collaborative workspaces. But it’s not just about the building - it’s about the culture we’re building inside it.
We offer:
10. Relocation support of up to £8,000 to assist with your move to Stockton
11. 27 days annual leave per year rising to 32 with 5 years service (plus bank holidays). Ability to purchase additional leave is also available
12. Generous LGPS pension scheme
13. Flexible working and agile working arrangements
14. A range of employee networks - we don't just list our values on the wall, we live them!
15. Your SWE registration paid for
16. Access to employee benefits including a car lease scheme, discounts at high street and online retailers, Employee Assistance Programme, physiotherapy services and more
17. A workplace that values wellbeing, learning, growth and belonging
If you would like an informal discussion about the role before you apply, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Louise Hollick on 01642 528490 or email
Ready to apply?
If you’re an ambitious, values-driven leader who’s ready to shape the future of Children’s Services in Stockton, we can’t wait to hear from you. Click apply now to upload your CV.
We are intending to interview week commencing Monday 8th December 2025, therefore it would be helpful if you can keep this date in mind for your diary planning and we’ll let you know as soon as possible if you’ve been shortlisted.
Sometimes we may close a job early, so do not delay in submitting your application otherwise you might miss out.
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. Whilst 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 that 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 ‘DONOTREPLY@NORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK’. All communication will also appear in the ‘My Messages’ section of your North East Jobs account.