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Head of Children’s Services, Western Isles (0266)
37 hours per week, permanent position
£71,155 to £77,618 per annum, inclusive of £2,997 per annum Distant Islands Allowance
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of Children’s Services, including:
* Children & Families Social Work Functions
* Fostering, Adoption and Continuing Care
* Extended Learning Resource
* Residential Accommodation Provision
* Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
* Western Isles Bairns’ Hoose
Other responsibilities will include leading, managing and developing professional teams of officers, financial management and business planning for the service area and leading self-evaluation and quality improvement within the service, taking the lead role in all inspections, audits, and evaluative activity.
This role will provide leadership and direction to ensure the Comhairle delivers efficient, effective and quality services that are statutorily compliant and within budgetary provision. The postholder will be expected to think strategically regarding the impact of external factors and set policy frameworks to secure corporate goals.
The postholder is accountable to the Comhairle and to statutory agencies for the management and performance of children services. The postholder will have significant autonomy and responsibility when co-ordinating service activities and priorities.
The post holder must hold a degree level qualification in Social Work and experience at a senior level of both operational and strategic management of social work and social care services. It is essential that the post holder has knowledge of all legislation regarding relating to Children’s Services and a working knowledge of financial management systems and people management processes and procedures. They will have had significant involvement in preparing, managing and controlling budgets.
The post holder will have the ability to lead, manage and develop a team of professional staff as well as the ability to work effectively with service users, senior management and partners in service delivery. They will hold experience of working corporately and with multi-agency and third sector partners to improve services for children.
This post is subject to membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme as a legal requirement of a regulated role with Children and Protected Adults (Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme - mygov.scot ).
Appointment to the post will be on the first point of the grade. Salary is inclusive of Distant Islands Allowance.
A relocation package is available for this post.
It is vital you read the job description and person specification, in your experience statement please detail how you meet each of the essential criteria we ask for in the person specification.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
Closing date – Monday 8 June 2026