Job Description
Be one of the first applicants, read the complete overview of the role below, then send your application for consideration.
Director of Safeguarding and Support – Interims
Location: Local Authority
Contract: 3-month rolling contract
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Office Requirement: Minimum 3 days per week onsite
Level: Must currently be working at Director level, or have previously worked at Director level — this is not a step-up role
Overview
Aatom Recruitment is currently supporting a local authority in the appointment of an interim Director of Safeguarding and Support. This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic direction, operational excellence, and high-quality safeguarding services for vulnerable children and families across Swindon.
The successful candidate will ensure the effective delivery of Children’s Services, driving continuous improvement, workforce development, and cross-agency collaboration to deliver positive outcomes for children and young people.
Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Strategic Management
* Provide professional leadership, strategic direction, and performance oversight for Children’s Services.
* Ensure the delivery of high-quality family support, safeguarding, and protection services for vulnerable children, including those on child protection plans or identified as children in need.
* Lead, motivate, and support senior managers, ensuring strong accountability, effective supervision, and robust performance management.
Operational Delivery
* Ensure effective operational execution through partnership working with internal departments and external partners, including Education, Health, Schools, Police, and other statutory agencies.
* Promote excellence in workforce planning, staff development, and quality assurance.
Governance, Reporting & Financial Management
* Attend and report to Council, Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet Meetings, Joint Commissioning Groups, and the Health & Wellbeing Board as required.
* Manage service budgets, ensuring financial governance and identifying efficiencies without compromising service quality.
* Work closely with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, providing professional advice on relevant issues.
Service Improvement & System Leadership
* Lead the next stage of service development within Swindon Children’s Services, ensuring continuous improvement and high-performance culture.
* Foster a culture of transparency, equality, and positive trade union engagement.
* Develop effective working relationships across central and local government, Ofsted, schools, health services, criminal justice, third sector partners, and private providers.
Performance, Data & Quality Assurance
* Ensure the service maintains effective systems for recording and sharing performance data.
* Use intelligence-led insights to drive improvement and deliver high-quality outcomes for children and families.
* Lead multi-agency collaboration to ensure coherent and effective service delivery across the Borough.
Statutory Responsibilities
* Accountable to the Director of Children’s Services (DCS) for statutory safeguarding and child protection functions.
* Advise the DCS on service quality, performance, and improvement needs.
* Deputise for the DCS or Director of Corporate Parenting as required.
Essential Qualifications
* Social Work qualification with current Social Work England registration.
* Degree-level management qualification, or equivalent significant senior management experience.
Knowledge & Experience
* Comprehensive understanding of legislation, regulations, and statutory guidance relating to Children’s Social Care and Early Help.
* Significant experience operating at a senior level within a political or local authority environment.
* Proven success in leading and improving statutory children’s services, quality assurance frameworks, and operational delivery.
* Experience designing and implementing service transformation and improvement programmes within financial constraints.
* Strong background in managing large, complex budgets.
* Proven ability to work across multi-agency partnerships and establish strong networks.
* Experience leading performance management, quality assurance, and data-driven service improvement.
* Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills.
* This role is classified as regulated activity and is subject to full vetting and barring checks. xsngvjr
Please contact Anisha Patel to apply!