Head of Service – Provider Services
Salary: Up to £73,241 per annum
Plus: £5,573 special allowance, £10,000 skill allowance, £3,000 Out of Hours payment
Why Medway?
Supportive culture: You’ll join a team that values collaboration, professional development, and staff wellbeing. Medway invests in its people—offering mentoring, training, and clear pathways for career progression.
Leadership that listens: Senior leaders are visible, approachable, and genuinely invested in creating a culture of openness and accountability. Your voice matters at Medway.
Recognition & impact: Your work will not go unnoticed. Medway celebrates success and encourages innovation, giving you the platform you need to make a real impact.
About the Role
As Head of Provider Services, you’ll provide strategic leadership and direction across Medway’s Provider Services, ensuring children and young people receive the highest standard of care and support.
You’ll oversee Medway’s sufficiency plan, manage placement stability, and strengthen partnerships between Children’s Services and Commissioning. You’ll also lead Medway’s role within the Adoption Partnership South East alongside Kent and Bexley.
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Children’s Services, you’ll play a key part in driving performance, financial management, and continuous improvement across the service.
Key Responsibilities
Provide strategic oversight of placements, commissioning, and sufficiency planning.
Lead the development of strategies, policies, and programmes to enhance outcomes for children.
Build strong partnerships with internal teams and external agencies.
Manage budgets and ensure services deliver value for money.
Champion the voice of children and young people throughout all aspects of service delivery.
Lead and support Service Managers across fostering, multidisciplinary, and youth services.About You
You’ll be a confident, experienced leader who thrives in a strategic environment and is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families.
You will need:
A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, CQSW, DipSW, or equivalent).
Social Work England registration.
NVQ Level 5 in Management (or equivalent).
Extensive experience in senior management and leading change.
Strong understanding of the legislative and policy framework for children’s services.
Experience in Ofsted preparation and continuous improvement.
Familiarity with the Signs of Safety framework.
Evidence of ongoing professional development.Workstyle
This is a hybrid role, with a minimum of three days a week office-based.
Salary: Up to £73,241 plus allowances
Location: Medway, South of London
Contact Phil at Ackerman Pierce on (phone number removed), (url removed)