Director of Children and Young People's Services
Durham County Council
Salary: £171,760
Are you ready to lead one of the UK's most ambitious and high-performing children's services? Durham County Council is seeking an outstanding leader to join its corporate leadership team as Director of Children and Young People's Services - a role that offers the opportunity to build on a legacy of excellence to drive forward innovation, inclusion, and impact.
Following a period of significant transformation, our Children's Services have achieved an Ofsted rating of Outstanding, reflecting the strength of our leadership, our corporate approach, the quality of our practice, and our unwavering commitment to children, young people, and families across the county.
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead a talented and stable senior management team across education, social care, early help, SEND, and youth services. You will be responsible for shaping strategic direction, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and championing the voice and rights of children and young people in everything we do.
This is a role for a visionary leader, someone who can inspire teams, influence partners, and deliver outcomes that change lives. You will work closely with schools, health services, voluntary organisations, and communities to ensure every child in County Durham has the opportunity to thrive.
We are proud of our achievements, but we are not standing still. Our ambition is to be a national leader in integrated children’s services, with a strong focus on prevention, inclusion, and co‑production. You will play a key role in delivering our Council Plan priorities and supporting our administration’s commitment to fairness, opportunity, and community empowerment.
To find out more, please contact our retained consultants at Penna: Nick Raper on, or Carol Coyle on for a confidential conversation, or visit for further information.
Closing date: 11:59pm, Sunday 9 November 2025
Position type: Permanent
Location: Durham, UK
Published on 13 Oct 2025
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