Head of Service – Children & Young People with Disabilities (CYPD)
Salary: £87,525 - £101,234 per annum
Location: Barking and Dagenham
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Division: Children's Care and Support
About the Role
“We keep on striving for the best for our children and young people.”
Barking and Dagenham Council is seeking a dedicated, passionate, and innovative Head of Service to lead our Children and Young People with Disabilities (CYPD) service. In a borough with significant challenges and exceptional community spirit, we are determined to provide the very best for our children, young people, families, and carers. We are building robust, high-performing teams that ensure children receive the right support at the right time – helping them to thrive, be safe, and achieve their potential. As Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the CYPD Service, covering both Early Help and Social Care provision. This includes oversight of the CYPD Family Hub, Short Breaks Team, Portage Team, and CYPD Social Work Team.
You will play a pivotal role in ensuring quality practice, performance, and outcomes for children subject to Early Help plans, Short Breaks, Child in Need and Child Protection plans, and those in care or care proceedings. You will also work closely with Adult Social Care to ensure seamless transitions into adulthood. This is a key leadership opportunity to shape services through a period of transformation, aligned with the Families First National Reform agenda.
Key Priorities
* Develop and embed consistent, high-quality practice across all CYPD teams.
* Strengthen relationships with partners, including education, health, and the Parent Carer Forum.
* Expand the Early Help and Short Breaks offer for families.
* Drive improvement in service performance, compliance, and impact.
* Champion the needs of children with disabilities and complex needs.
* Support and nurture staff wellbeing and professional development.
About You
We are looking for a motivated and compassionate leader who embodies our CARES practice values — Collaborative, Ambitious, Resourceful, Empowering, and Supportive.
You will bring:
* A Social Work qualification and current Social Work England registration.
* Substantial experience in senior management within children's social care, particularly with SEND and disability services.
* A strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, SEND strategy, and Ofsted frameworks.
* Proven ability to lead teams, manage performance, and deliver high-quality outcomes.
* Experience of working across multi-agency partnerships and influencing strategic change.
* Commitment to relational, restorative, and strength-based leadership.
About Us
At Barking and Dagenham, we put the heart back into social work. Through our CARES practice model, we ensure that the child's lived experience is always at the centre of our work. In return, we offer:
* Competitive salary and generous pension scheme
* Relocation support and up to 30 days' annual leave
* Access to high-quality learning and development opportunities
* A strong commitment to staff wellbeing and professional growth
Join a stable and visionary leadership team that is committed to transforming the lives of children and families across Barking and Dagenham.
Contact Phil at Ackerman Pierce on (phone number removed) or (url removed)
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