Dudley Children’s Services are continuing to make positive progress as we move forward on our improvement journey. Dudley’s ambition, through our ‘Child Friendly Dudley’ agenda, is to shape futures by working in partnership with children and families, utilising restorative practice and drawing on the strengths of children and families to build effective and lasting relationships.

We are seeking a passionate and forward thinking Head of Service to lead and develop service delivery and practice within our Children in Care, Care Leavers and Resources Services.

This is your opportunity to bring to Dudley significant expertise and implement fresh and creative new ideas for children and young people’s social care. You will be ready to implement service change from the outset, with a strong focus on outcomes for children, ensuring their feedback is used to influence service development. You will also lead and strengthen Corporate Parenting, Adoption, Fostering, Residential Care and Placements (Home Linking Team).

You will work closely with our Director for Children’s Services / Service Director for Social Care and so the ability to adapt and work corporately across multiple systems and complex partnership networks is crucial. You will be a team player, able to build and sustain strong staff teams and strategic partnerships to deliver effective service improvements whilst credibly managing service risk. You will be politically savvy and have the experience and ability to support and guide elected members through decision making processes. It is vital that the successful candidate will possess significant experience within the children’s social care arena and be well able to provide strong leadership, operational management and strategic direction.

You will be registered, or be eligible to be registered, on the SWE register for qualified social workers.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; therefore the post is subject to medical clearance and an enhanced DBS check.

For informal enquiries in relation to this vacancy please contact Andrea Stone, Service Director for Children’s Services on 01384 814049, 07971 524250 or email: andrea.stone@dudley.gov.uk

To apply, please click the apply button.

The closing date is Thursday 14th October 2021 with interviews for this position being held on Tuesday 19th October 2021.

NB:  We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date if we receive a large number of applications.