Full job descriptionInterim Head of Children’s Locality

Rate: £500 per day (Inside IR35, Umbrella)
Duration: Until March 2027
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Start Date: ASAP
About the Role

We are currently supporting a local authority with the appointment of an experienced Head of Children’s Locality to provide strategic and operational leadership across Children’s and Education Services.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced children’s services professional who can provide strong operational oversight, drive service improvement and ensure statutory responsibilities are met.
Working as part of the Children’s Services Senior Leadership Team, you will work collaboratively with internal services and external partners to improve outcomes for children, young people and families, while promoting innovation, strong governance and effective partnership working.
Key Responsibilities*Provide strategic leadership across Children’s and Education Services, supporting high-quality service delivery and continuous improvement.
*Lead and develop Service Managers and Team Managers, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability and collaboration.
*Develop and implement service strategies aligned with corporate priorities and statutory responsibilities.
*Drive service transformation and innovation, ensuring services remain responsive to the needs of children, young people and families.
*Work closely with education, health, social care and voluntary sector partners to deliver integrated services and improve outcomes.
*Ensure compliance with statutory duties, safeguarding responsibilities and relevant national guidance.
*Oversee service performance, governance, risk management and financial sustainability.
*Prepare and present reports to senior leadership, boards and partnership groups to support strategic decision-making.
*Champion a child-centred, outcomes-focused approach across all areas of responsibility.
Key Requirements*Significant senior leadership experience within Children’s Services, Education or a comparable public sector environment.
*Proven experience leading complex operational services and delivering service improvement and transformation.
*Strong understanding of children’s social care, education, safeguarding and statutory responsibilities.
*Excellent leadership, stakeholder management and partnership working skills.
*Experience working with senior leaders, elected members and multi-agency partners.
*Strong financial, governance and performance management experience.
*Ability to lead high-performing teams and drive a culture of continuous improvement.
*Qualified Social Worker (Social Work England), Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), or an equivalent relevant professional qualification.
If you are an experienced senior children’s services leader available at short notice and looking for a significant interim leadership opportunity, we would be keen to hear from you.