Location
Tooley Street, Southwark, London

Hours
36 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary
£69,537 - £86,766 per annum, plus cashable benefits (starting salary based on experience; salary progression is performance-based)

About the Role
Lead with purpose, inspire practice, and make a difference in children’s services. We are seeking an experienced Head of Service for Quality Assurance and Workforce Development to provide strong leadership and strategic direction across Children’s and Adults’ Services within Southwark Council and our multi-agency partnerships. This key role leads quality assurance and workforce development across Southwark’s Children’s Services, ensuring all statutory duties and inspection requirements are met. You will manage specialist teams focused on quality, learning, and workforce development, drive continuous service improvement and innovation, lead the divisional partnerships team, support senior leadership with strategic and operational planning, and deputise for the Assistant Director when required.

Working with a range of partners and stakeholders, you will be a vocal advocate for children, young people, and their families, ensuring every child gets the best start in life. You will directly line manage service managers and oversee all quality assurance activities across children’s services including audits, learning functions, inspection readiness, and children’s rights and participation initiatives.

Southwark is a vibrant and diverse inner London borough with a strong record of innovation and delivery. While challenges remain, this role offers exciting opportunities to make a lasting impact.

Experience
- Proven management experience in a large, complex organisation.
- Strong track record in service improvement and raising standards, particularly in quality assurance.
- Experience leading and inspiring staff, partners, and stakeholders.
- Up to date awareness and knowledge of professional standards, policy developments, and relevant legislation.

About you
- Qualified social worker with experience in children’s services leadership.
- Commitment to improving outcomes for all children and young people and to tackling injustice, inequality, and racism.
- Excellent communication skills and understanding of effective, high-quality practice.
- Inspiring and strategic leader with vision, determination, and drive to lead change in a fast-paced and diverse borough.

Qualifications
- Qualified social worker status is essential.
- Enhanced DBS check required.