Head of Service - Regulated Children's Services - AR

Job Description

Job Title

Head of Service - Regulated Children's Services

Directorate

Children's Services

Reports to

Director / Assistant Director of Children's Services

Responsible for

Service Managers, Registered Managers, commissioning and quality assurance functions within regulated children's services

Job Purpose

To provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the local authority's regulated children's services, ensuring that children and young people who are looked after receive safe, high-quality care that meets statutory, regulatory, and corporate parenting responsibilities.

The postholder will lead a portfolio including children's homes, semi-independent provision, fostering services, and corporate parenting functions, and will act as Responsible Individual for fostering and residential care in line with Ofsted regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide clear strategic direction for regulated children's services, aligned with national legislation, inspection frameworks, and local priorities
• Contribute to wider Children's Services and corporate leadership, supporting continuous improvement and system-wide change
• Lead service planning to ensure sufficiency, sustainability, and quality of provision

Regulatory & Statutory Accountability

• Act as Responsible Individual for fostering and residential services, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements
• Ensure services are inspection-ready and respond effectively to Ofsted inspections, monitoring visits, and regulatory activity
• Lead and oversee action plans following inspections, ensuring sustained improvement

Quality Assurance & Performance

• Establish and maintain robust quality assurance frameworks across regulated services
• Monitor performance, outcomes, and compliance, using data and audit activity to drive improvement
• Challenge poor practice and ensure timely corrective action where standards fall short

Placement Sufficiency & Commissioning

• Lead on placement sufficiency strategies to ensure children are placed in safe, appropriate, and stable provision
• Work closely with commissioning teams to shape the local market and reduce reliance on high-cost external placements
• Ensure placements support positive outcomes and value for money

Corporate Parenting & Children's Voice

• Champion strong corporate parenting, ensuring children and young people's needs are prioritised across the organisation
• Promote co-production and meaningful participation, ensuring children's voices influence service design and decision-making
• Advocate for children in care and care leavers at senior and partnership forums

Leadership & Workforce

• Lead, support, and develop senior managers within regulated services
• Promote a culture of accountability, learning, inclusion, and high professional standards
• Ensure safe recruitment, supervision, and workforce development arrangements are in place

Partnership, Governance & Finance

• Build effective partnerships with internal services, health, education, police, and independent providers
• Provide clear governance, risk management, and assurance to senior leaders and elected members
• Manage delegated budgets responsibly, ensuring financial sustainability and best use of resources

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential

• Registration as a Social Worker with Social Work England
• Relevant management or leadership qualification
• Significant senior management experience within children's services
• Proven experience leading regulated services, including fostering and/or residential care
• Experience of acting as, or working closely with, a Responsible Individual
• Strong track record of leading services through Ofsted inspection and improvement
• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding, statutory guidance, and corporate parenting responsibilities
• Excellent leadership, communication, and partnership-working skills

Desirable

• Experience overseeing semi-independent provision
• Experience of market shaping and commissioning
• Experience operating in a politically sensitive environment

Values & Behaviours

• Commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people
• Ability to lead with integrity, courage, and compassion
• Willingness to provide challenge and accept scrutiny
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion