• Suffolk County Council - Based at Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX with a requirement for frequent travel across the county
• £106,686 - £118,009 per annum
• Full Time, Permanent

Reimagine the possibilities

At Suffolk County Council, we`re reimagining what local government can achieve. We`re a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation, collaboration, and making a real difference in our communities.

This is a time of exciting and positive change in Suffolk. We’ve made great strides in our children and young people services improvement journey, supported by our excellent corporate leadership team, chief executive, and elected members. However, we know we still have a long way to go and face a number of challenges across a complex landscape.

Our new DCS (Director of Children`s Services) is building an exceptional team to deliver the very best outcomes for our children and young people. As our Service Director for Social Care and Family Help, you’ll have strategic responsibility for the leadership and management of Suffolk County Council’s Social Care and Family Help functions. You will play a senior leadership role in the CYP (Children and Young People) Leadership Team to ensure that children’s needs are met across the whole spectrum of intervention and prevention.

We’re seeking an ambitious leader to inject strategic pace to our improvement plan and take staff with them. Someone who can foster excellent relationships across the council and with our partners across education, health, care, and service user organisations, locally and regionally to create an integrated system that is rewarding and empowering to work in. With excellent financial acumen, you’ll be a subject matter expert with a proven track record of improvement in social care services to ensure every child in Suffolk can exceed their potential.

In return, you’ll be joining an ambitious council and a service which has embarked on an exciting transformation journey. You’ll work with incredible practitioners as well as an empowering and nurturing DCS who will support your development as a senior leader. You’ll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of our children and young people to ensure no child is left behind.

Come and be part of something unique and reimagine the possibilities.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report (suffolk.gov.uk).

For more information

To find out more please visit our leadership careers page (careers.suffolk.gov.uk) where you can view a full list of requirements and read the Job and Person Profile (docx).

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (docx).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement (four sides of A4 maximum) that addresses the criteria set out in the job and person profile and uses examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements. It should also cover your motivation for the role and the organisation. You should use the Supporting Statement template (docx).

Step 4 - Upload an up-to-date copy of your CV (four sides of A4 maximum).

Please note: 

• Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. 
• We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing: [email protected] or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 12 January 2025.

Assessment Centre: Week commencing 20 January 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.