Title

WORKFORCE

Deputy Directors at Oxfordshire County Council

Deputy Director Children's Social Care

Up to £98k

Everything is in place for you to build a better future

We have been through a large amount of positive change over the past year and have laid the foundations for a key individuals to join us in this crucial senior leadership role. You will contribute to our continued success and to the futures of over 150,000 children and young people living in Oxfordshire. We've laid the groundwork, the rest is up to you.

You will draw on all of your experience and expertise to implement and further develop our arrangements in the Children, Education and Families Directorate, as well as nurture already good relationships across the county to ensure successful outcomes for our communities.

We are looking for a social care professional with stature, to be responsible for the successful operation of our Children's Social Care Service, including the delivery of an effective child protection system across Oxfordshire. You will lead, develop and continually improve professional practice with specific focus on children's social work and social care professionals.

This is a high profile, politically sensitive role and it is imperative that you have the ability to work collaboratively and creatively both within the directorate, corporately and with our partners across the county. Exceptional leadership skills will be key to your success.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact our consultants at Penna – Anthony Hopkin on 07500 042272 or Jonathan Swain on 07500 961727. For more information and how to apply please see our website.

Closing date: 11th November.



Deputy Director Education and Early Intervention

Up to £98k

Everything is in place for you to build a better future

We have been through a large amount of positive change over the past year and have laid the foundations for a key individuals to join us in this crucial senior leadership role. You will contribute to our continued success and to the futures of over 150,000 children and young people living in Oxfordshire. We've laid the groundwork, the rest is up to you.

You will draw on all of your experience and expertise to implement and further develop our arrangements in the Children, Education and Families Directorate, as well as nurture already good relationships across the county to ensure successful outcomes for our communities.

We are looking for an outstanding education professional to be responsible for the successful shaping and delivery of our education strategy across Oxfordshire. You will also be responsible and accountable for the operation of our innovative Early Intervention Service, leading, developing and continually improving professional practice with specific focus on integrated working whilst retaining specialist expertise.

This is a high profile, politically sensitive role and it is imperative that you have the ability to work collaboratively and creatively both within the directorate, corporately and with our partners across the county. Exceptional leadership skills will be key to your success.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact our consultants at Penna – Anthony Hopkin on 07500 042272 or Jonathan Swain on 07500 961727. For more information and how to apply please see our website.

Closing date: 11th November.

WORKFORCE

Relationship advice

By Michael Coughlin | 12 May 2026

Local and regional government has a critical role to play in developing, implementing and scaling relational approaches to public services, says Michael Coug...

WORKFORCE

Breaking point: Tough choices for childrens' services

By Martin Ford | 06 May 2026

Governments are finally confronting the spiralling cost of children’s services. As pressures intensify and budgets buckle, the real question is no longer whe...

WORKFORCE

Making the shift

By Christine Marshall | 30 April 2026

As the sector gears up for a new wave of unitarisation, Christine Marshall reflects on the move from districts to a unitary council as executive director for...

WORKFORCE

Fifty years on: Lessons from the Layfield report on local council funding

By Owen Mapley | 29 April 2026

Half a century from the Layfield Report on local government finance, many of the issues it raised remain and have become more complex, says Owen Mapley.