Title

WORKFORCE

Head of Service, Children in Care

Continuing our relentless drive to improve the quality of practice, this is the ideal role for a child-centred Children in Care Manager keen to lead a service to a position of high performance. You will bring pace, consistency of application and a desire to place children at the centre of everything the service does.

About the role :

This post is a member of the Children and Families Service Management team and plays a key role in improving outcomes for children through the strategic leadership and operational delivery of the Borough's Children in Care service. As a Head of Service, the post holder will be expected to make a broad and sustained contribution to the achievement of the authority's aims and objectives. As well as holding responsibility for the management and development of a large team, this is a role that requires significant work with partner organisations, including statutory agencies and the voluntary sector. The post reports to the Divisional Director, Children & Families who in turn reports to the Deputy Chief Executive, Families. The post has leadership responsibility for 56 staff across the service and manages a budget of £2.69 million. The role requires significant communication and liaison with the Executive Team and Members.

About You :

To succeed in this role you will be able to evidence a track record of success and sustained achievement in a senior management role within local authority children's services, particularly within children in care. You will also be able to demonstrate a detailed understanding and experience of developing high performing children in care services through outstanding leadership and management, the ability to build lasting partnerships and the ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement through a service.

How to apply :

For further information or to apply, please visit Waltham Forest social care careers website. Application is by CV and covering letter. Closing date is 27th May 2013. Alternatively please contact Mark Bearn or Andrew Timlin of Hays Executive. T 0207 259 8743 E mark.bearn@hays.com

For Role Profile, please click here.

WORKFORCE

Guiding new councillors on the right path

By Sue Bearman | 30 April 2026

With the sector gearing up on 7 May for the biggest set of elections since the 2024 General Election, Claire Ward and Sue Bearman set out the practical steps...

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

Recruitment, retention and the moment the sector must not waste

By Sarah France-Gorton | 30 April 2026

Sarah France-Gorton says there is a now an unmissable opportunity to solve the recruitment issues facing local government – but warns it’s time to stop askin...

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.