Happy. Heard. Healthy. Achieving.

At Sefton Council, we continue a bold and ambitious journey to transform outcomes for our children and young people. We’ve already made significant progress through initiatives, including our restructured front door, approach to reunification of families, and our systemic and trauma-informed practice models. Ofsted recognised our children’s services as Good, although we can do more and go further. With transformative reforms underway, the future of social care is being redefined, and we are leading the way, ready to embrace embracing the change and shaping what is coming next.

We hold a firm commitment to sustainable, long-term improvement. That means working closely with our partners across health, education, the voluntary sector, and the wider community. Together, we are creating the right conditions for vulnerable children and young people to thrive and live well.

As Head of Service, you will bring strategic insight, operational expertise, and a relentless focus on impact, leading a designated service area with clarity and purpose. As a key member of our senior leadership team, you will shape and implement policy, drive performance, and ensure our services are continuously improving and inspection ready. You’ll work closely with partners, boards, and frontline teams to embed a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence, using data and insight to inform decisions and deliver meaningful change.

This Head of Service role is to currently oversee the Support and Protection and Children with Complex Need’s Service areas. However, as we move through the remodelling under the Families First Partnership reforms, changes are to be expected.

We are therefore looking for passionate, values-driven, experienced social care leader who wants to genuinely create and embed a culture of ownership and accountability that drives service improvements. In return, you will play a key role in working across the full organisation to shape the future of children’s services here in Sefton, driving forward our improvement journey, and ensuring that our children and families receive the support they need, when they need it.

We care deeply about our children and young people, and care just as much about our people. Our teams feel valued, supported, and inspired. We are building a culture where staff are empowered to do their best work, where professional development is a priority, and where everyone feels proud to be part of the journey.

If you are a dynamic, collaborative leader with a strong track record in children’s social care, we want to hear from you. This is an opportunity to join an authority with energy and ambition, and which is absolutely committed to placing children and young people at the heart of all they do.

Equal Opportunities

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential. We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.

GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME

Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.

If you’re an unemployed Sefton resident, register with our Sefton@Work service for free support to help you into employment.  You may be eligible for extra assistance such as funding for travel, work clothing, or vouchers to make starting your new job easier.  Call Sefton@Work on 0151 934 2610 or visit seftonatwork.net to find out more and get started today!