Lead a community-focused Children’s Services transformation.

What you’ll be doing

As Head of Safeguarding and Early Help, you will play an integral role in an exciting transformation programme within our Children and Education Directorate. We’re in the process of moving to a new locality model, which will support a community model of delivery for our children and families. The new approach with align with the government’s Stable Homes, Built On Love strategy.

We’ll look to you to lead services organised into three local areas, plus a centralised front door service. Locality areas will deliver a range of services including early help, youth justice and our response to serious youth violence, as well as our statutory work with children in need, children in need of protection and children coming into care. Providing vision and leadership for early intervention across the city, you’ll raise Bristol’s profile in this area of work. Indeed, you’ll enjoy great scope to develop our model of working, as you influence and lead our transformation. In particular, we’re keen for you to further shape our response to the needs of adolescents.

You will join a committed and innovative senior leadership team that oversees a positive culture within Children’s Services. Together, we champion strengths-based work and systemic practice. While you will be based at City Hall with the other senior leaders, you will also be expected to visit and work regularly from locality offices, as part of our commitment to visible leadership.

What we’re looking for

A qualified, registered social worker with a strong track record in practice, you’ll also bring to the role proven experience of leading services. You’ve worked in a senior role within children’s social care, with responsibility for complex multi-agency environments, forging effective partnerships and managing budgets. Like all of us, you are outcome-focused and dedicated to doing the right thing for children and families. You’ve managed and developed services that make a difference – inspiring practitioners, solving problems and driving innovation along the way.

Why Bristol City Council?

Diverse, friendly and independently minded, Bristol is celebrated as one of the country’s most desirable cities in which to live and work. That’s something we wholeheartedly agree with – and why we go the extra mile to support our people with a good work-life balance. Join us, and you’ll thrive in our agile, collaborative environment, with every opportunity to build on your existing skills and develop new ones. You’ll also benefit from our competitive rewards package, including generous annual leave allowance and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

How do I apply?

To apply, please visit our careers site to submit your CV along with a supporting statement that details how you meet the criteria within the Person Specification.

Closing date: Sunday 7 January 2024.

Interviews to be held Monday 22 January 2024.

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and Disabled candidates who are currently under-represented within senior leadership roles of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.