Head of Children's Social Care Reforms, Transformation and Improvement

The job itself

Are you a bold and driven leader, ready to help shape the future of children’s services? Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and families through innovation, transformation and high-impact leadership?

This is an exciting time to join East Riding of Yorkshire Council as we continue our ambitious journey to transform Children’s Services in line with the government’s Children’s Social Care reforms. We are looking for a strategic and values-led Head of Service to lead on transformation and delivery across Children and Families, driving forward system change that puts children at theheart of everything we do.

About the Role:

You will play a pivotal role in leading service transformation, working closely with the Executive Director of Children’s Services and the Directorate Leadership Team to drive improvements in quality, performance, and efficiency. With a strong grip on financial planning, you will ensure the Directorate delivers on its efficiency targets in alignment with the Council’s financial plan—escalating barriers to progress when needed and supporting sustainability.

You will bring gravitas to influence and negotiate effectively with strategic leaders, elected members, schools, partners, and senior stakeholders. You’ll ensure that services are co-designedand delivered collaboratively, with a focus on early help, safeguarding, and inclusive practices that support the most vulnerable children and young people.

In addition to leading high-performing operational services, you will oversee the successful implementation of the CSC reforms locally, ensuring strong governance, accountability, and clear communication across the system. You will also contribute to external inspection and assurancepreparation, including Ofsted, SEND inspections, and JTAI's, with robust quality assurance frameworks embedded in your practice.

What We’re Looking For:

A qualified social worker with extensive experience in strategic leadership, transformation and service improvement in children’s social care.

A credible leader with strong influencing skills and the ability to operate at a senior level across multi-agency partnerships.

Deep understanding of the current social care reform agenda and its implications for localdelivery.

Excellent financial and project management skills, with a track record of delivering outcomes at pace.

Passion for children and families and a belief in the power of services to change lives for thebetter.

Why Join Us?

East Riding of Yorkshire is a place of ambition, innovation, and heart. You’ll be joining a supportive leadership team that values courage, creativity, and collaboration. We are proud of our workforce and committed to enabling leaders to thrive and deliver services that truly make a difference.

If you’re ready to lead with purpose and help shape the future of children’s social care, we want to hear from you.