Head of Service

12 months contract with a Local Authority Pay Rate: £56 per hour Umbrella Summary This is a 12-month contract role with a Local Authority, offering a pay rate of £56 per hour through an umbrella company. The Head of Service will lead Children's Community Services, including Health Visiting, School Nursing, and the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP), along with related 0–19 services.

The role involves ensuring these services are delivered safely, effectively, and to a high standard, while also meeting all legal, regulatory, and safeguarding requirements. The aim is to enhance outcomes for children, young people, and families.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for Children's Community Services to ensure safe and high-quality service delivery. Oversee the Healthy Child Programme (0–19) to meet national, local, and commissioned targets. Maintain accountability for safeguarding arrangements and ensure compliance with statutory requirements for children and young people.

Serve as the senior safeguarding lead, offering expert advice and leadership on safeguarding practices. Integrate learning from safeguarding reviews, audits, inspections, serious incidents, complaints, and investigations into operational practices. Lead safeguarding governance, ensuring effective supervision, audits, policies, training, and quality assurance systems are implemented.

Requirements

Essential Experience Extensive senior leadership experience in children's services, public health, community health, or integrated care services. Proven experience in managing safeguarding arrangements, including complex case management and multi-agency collaboration. Experience in leading clinical quality, governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance functions.

Previous experience as a CQC Registered Manager. Essential Qualifications Registered health professional, such as a Nurse or Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN), with current professional registration. Comprehensive knowledge of safeguarding legislation, national guidance, and best practices. Strong understanding of the Healthy Child Programme and 0–19 service delivery models.

Additional Information Working hours are 30 hours per week, with three days based at Endeavour House and travel expected. Face-to-face interviews are preferred. An enhanced DBS with a barred list is required. A DVLA Web Check will be conducted. Payments are made bi-weekly. The application deadline is approaching, so please apply as soon as possible.