Head of Service - Children in Our Care, Care Leavers and Disabled Children & Young People's Team

Head of Children in Care LC & DCAYPT

• Job Identification 1526

• Job Category Head Of Service

• Locations Council House Room 41, Walsall, WS1 1TP, GB

• Apply Before 22/10/2026, 23:55

• Job Schedule Full time

• Job Shift Standard

• All Year/Term Time Full Year

• DBS Check Required Enhanced Children's

• BPSS Check Required No

• Employment Type Permanent

• Driving Required Yes

Help us build on excellence and shape the future for our most vulnerable children and young people.

Walsall Children's Services is seeking an inspirational and ambitious leader to join us as Head of Service - Children in Our Care, Care Leavers and Disabled Children & Young People's Team (DCAYPT) - Ref: CH07526

Salary Range: £84,191 - £95,535

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead services that make a profound difference to the lives of children and young people. We are proud of the progress we have made, and the strong outcomes achieved for our Children in Our Care. We are looking for a leader who can build on these achievements, drive continuous improvement, and ensure that every child in our care has the stability, support and opportunities they need to thrive.

You will be passionate about improving the lives of care-experienced young people and committed to ensuring that care leavers receive the support, ambition and opportunities they deserve as they move towards adulthood and independence. You will champion their voice, advocate for their aspirations and work with partners to ensure they remain at the heart of service development and delivery.

This role also provides a unique opportunity to lead and shape the next phase of our transformation journey for disabled children and young people. Working collaboratively with partners, families and communities, you will drive innovation and service improvement to ensure children and young people with disabilities receive the right support at the right time and achieve the very best outcomes.

As a member of the Children's Social Care leadership team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across Children in Our Care, Leaving Care and Disabled Children's Services. You will inspire high-performing teams, strengthen partnership working and ensure the delivery of excellent practice, outstanding support and positive outcomes for children, young people and families.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a passion for improving outcomes for Children in Our Care and Care Leavers.

• Experience in Court Proceedings.

• Can demonstrate strong and effective leadership within children's social care services.

• Is committed to putting the voice of children and young people at the centre of decision-making.

• Has the vision and drive to lead transformation and service improvement.

• Can build strong relationships with partners, families and communities.

• Is committed to achieving excellence and maintaining high standards of practice.

• Can inspire, motivate and develop others through periods of change and innovation.

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring or experienced senior leader to make a lasting impact, build on strong foundations and help shape the future of services for some of Walsall's most vulnerable children and young people.

Further details are provided in the attached JD and Specification.

If you have any queries or would like an informal discussion about the role, please feel free to contact PA to Director Children's Social Care

The recruitment process will include a values interview, technical interview, a stakeholder panel interview, and an interview with a panel of children and young people. These elements are designed to assess candidates' professional expertise, leadership capabilities, partnership working, and commitment to ensuring the voices of children, young people and families are at the heart of decision-making and service delivery.

Closing Date: 22nd October 2026

Interviews will be held on the 9th and 10th November 2026.

Join us in continuing to deliver outstanding support, ambitious outcomes and a brighter future for children and young people across Walsall.

Legislation imposes restrictions on political activity for certain local government employees. This position is designated as a politically restricted (sensitive) post as set out in Part 1 the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990 (LGO(PR)R 1990) SI 851 and S.30 of the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole - particularly your 'Supporting Information' - reflects your own voice.

Walsall Council's Children's Services are the only Ofsted 'Outstanding' local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council's journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children's services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.