Job Information
Do you want to make a real and lasting difference for children, young people and families? Are you an inspiring strategic leader with a passion for improving outcomes for care-experienced children? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
Northumberland County Council is seeking an exceptional Head of Service for Permanence, Achievement & Reunification to provide visionary leadership across our Cared for Children Teams, Care Leavers Service, Virtual School and Safeguarding in Education functions. This is a pivotal senior role shaping the future for some of our most vulnerable children.
As our new Head of Service, you will:
· Provide strategic leadership and expert guidance on all matters relating to Cared for Children, Care Leavers and the Virtual School.
· Drive forward high‑quality services that prioritise permanence, reunification and educational success.
· Lead the development of our Corporate Parenting Strategy and strengthen engagement across the Council and key partners.
· Champion educational outcomes, attendance and progress for Cared for Children, Care Leavers, children in kinship arrangements and those with a social worker.
· Oversee performance, quality assurance and robust safeguarding practice across your service areas.
· Manage resources, budgets and a workforce of around 60 dedicated staff, ensuring value for money and high‑impact delivery.
· Build strong multi‑agency partnerships that support early help, reduce escalation into care and secure the best possible outcomes.
· Ensure the voice of children, young people and families actively shapes service design and improvement.
· Model strength‑based, relational and trauma‑informed practice across your services.
You will be an experienced senior leader with:
· A relevant degree and Qualified Social Worker (SWE registered) or Qualified Teacher Status.
· A strong track record leading services in large, complex organisations.
· Extensive knowledge of statutory requirements, safeguarding, corporate parenting and best practice for children in care.
· Excellent financial and people management skills.
· The ability to inspire teams, build trusted relationships and lead system‑wide improvement.
· Strategic vision, resilience and the ability to make evidence‑based decisions that support timely permanence and high‑quality outcomes.
Experience of Virtual School leadership and training in Signs of Safety or trauma‑informed practice would be advantageous.
Why choose us?
Northumberland County Council’s (NCC) vision is ‘Land of Great Opportunities’, for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.
For further information about working for NCC, please visit our website here.
To see all our excellent benefits and perks, please click here.
Further information
Interviews will be held on Monday 27th April and Tuesday 28th April 2026.
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you wish to notify us of your eligibility for this scheme, please email hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk or ring 01670 623930 with your name and the job title you have applied for and one of the recruitment team will ensure this is factored into the shortlisting process and kept anonymous. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Alternative application format: British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930
