Chief Officer for Family Help & Social Work
Reporting to the Director of Children and Families, you will provide strategic leadership across the end‑to‑end safeguarding system, from early help and the integrated front door through to statutory social work.
Your impact
- Lead area‑based children’s social work and family help services across Leeds, ensuring children are safeguarded, families are supported to stay together wherever it is safe to do so, and statutory responsibilities are delivered to the highest professional standards.
- Guide the ongoing development of the family help system, strengthening prevention, reducing unnecessary escalation and embedding strengths‑based practice through the Leeds Practice Model.
- Work closely with partners across education, health, police and the voluntary and community sector, ensuring integrated, effective approaches to safeguarding and family support.
- Provide expert advice to elected members and senior leaders on safeguarding, social work practice and early help, and represent Leeds in regional and national forums.
- Lead transformation and continuous improvement activity, maintaining readiness for Ofsted inspection and ensuring learning drives sustained progress.
- Build a high‑performing, values‑driven workforce focused on excellent outcomes for children and families.
About you
You will be a registered social worker with substantial senior leadership experience in children’s social care.
- Extensive experience leading safeguarding and statutory social work services.
- Strong knowledge of legislation, policy and inspection frameworks (including Ofsted).
- A proven ability to lead complex systems and large‑scale change.
- Political acumen and confidence operating in highly visible, sensitive environments.
- Excellent communication, influence and partnership‑building skills.
You will be driven by a clear purpose: keeping children safe, strengthening families and ensuring Leeds continues to deliver high‑quality, child‑centred services.
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