About the role: Head of Children in Care Services and Resources

Salary: £71,000-£81,000

Location: Gateshead / hybrid

You will provide Strategic leadership, vision and direction for the Children in Care and Resources services in line with the Council Thrive Agenda and priorities as identified by the Deputy Strategic Director of Children's Social Care and Early Help. Providing policy direction and contribute to the wider corporate priorities, vision and values as directed and engage with other service areas to achieve better outcomes for the council and families and be a key member of the Children and Families Social Work management team.

The post hold will have 2 direct reports who will have overall portfolio responsibilities; Children in Our Care; Care Experienced; Children's Homes; Fostering; Kinship Care; Mockingbird and Staying Close; UASC.

As a key member of the Children and Families Social Work management team you'll build on our innovative approaches to service delivery, engaging with other service areas and partners to develop new ways of working to achieve better outcomes for the children and young people in our care and those who are care experienced.

You will help us to achieve our vision for children in our care and those who are care experienced through our strong relational approach to social work practice and ambitious drive for our children and young people. You will have the opportunity to work with young people in shaping the services that support and care for them and for them to be centrally involved in the decisions that affect their care and their lives. We have ambitious plans to ensure we continue to develop sufficient loving homes close to Gateshead which you will support us to develop and deliver. 

For further information on the role and responsibilities, please see the job description/person specification.

Contact us

For an informal confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Sarah Hunter on 07816 251271 / Sarah.Hunter@northyorks.gov.uk our recruitment partners - The Resourcing Solution.

How to apply

Please submit one Microsoft Word document that details a comprehensive CV and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role. Please do not submit PDFs. It is important that your written application fully addresses the experience criteria. Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk

It is important that your CV includes: your full contact details (phone, email, address), full employment history (name of employer, job titles, dates of employment and salary), full education history (qualification, grade, dates and place of study), explanation of any gaps in employment and the contact details of at least two referees including your current / most recent employer indicating whether you consent to us contacting each referee prior to interview. Please also provide details of your current salary and notice period.

Key documents

Structure chart (PDF, 363 KB)(opens new window)

Corporate Plan - 2023-28 - Making Gateshead a place where everyone thrives

Children, young people and families - Gateshead Council

Careers in children's social work at Gateshead Council

Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report 23-24 (PDF, 643 KB)(opens new window)

Care Experienced Young People in Gateshead Strategy 23-26 (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window)

Practice Model (PDF, 5 MB)(opens new window)

Sufficiency Strategy for the Accommodation of Children in our Care and Care leavers 22-25 (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window)

Children' Services Plan (PDF, 479 KB)(opens new window)

Supporting Children and Young People to Thrive - Our Vision (PDF, 180 KB)(opens new window)