Interim Head of Service - Fostering & Corporate Parenting

Job Title: Interim Head of Service – Fostering & Corporate Parenting
Location: Southend (Hybrid – minimum 2 days on site)
Band/Rate: £550 per day
Start Date: ASAP - 4 weeks
Contract Duration: 3–6 months ongoing
Team: Fostering and Kinship Care Services

As the Interim Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to Southend’s Fostering and Kinship Care Services. You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading the development and implementation of strategic plans, policies and procedures to improve services and best practices across fostering and kinship care.

• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality, relationship-based services for children, young people and their families.

• Maintaining excellent standards of service performance and statutory compliance.

• Driving service improvement and embedding a culture of continuous development.

• Collaborating with senior managers and external partners to ensure cohesive, joined-up working across the system.

• Managing large service budgets, governance, and administration.

To be considered for this role, you must:

• Be a current Head of Service with significant leadership experience in Children’s Social Work.

• Have strong operational and strategic oversight of Fostering and Corporate Parenting services.

• Be registered with Social Work England.

• Have experience in commissioning and overseeing regulated accommodation for children in care and care leavers.

• Possess excellent leadership, stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

• Demonstrate sound knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory duties and best practice in fostering services.

• Working Pattern: Hybrid, with a minimum of 2 days per week on site.

• Start Date: ASAP – 4 weeks

• Contract Length: 3–6 months ongoing

• Rate: £550 per day (via umbrella)

• Market-leading agency specialising in mental health and children’s services recruitment

• Exclusive access to key NHS and Local Authority vacancies

• Efficient compliance process and dedicated support throughout your contract

• Weekly payroll and direct point of contact for any concerns

Know someone else who might be interested?
Refer them to me today, and if they start, you’ll earn £250!