Head of Service Strategic Safeguarding and Quality Assurance

Diverse, vibrant and growing, Bristol is the largest city in the South West and home to some 82,200 children. Our Children and Families team is determined to make Bristol a city where every child belongs and every child gets the best start in life, whatever circumstances they are born into. We are especially proud of our strengths-based work in systemic practice and the positive culture in our team.
As our Head of Service for Strategic Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, you will work alongside other senior members of the directorate to ensure we align with the findings of the government's Stable Homes Built on Love consultation. It's a busy and interesting role, with real opportunities to make a difference. You'll use your expertise to ensure our social work professionals have the training, support and resources they need to work effectively with families, vulnerable children and those in care.
Your role
Joining a stable, committed and innovative senior leadership team, your focus will be on developing our new systemic practice hub and the evolution of our child protection service in line with our systemic principles. Responsible for the children's workforce development team, you will shape our recruitment and retention strategy. You will also lead the Directorate in policy, performance and quality assurance work and collaborative working under the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership. Responsibility for the Child Protection Conference Service, Independent Reviewing Officers and LADO also falls within your remit.

We're looking for someone with the vision and capability to develop services that improve outcomes for citizens and customers. You'll therefore have well-developed leadership skills, including the ability to manage, motivate and inspire people through change. A registered and qualified social worker, with strong frontline experience in children's services, you'll know what good practice looks like and how to achieve it with and through others. You'll also be used to partnership working, analytical problem-solving and budgetary management. Highly developed advocacy, negotiation and presentation skills are important.

In return you'll have access to a range of valuable benefits including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme and generous annual leave entitlement. We place high value on creating an inclusive, healthy workplace and offer a range of flexible working options and family friendly policies.