Job Introduction
Job Title: Head of Service – East Herts
Starting Salary: £84,421 with the opportunity to progress to £93,565 per annum (pro rata for part time) – Pay award pending
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children’s Services
Help shape the future of Family Help and Safeguarding in Hertfordshire
This is an exceptional opportunity to join Hertfordshire County Council at one of the most significant periods of transformation in children’s social care. As the birthplace of the Family Safeguarding Model and a recognised leader in practice innovation, we continue to shape the future through the Families First Partnership Programme. As Head of Service for East Herts, you will play a key strategic role in driving this ambitious agenda and improving outcomes for children and families.
This is a pivotal leadership role with a clear mission: to help shape and further develop our Families First Partnership Programme arrangements across East Hertfordshire, ensuring that children and families receive the right support, at the right time, through a connected and relational system that improves outcomes and reduces the need for statutory intervention wherever possible.
Leading with heart, compassion and purpose, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a broad continuum of services, bringing expertise across Targeted Early Help, Assessment, Child in Need, Child Protection and Court Proceedings. You will ensure children and families experience seamless support and intervention, with clear pathways, consistent decision-making and a relentless focus on achieving the best possible outcomes.
You will champion and further embed our strengths-based Family Safeguarding practice model, ensuring multidisciplinary teams continue to deliver high-quality, relationship-based interventions that empower families to achieve sustainable change. Your leadership will be instrumental in building on the success of our Families First arrangements, supporting the continued evolution of Family Help and strengthening the interface between early help and safeguarding.
This role requires a leader who can successfully navigate significant national reform, translating policy into practice and ensuring Hertfordshire remains at the forefront of delivering family‑centred services. Through strong partnership leadership, you will work across the system to develop innovative and effective responses to need, ensuring families receive joined‑up support that recognises their strengths, harnesses their networks and improves long‑term outcomes for children.
You will also play a key role in shaping and delivering our social work workforce strategy, developing and retaining a highly skilled workforce, championing diversity and inclusion, and creating an environment where practitioners can thrive and deliver outstanding practice.
About You
As a qualified and registered Social Worker, you’ll bring substantial leadership experience within statutory Children’s Social Care and a strong track record of delivering positive outcomes for children and families. You’ll be an inspiring and collaborative leader, able to navigate complex change while maintaining a relentless focus on excellent practice.
You’ll Bring
Essential criteria
- Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
- Substantial leadership experience within statutory Children’s Social Care services.
- Strong knowledge of Targeted Early Help, Assessment, Child in Need, Child Protection and Court Proceedings, and how these services operate together within a Families First approach.
- Proven experience of leading and embedding effective social work practice, including strengths‑based and relationship‑focused approaches such as Family Safeguarding.
- A strong understanding of the Families First Partnership Programme and the opportunities presented through Family Help, Multi‑Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPT), Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) and integrated partnership working.
- Significant experience of working collaboratively across agencies and organisational boundaries to improve outcomes for children and families.
- A proven track record of leading transformation, service improvement and change within complex social care environments.
- Experience of developing, motivating and leading high‑performing teams and creating cultures where practitioners can thrive.
- Full UK driving licence and regular access to a vehicle.
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience operating at Head of Service level within statutory Children’s Social Care.
- Experience of working within a large, complex organisation.
- Experience of leading workforce strategy and supporting the implementation of service‑wide change programmes.
Why join us?
This is an opportunity to influence system‑wide change and help shape the future of children’s services in Hertfordshire.
You’ll join an ambitious and supportive senior leadership team committed to innovation, collaboration and outstanding practice. Together, we’re building on the success of Family Safeguarding, Family Help, Multi‑Agency Child Protection Teams and Family Group Decision Making to create the best possible outcomes for children and families.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
Benefits of working for us
Additional Information
We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly‑created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.
LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Driving Required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.
Interview Date: Monday 14th September – Farnham House. Please ensure you are available for the assessment centre.
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