Head of Service - CYADS

Job Description

The London Borough of Harrow is looking for an inspiring Head of Service – Children & Young Adults with Disabilities (CYAD) to shape and deliver exceptional support for our community.

The CYAD team is based within the Adult Social Care & Public Health Directorate, ensuring that children with the most complex needs are supported seamlessly from childhood, through adolescence and into adulthood.

In this pivotal role, you will work across the Adults, Children and Education directorates, ensuring we meet our statutory duties under legislation for both children and adults, modelling best social work practice. You will also oversee an exciting development plan to expand our in-house offer of social care provision to children by 2028.

With responsibility for a budget in excess of £15m, you’ll influence how resources are used to make a real difference to families, while maintaining financial control and focus on strengths-based, preventative approaches. You will be an experienced Senior Leader who has successfully led high level transformation programmes and delivered efficiency savings without compromising on practice and performance.

Your leadership will empower teams to provide outstanding support across Harrow, fostering independence and inclusion.

Why join us?

• Be part of a forward-thinking authority committed to inclusion and excellence.
• Lead a passionate team dedicated to improving lives.
• Drive strategic change and innovation in disability services.

The successful candidate will have:

• Knowledge of how to deliver complex services for children and young adults, adults and integrated/partnership working within current legislation.
• Knowledge of current Local Government democratic processes and understanding of the political context.
• Knowledge and a significant understanding of the legislative framework and government policy agendas in respect of Children’s and Adults legislation.
• Knowledge of impacts of disability on children and adults and their families and carers.
• Substantial and successful direct management experience in one or more of the services within the portfolio of this post, including policy. development, contribution to corporate/strategic planning and managing change.
• Experience of managing people effectively within a customer-focused, service delivery organisation.
• Experience of successful budget management, including evaluation of competing budgetary priorities within tight financial limits.
• Experience of performance management and quality assurance processes in service delivery.
• A Social Work qualification e.g. CSS, CQSW, Dip SW, degree in social work.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• An Enhanced DBS will be required.

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/Selection Criteria

About us

Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit with a range of cultures, religions and opinions that come together to produce high achieving schools and a close and friendly community. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406.

Other information

Support for candidates visit:Harrow.gov.uk Our behavioural indicators roles below G11 and above G11 Here at Harrow Council, the vision is one of 'Working together to make a difference for Harrow' Please click here to view Harrow Council's benefits

Important Note

To deliver our commitment to equality of opportunity in service provision, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs at the London Borough of Harrow. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, or maternity unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification applies. As such, we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. For further information, please read our equality statement.

As a disability-confident employer, we are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and accessible to everyone. This includes reasonably adjusting the recruitment process for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. For further information, please contact us at resourcing@harrow.gov.uk

London Borough of Harrow is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Harrow operates stringent, safer recruitment procedures.

Due to the high number of applications received for some posts, we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Harrow redeployees will be given priority consideration.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn