Head of Service – Families First Practice Development Lead

Job Description

Join Harrow Children’s Reforms Programme

Be part of an ambitious transformation improving outcomes for children and families

The London Borough of Harrow is embarking on an exciting period of change as we deliver a series of ambitious Children’s Reforms Programmes – including Families First, Best Start Family Hubs, Best Start in Life, and SEND Reforms. Together, these programmes will shape the future of support for children, young people and families across the borough.

To strengthen our programme and operational delivery, we are now recruiting for key roles to help ensure children and families remain at the heart of everything we do.

Why join us?

This is your opportunity to make a measurable, lasting impact. You will contribute to system-wide change that strengthens families, protects children, and ensures every young person in Harrow has the chance to thrive and grow into independent adulthood.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for children and families — and want to be part of a major journey of transformation — we would love to hear from you.

Head of Service – Families First Practice Development Lead

The London Borough of Harrow is seeking a visionary and collaborative Head of Service to lead the Families First & Practice Model development workstream. This senior leadership role sits at the forefront of strategic and operational transformation within Children’s Social Care, Early Help, and Youth Justice.

In this role, you will:

• Drive the design and delivery of the Families First Reforms, ensuring practice is rooted in family-based decision-making.
• Drive the design and implementation of a Practice Model for Harrow’s children, young people & families that delivers the National Social Care Framework outcomes
• Lead the implementation of the four Families First Programme reform pillars:
• Strengthening Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MASA) with a strong education focus
• Establishing integrated Family Help teams
• Developing expert Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPT)
• Embedding Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) throughout the child’s journey
• Use insight from children, families, and communities — alongside robust data and national best practice.
• Act as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, overseeing complex risk management, corporate parenting, and multi-agency partnership working.
• Provide strong operational resilience through cross-cover arrangements, ensuring seamless, child-centred service delivery.

We are looking for an experienced leader of practice with a deep commitment to improving outcomes for children, including those with SEND, and a passion for delivering high-quality, multi-agency support. If you are motivated by meaningful change, committed to high standards of practice, and eager to shape the future of Children’s Services in Harrow, we invite you to apply and join us on this transformational journey.

Note: This is a Three-Year Fixed Term Contract

The successful candidate will have the following skills and experience:

• Significant managerial experience in statutory local authority frontline social work services.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation and best practices.
• Proven ability to manage complex cases and budgets.
• Excellent partnership working and communication skills.
• Social Work Qualification and HCPC registration.
• Degree level education or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Experience of managing regulatory inspections.
• Ability to work unsocial hours.
• Satisfactory Enhanced DBS.
• Expertise in child protection and safeguarding.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Budget management and financial acumen.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.

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