Head of Social Work and Specialist Support

Terms and Conditions: 37 hrs per week, Full Time, Permanent
Department: Children's and Education
Shortlisting Date: 26th October 2026
Interview Date: 5th November 2026

There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. In our recent inspection, Ofsted judged our Children’s Services as ‘Good’.

We are seeking candidates with the passion and drive to make a difference, who want to join us on our journey to achieving excellence.

Size is our strength and working for a small Borough means that your interaction with other members of our leadership teams and services are more accessible.

We strive to keep abreast of new developments but always maintain a person centred perspective to our working arrangements. As our employee we want to provide you with a better work life balance with flexible and agile working arrangements.

Our people services have a proud record of achievement in supporting adults, children and communities in the borough. We do this by promoting independence, health, wellbeing and through safeguarding from harm.

Our vision is to develop and retain high performing, motivated teams and to ensure that our offer of continuous professional development makes Blackburn with Darwen an attractive place for people to work.

We are looking for a candidate who has a depth of experience and knowledge across a number of key disciplines including managing and leading the statutory service areas for children and families in need of help and protection including safeguarding, effective step up and step down from social care into early help, compliant assessments of children in need and an effective service to children and families in receipt of a child protection plan and interventions.

For a further informal discussion please contact:

Joanne Siddle, Strategic Director Childrens & Education via joanne.siddle@blackburn.gov.uk

or Sharon Ridings, Deputy Director Childrens via Sharon.Ridings@blackburn.gov.uk

The above post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.