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Our People Directorate vision is “Supporting our residents to stay safe and well.” Within Starting Well, we are committed to ensuring every child grows up safe, supported and able to achieve their full potential. We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our senior leadership team as Head of Service – Safeguarding, leading our safeguarding service and driving continued improvement in outcomes for children and families across Havering.

About the Job

This is a pivotal strategic leadership role with responsibility for ensuring high-quality safeguarding services for children who require support, protection and intervention. Reporting into the Assistant Director and leading Service Managers, Team Managers and safeguarding teams, you will provide visible leadership across the service, ensuring children receive timely, effective and relationship-based interventions that improve safety, stability and long-term outcomes.

As Head of Service, you will:

Provide strategic and operational leadership across safeguarding services, ensuring compliance with statutory duties, legislation, guidance and best practice.
Lead a culture of high-quality, child-centred safeguarding practice that focuses on achieving positive outcomes for children and families.
Drive service improvement through effective quality assurance, performance management, audit activity and learning from reviews and inspections.
Lead and support Service Managers and Team Managers to deliver excellent practice, strong supervision and effective workforce development.
Work collaboratively with partners across health, education, police, voluntary sector organisations and safeguarding partnerships to ensure children receive coordinated support.
Provide strategic leadership for safeguarding performance, risk management, governance, commissioning and service development.
Lead transformational change programmes and contribute to wider Starting Well priorities, helping shape the future of children's services in Havering.
Ensure resources and budgets are managed effectively, delivering value for money whilst maintaining excellent services for children and families.

This is a unique opportunity to influence strategic safeguarding practice across the borough and play a key role in Havering's continued improvement journey. You will join an ambitious and supportive leadership team committed to excellence, innovation and achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people.

About You

You will be an accomplished and inspiring senior leader with substantial experience within statutory children's services and a strong track record of delivering excellent safeguarding outcomes. You will combine strategic vision with operational leadership and possess the credibility to influence practice, partnerships and organisational improvement.

Essential Requirements

Qualified Social Worker (CQSW, DipSW or equivalent professional qualification).
Current registration with Social Work England.
Significant senior leadership experience within Children's Services, including safeguarding services and service improvement.
Extensive knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, Working Together principles and the legal framework governing children's services.
Proven experience of leading large operational services, managing managers, developing high-performing teams and creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Strong understanding of quality assurance, performance management, inspection frameworks and service improvement methodologies.
Experience of working effectively within complex multi-agency environments, building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.
Demonstrable experience of strategic planning, resource management and budget accountability.
Ability to analyse complex safeguarding issues, manage risk effectively and make sound decisions under pressure.
Strong communication, influencing and presentation skills, with experience of engaging senior leaders, elected members, partners and inspectors. Most importantly, you will be passionate about improving the lives of children and families, committed to relationship-based practice and capable of leading with integrity, compassion and ambition.

What Matters Most

Most importantly, you will bring a genuine commitment to children and young people, a passion for improving outcomes and a belief that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish.

You will be ambitious and committed to supporting staff to do their best work and motivated by the opportunity to help Havering continue its improvement journey with pace, integrity and ambition.

If you are an inspiring leader who wants to make a real difference for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.

Please view Job Profile here

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Alex.Kaitell@havering.gov.uk

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 2/8/26 however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interview date to be confirmed.

Should you require any help or advice with your online application, please contact the Recruitment Helpdesk on 01708 432770

Additional Information

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

About us

With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start-ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries.
Find out why you should work for Havering Council.

Salary range

£77,550 - £87,054 per year