About the Role
Suffolk County Council are seeking an exceptional Head of Service to lead their Children's Community Services, including Health Visiting, School Nursing, Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) and wider 0-19 services.
This senior leadership role is responsible for the strategic and operational delivery of high-quality, safe and effective services that improve outcomes for children, young people and families. Acting as the organisation's CQC Registered Manager, he successful candidate will lead safeguarding, quality, governance, workforce development, service transformation and regulatory compliance across the service. Lead. Safeguard. Transform.
Location: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX
Rate: £56.00 per hour (Umbrella rate)
Contract: Temporary
Hours: 30 hours per week
Office Requirements: Office-based for 3 days per week, regular travel across the service area required.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across Children's Community Services.
- Lead the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme (0-19), ensuring excellent outcomes and performance.
- Hold overall accountability for safeguarding, quality, governance, risk and regulatory compliance.
- Act as the senior safeguarding lead, driving excellence in safeguarding practice and multi-agency working.
- Lead service transformation, innovation and continuous improvement programmes.
- Oversee workforce performance, recruitment, retention, supervision and development.
- Manage complex budgets and resources, ensuring value for money and financial sustainability.
- Build strong partnerships with health, education, local authority, safeguarding and voluntary sector organisations.
- Represent the organisation at safeguarding partnerships, inspections, commissioning forums and strategic meetings.
About You
- You'll be a registered health professional (Nurse or SCPHN) with substantial senior leadership experience across children's services, community health, public health or integrated care settings.
- Hold current professional registration.
- Significant senior leadership experience within children's or community health services.
- Extensive safeguarding leadership experience.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, governance and regulatory requirements.
- Experience leading quality improvement, service transformation and operational performance.
- Proven ability to manage large multidisciplinary teams and complex budgets.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and leadership skills.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of children's community health services, drive innovation, strengthen safeguarding practice and lead services that make a lasting difference to children, young people and families. During the interview process a face-to-face interview is preferred.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. A DBS check may be applicable for this role, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.
