Director of Children’s Integrated Services – Social Care

Role: Director of Children’s Integrated Services – Social Care

Contract : Permanent, full time

Salary: Starts at £95,338 rising to £105,328

Location: Hybrid / Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham

Make a Real Difference for Children and Families in Nottingham

At Nottingham City Council, we’re committed to improving the lives of children, young people, and families across our city. As we continue our improvement journey, we’re looking for a confident, experienced and forward-thinking leader to take up the role of Director of Children’s Integrated Services.

This is a pivotal role — leading vital services, shaping strategy, and helping us build a more inclusive, high-performing and resilient city for the future.

About the Role

You’ll lead our Children’s Integrated Services, which include Children’s Social Care, Children in Care, and Regulatory Services. Working closely with elected members, the Corporate Director, partners and communities, you’ll translate vision into clear, deliverable outcomes.

We need someone who can lead through change, inspire a high-performing culture, and ensure children and families remain at the heart of everything we do.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a strong, compassionate leader with a proven ability to deliver results in complex environments. You’ll bring senior leadership experience from large organisations with significant responsibilities, and a clear talent for setting vision, turning strategy into action, and improving outcomes.

You’ve built positive organisational reputations and led sustainable change, underpinned by robust performance frameworks that promote accountability and good governance. With strong financial awareness, you know how to balance risk and resources effectively, even under pressure.

You understand the challenges facing local government—particularly here in Nottingham—and have the skills to lead and motivate teams, promote wellbeing, and embed inclusive leadership at every level. You plan for the future, ensuring workforce capacity and capability are aligned with long-term goals.

You’ve successfully led major transformation programmes, adapted quickly to change, and delivered innovative service models within tight budgets. Your approach is creative, resourceful, and focused on impact.

Collaboration is central to your leadership. You’re committed to working in partnership with communities, public bodies, and external agencies. Politically astute and confident, you build trusted relationships with Councillors and stakeholders alike. Above all, you bring a deep personal commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion—both in the workforce and in the services you deliver.

What You’ll Need

• A relevant professional qualification — ideally as a qualified and registered social worker
• A leadership/management qualification (ILM Level 7 or equivalent) or willingness to work towards one
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data

Why Nottingham?

Nottingham is a diverse and ambitious city, proud of its communities and committed to delivering better outcomes for children and families. This is your opportunity to join a passionate, values-driven leadership team and make a lasting difference at a crucial time.

We’re looking for someone who’s ready to lead with integrity, care, and purpose — and we’ll support you every step of the way.

Apply now and help shape the future of children’s services in Nottingham.

To Apply:

Please submit your CV and a covering letter setting out how you meet the requirements for appointment to: [email protected]

• The closing date for applications is 23.59 on Sunday 10th August
• Interviews : this is a three-stage process. Technical interviews are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday 27th August, with second stage interview panels week commencing 1st September and final interviews being held on Wednesday 10th September.

To arrange an informal conversation with Sarah Nardone about the role, please contact [email protected]

If you have any questions about the role or the recruitment process, please email [email protected]