In Stoke-on-Trent we are reshaping Children and Family Services around a bold new delivery model to achieve our ambition of creating an integrated, restorative and family-centred system that intervenes earlier, strengthens families and enables children and young people to thrive.



In achieving our ambition we have created this new role, a key leadership position at the heart of leading change, working across services to influence delivery of practice and shape the best outcomes in Stoke-on-Trent. Reporting to the Corporate Director of Children and Family Services, you will provide strategic leadership and assurance for quality of practice, safeguarding and improvement. You will help turn our Families First Partnership ambitions into excellent frontline practice, ensuring that change is not simply implemented, but experienced by those who need our support.



You will shape our quality assurance framework, improvement planning and inspection readiness, bringing together quantitative performance insight with a deep understanding of practice and impact. You will oversee professional learning and workforce development through our Learning Academy and strengthen independent challenge. You will also help align practice across the new operating structure, sustaining momentum as our local government landscape evolves.



As a qualified social worker, you will bring a strong grasp of children's social care practice, quality assurance, performance and service improvement. You may bring experience as a Principal Social Worker, practice leader, improvement lead or senior operational leader. Whatever your route, you will combine authority, curiosity and the ability to influence across organisational boundaries. Visible, values-led and collaborative, you will create the conditions in which practitioners can excel, partners can contribute and learning leads to



Please visit the microsite: teamstoke.com



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Documents

Children and Families, Children's Social Care, Senior Management Structures.pdf

Improvement and Productivity Plan.pdf

Contacts

Philip Emms: 07590 225 472 Becky Downs: 07831 116 336


Recruitment Timetable



Closing date

2nd October 2026



Longlist Meeting (candidates will be notified if their application will be progressed to interview)

Wednesday 7th October 2026



Technical Interviews

October - TBC



Shortlist Meeting

October - TBC



Final Panel Interviews

October - TBC




How to Apply

• Please submit your CV along with a Supporting Statement addressing the person specification criteria, evidencing how you meet the criteria.


• Detail any employment or education gaps.


• Be ready to provide the names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees; one should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will be contacted for those proceeding to final stages. We will always gain your permission before we contact referees.


• Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.


• Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email confirmation. If you do not receive, please email contactus@gatenbysanderson.com