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We are seeking an experienced and committed Head of Service to lead a Family Safeguarding Team within a children’s social care service in Somerset. This is an influential role for a qualified social work professional who can provide strong, visible leadership and ensure children, young people and families receive effective, strengths-based support.

You will be responsible for the operational management and development of the Family Safeguarding Team, promoting high standards of practice, sound professional judgement and positive outcomes for children. Working closely with service managers, social workers and partner agencies, you will help embed a collaborative approach that keeps children’s voices, safety and wellbeing at the centre of decision-making.

Key responsibilities will include providing professional leadership and direction; overseeing the quality and timeliness of assessments, plans and interventions; monitoring performance and managing risk; and ensuring practice complies with statutory requirements, relevant guidance and safeguarding procedures. You will also support workforce development, contribute to service improvement activity and ensure learning from audits, reviews and feedback is translated into practice.

The successful candidate will hold a recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England. You will have substantial post-qualification experience in children’s social care, including experience of safeguarding, child protection and working with families facing complex challenges. Experience of managing social work teams, leading change and improving practice within a family safeguarding or multi-disciplinary setting would be highly desirable.

You will be an inspiring and accountable leader with excellent communication, decision-making and partnership-working skills. A thorough understanding of statutory children’s services, quality assurance and risk management is essential, alongside the ability to motivate staff and create a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to children and families while helping shape high-quality, integrated safeguarding services. A commitment to equality, inclusion and relationship-based practice is essential.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Head of Service to lead Safeguarding within Children’s Social Care. This is a senior leadership role for a qualified social worker who can provide strategic direction, professional leadership and operational oversight across safeguarding services. You will play a key role in ensuring children and young people receive timely, effective and consistently high-quality support.

You will lead, manage and develop safeguarding teams, promoting a strong culture of practice excellence, accountability and continuous improvement. Your responsibilities will include overseeing child protection activity, managing complex and high-risk cases, ensuring effective partnership working, and maintaining robust quality assurance arrangements. You will support the delivery of statutory duties, relevant legislation and national safeguarding standards, while ensuring that children’s voices, wishes and feelings remain central to decision-making.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across social care, education, health, police and other partner agencies, you will strengthen multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and contribute to strategic planning and service development. You will monitor performance, identify areas for improvement and ensure learning from audits, reviews and practice evaluations is embedded effectively. The role will also involve preparing reports, contributing to governance forums and supporting the development of policies, procedures and workforce initiatives.

You will be a registered and experienced social worker with substantial post-qualifying experience in children’s safeguarding and demonstrable experience of leading teams or services. You should have a strong understanding of child protection processes, relevant legislation, inspection frameworks and evidence-informed social work practice. Excellent communication, analytical and decision-making skills are essential, together with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and build effective professional relationships.

You will be confident working in a demanding environment, able to manage competing priorities and committed to achieving positive outcomes for children and families. In return, this role offers the opportunity to shape safeguarding practice, support a skilled workforce and make a meaningful contribution to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.