Interim Head of Service – Fostering & Corporate Parenting

Job Title: Interim Head of Service – Fostering & Corporate Parenting
Location: Southend (Hybrid – minimum 2 days on site)
Band/Rate: £550 per day
Start Date: ASAP – 4 weeks
Contract Duration: 3–6 months ongoing
Team: Fostering and Kinship Care Services

What You’ll Be Doing

As the Interim Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to Southend’s Fostering and Kinship Care Services. You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading the development and implementation of strategic plans, policies and procedures to improve services and best practices across fostering and kinship care.

• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality, relationship-based services for children, young people and their families.

• Maintaining excellent standards of service performance and statutory compliance.

• Driving service improvement and embedding a culture of continuous development.

• Collaborating with senior managers and external partners to ensure cohesive, joined-up working across the system.

• Managing large service budgets, governance, and administration.

Requirements & Qualifications

To be considered for this role, you must:

• Be a current Head of Service with significant leadership experience in Children’s Social Work.

• Have strong operational and strategic oversight of Fostering and Corporate Parenting services.

• Be registered with Social Work England.

• Have experience in commissioning and overseeing regulated accommodation for children in care and care leavers.

• Possess excellent leadership, stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

• Demonstrate sound knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory duties and best practice in fostering services.

Working Hours & Contract Duration

• Working Pattern: Hybrid, with a minimum of 2 days per week on site.

• Start Date: ASAP – 4 weeks

• Contract Length: 3–6 months ongoing

• Rate: £550 per day (via umbrella)

Why Choose Hunter Gatherer Mental Health?

• Market-leading agency specialising in mental health and children’s services recruitment

• Exclusive access to key NHS and Local Authority vacancies

• Efficient compliance process and dedicated support throughout your contract

• Weekly payroll and direct point of contact for any concerns

Know someone else who might be interested?
Refer them to me today, and if they start, you’ll earn £250!