Social Work Improvement Lead

Social Work Improvement Lead

Are you a senior leader with a strong track record of driving improvement, transformation and performance within Children's Services?

We are seeking an experienced Social Work Improvement Lead to provide strategic leadership within our multi-agency Family Safeguarding Hub, playing a key role in strengthening service effectiveness, improving decision-making and delivering better outcomes for children, young people and families across Surrey.

This is a high-profile leadership opportunity for someone who combines operational expertise with a passion for service improvement, partnership working and transformational change.

As Social Work Improvement Lead, you will work at the heart of Children's Services, driving performance, quality assurance and continuous service development within the Family Safeguarding Hub.

Working closely with senior leaders and partners across Children's Services, Early Help, Health, Police and the wider safeguarding network, you will identify opportunities for improvement, implement innovative solutions and ensure services are delivering effective, timely and proportionate responses to vulnerable children and families.

You will lead on embedding best practice, strengthening operational performance and supporting cultural and organisational change, ensuring children receive the right support at the right time.

• Lead and deliver improvement initiatives across the Family Safeguarding Hub and wider front-door services.
• Drive service transformation programmes aligned to strategic priorities and safeguarding objectives.
• Review operational processes, systems and practices to improve efficiency, consistency and outcomes.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement, learning and innovation across teams and partner agencies.

• Utilise performance data, audit findings and quality assurance activity to identify trends, risks and areas for development.
• Develop and implement performance improvement plans that deliver measurable service outcomes.
• Ensure robust governance, accountability and oversight of safeguarding decision-making.
• Support preparation for inspections and external reviews, driving readiness and continuous compliance.

• Provide visible leadership across a complex multi-agency environment.
• Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with safeguarding partners to drive shared objectives.
• Influence senior stakeholders and contribute to strategic planning across Children's Services.
• Support managers and practitioners to embed relationship-based and strengths-based practice.

• Lead and develop a highly skilled team of specialist professionals and advisors, fostering a culture of high performance and accountability.
• Manage resources effectively to support service delivery and maximise value for money.
• Hold responsibility for a staffing budget of approximately £1.5 million, ensuring effective workforce planning and financial oversight.

We're looking for a dynamic and resilient leader who can demonstrate:

• Significant leadership and management experience within statutory Children's Services.
• A proven track record of delivering service improvement, transformation and performance management programmes.
• Strong experience of quality assurance, audit activity and improvement planning.
• The ability to analyse complex performance information and translate insights into meaningful service improvements.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Experience of leading services through change in complex safeguarding environments.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, policy and practice.

You will be a qualified Social Worker with substantial experience operating at a senior management level and a passion for improving services for children, young people and families.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead meaningful change within a critical safeguarding service, influence strategic developments across the partnership and make a lasting impact on outcomes for children and families across Surrey.

If you're a values-driven leader with a passion for improvement, transformation and delivering excellence in Children's Services, we'd love to hear from you.

Connect2Surrey is a trading style of Surrey & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Surrey County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Surrey is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.