Head of Social Work, Community Support and Safeguarding

The Head of Social Work, Community Support and Safeguarding will provide strategic leadership across Jewish Care's social work, community support and family carer services, alongside organisation-wide leadership for adult and children's safeguarding.

Based at Amelie House in Golders Green, this permanent senior leadership role offers £77,500 per year for 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with an expectation of three days onsite each week.

The postholder will shape service strategy, drive innovation and transformation, strengthen professional social work practice, and ensure robust safeguarding governance and assurance.

Working with senior leaders, multidisciplinary teams and external partners, you will use data, community insight and evidence to improve outcomes, develop integrated support pathways and promote prevention, early intervention and independence.

You will also lead and develop managers, oversee budgets and resources, manage strategic risks and provide clear reports and recommendations to senior leaders, governance committees and trustees.

A recognised Social Work qualification, current Social Work England registration and substantial experience in safeguarding leadership, professional practice and strategic service development are essential.

Job Responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership and service development: Shape and deliver strategies for social work, community support and family carer services, driving innovation, prevention, early intervention and service improvement.
• Safeguarding leadership: Lead Jewish Care's adult and children's safeguarding strategy, training, assurance and governance, ensuring robust processes, effective escalation and organisational learning.
• Professional social work leadership: Promote high standards of person-centred, strengths-based and anti-discriminatory practice, supporting professional development, reflective supervision and workforce planning.
• Community insight and outcomes: Use data, demographic analysis, service feedback and community intelligence to identify emerging needs, improve access and demonstrate the impact of our services.
• Integrated support and partnerships: Develop strong relationships across health, local authorities and voluntary and community organisations to create joined-up pathways and improve outcomes for individuals and family carers.
• Leadership and performance: Lead and develop managers and multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, compassion and continuous improvement.
• Finance, governance and risk: Oversee budgets, resources, performance and strategic risks, providing clear, evidence-based reports and recommendations to senior leaders, governance committees and trustees.

Requirements:

• A recognised professional qualification in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England.
• Substantial experience of safeguarding leadership, complex decision-making and organisational assurance.
• A track record of providing professional leadership for social work practice across teams or services.
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary services, managing managers or senior practitioners, and delivering service transformation.
• Strong knowledge of adult and children's safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and professional social work standards.
• The ability to interpret complex data and evidence, translate insight into action.