Job Introduction
We are seeking a Head of Service Family Help and Partnerships to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Family Help Service and hold additional portfolios for our Integrated Front Door (MASH), Partnerships and Family Support.
About the Role
As Head of Service, you will ensure the delivery of high‑quality, relational early help and statutory social work services for children, young people, and families. You will lead system transformation, continuous practice improvement, partnership integration and the delivery of the local authority’s key priorities. The role includes leadership of the Partnerships and Family Support Service, acting as a strategic point of contact for key partners such as Solent NHS Trust, and overseeing services aligned with the Best Start in Life Strategy. You will also manage family hubs and parenting pathways, ensuring consistent, effective and inclusive delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership across Family Help, MASH, Partnerships and Family Support, ensuring outstanding service delivery to the children and families of Portsmouth.
- Lead system integration and service transformation aligned with national reform agendas.
- Ensure high‑quality, proportionate and timely interventions that meet need, reduce risk and build family resilience.
- Provide strategic oversight of the MASH, enabling effective multi‑agency work, consistent decision‑making and robust risk management.
- Drive continuous quality assurance and practice improvement using audit, learning reviews, lived experience and inspection findings.
- Lead and support senior managers and multi‑disciplinary teams, building workforce capability, stability and confidence.
- Manage performance, budgets and commissioning arrangements.
- Represent the local authority at strategic boards and support strong multi‑agency partnerships.
- Embed relational, strengths‑based, trauma‑informed practice across all services.
About You
You will be a credible, compassionate and relational senior leader, confident in managing complexity and change, and committed to inclusion, co‑production and rights‑based practice.
Qualifications and Experience
- A recognised social work qualification and current professional registration.
- Significant senior leadership experience within children’s services.
- Extensive knowledge of key legislation and frameworks, including:
- Children Act 1989/2004
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
- SEND Code of Practice
- Family Help and national children’s social care reforms
- Experience leading large, complex, multi‑disciplinary services and portfolios.
- Strong strategic planning, transformation and financial management skills.
- Experience working effectively with senior partners across complex systems.
- A proven track record of inspection readiness and improvement (e.g. Ofsted, CQC, JTAI).
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