Job Details

Interim Head of Service - QA, Partnerships & Safeguarding

Location: Plymouth, Devon
Contract: Interim (26 Weeks)
Rate: -620 per day PAYE
Hours: 37 per week
Start Date: October 2026
IR35: Inside IR35-

Our client is seeking an experienced senior leader within Children's Services to join them on an interim basis as Head of Service for Quality Assurance, Partnerships and Safeguarding.-

This is a key leadership role within a forward-thinking local authority, providing strategic direction across safeguarding, quality assurance and multi-agency partnership working. The successful candidate will play a central role in driving service improvement, maintaining high standards of practice and ensuring positive outcomes for children, young people and families.-

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice and guidance to senior leaders and elected members on national policy, legislation and best practice.
• Lead and develop quality assurance frameworks to improve practice and performance.
• Drive continuous improvement across safeguarding services.
• Strengthen and maintain effective partnerships across the wider children's workforce and key agencies.
• Ensure children, young people and families receive services that improve outcomes and promote safety and wellbeing.
• Monitor and evaluate performance against local and national expectations, implementing improvement plans where required.
• Support inspection readiness and contribute to strategic planning and service development.
• Lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams.

About You

• You will be an accomplished senior manager with substantial experience within Children's Services and a strong track record of leading safeguarding and quality assurance functions.-

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Extensive leadership experience within a local authority children's services environment.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and national policy.
• Experience of quality assurance, service improvement and performance management.
• A proven ability to lead complex partnership arrangements across multiple organisations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience advising senior executives, directors and elected members.
• A strong focus on delivering improved outcomes for children and young people.

What's on Offer

• High-profile interim leadership opportunity.
• Opportunity to influence strategic direction and service improvement.
• Competitive daily rate.
• Supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Immediate impact role within a well-established service.

-If this is the right job for you click apply now!