Director of Children's Services
London, England, United Kingdom Full-time Posted 2 weeks ago
London Borough of BromleyLocation: Bromley Civic Centre (hybrid working)
Salary: Up to £194,270 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Lead with purpose. Shape a generation.This is a rare opportunity for an exceptional leader to take the helm of one of London's highest-performing Children's Services and leave a legacy for children, young people, and families across Bromley. London's largest borough by area, Bromley is a place of genuine opportunity. Outstanding schools, thriving town centres, expansive green space, and strong, connected communities make it a borough where families choose to put downroots and where the Council is deeply committed to ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life.
A borough that puts children firstAt the heart of Transforming Bromley and our Corporate Plan is a simple but powerful commitment: that children and young people come first in every decision, every ambition, and every pound we invest. The vision is clear and shared: "Children and young people grow up, thrive and have the best life chances in families who flourish and are happy to call Bromley home." That vision is backed by strong political will, a stable and experienced senior leadership team, and a culture that prizes learning, challenge, and continuous improvement. Bromley's Children's Services are consistently rated Outstanding. Strong inspection outcomes, effective safeguarding, and a positive LGA Peer Review all point to a high-performing system that is now actively shaping national reform through Families First, Family Hubs, and Best Start in Life initiatives, while maintaining the financial discipline that underpins sustainable excellence.
The RoleWe are looking for a Director of Children's Services who can lead from a position of strength - sustaining an Outstanding service while driving the next ambitious phase of reform, innovation, and system leadership. This is not a turnaround role. It is something arguably more demanding: the opportunity to take what is already exceptional and make it genuinely transformational. You will bring senior leadership experience at the highest level, credibility as a system leader, and the personal authority to inspire confidence across politicians, partners, practitioners, and the communities you serve. Above all, you will be authentic and values-driven, someone who leads with humanity as well as ambition.
Who we're looking forYou are a proven senior leader in children's services , someone with the experience at this level, presence, and conviction to lead a complex, high-performing directorate and shape its future with confidence. You understand what outstanding looks like and how to sustain it. You are as comfortable in the boardroom as you are listening to a frontline social worker or a family navigating difficult times. You bring strategic clarity, political acuity, and an unwavering commitment to the children and young people at the centre of everything Bromley does.
Applicants must hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
For full details, including the Job Description and Person Specification, please refer to the Recruitment Booklet.
For an informal discussion, please contact Ade Adetosoye CBE Chief Executive Ade.AdetosoyeCE@bromley.gov.uk
To apply: click Apply Now and submit your CV and supporting statement.
Closing date: 5 June 2026, 23:59.
We are forces family friendly and are part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (Bronze Award). We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and service delivery and as a disability confident committed employer we encourage applications from people with disabilities.As part of this commitment, we will consider reasonable adjustment to supportdisability employment. We offer a generous package including competitive pay, career average pension scheme, flexible working practices and the Bromley employee benefits scheme; Cycle2Work, Salary Sacrifice Lease Car, Technology Scheme, GymFlex and a wide range of local and national discounts.
Please note that we do not accept CV submissions from permanent recruitment agencies. If you are a candidate and would like to contact the Recruitment Team regarding the application process, please email Recruitment.Team@bromley.gov.uk
Salary: Up to £194,270 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Lead with purpose. Shape a generation.This is a rare opportunity for an exceptional leader to take the helm of one of London's highest-performing Children's Services and leave a legacy for children, young people, and families across Bromley. London's largest borough by area, Bromley is a place of genuine opportunity. Outstanding schools, thriving town centres, expansive green space, and strong, connected communities make it a borough where families choose to put downroots and where the Council is deeply committed to ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life.
A borough that puts children firstAt the heart of Transforming Bromley and our Corporate Plan is a simple but powerful commitment: that children and young people come first in every decision, every ambition, and every pound we invest. The vision is clear and shared: "Children and young people grow up, thrive and have the best life chances in families who flourish and are happy to call Bromley home." That vision is backed by strong political will, a stable and experienced senior leadership team, and a culture that prizes learning, challenge, and continuous improvement. Bromley's Children's Services are consistently rated Outstanding. Strong inspection outcomes, effective safeguarding, and a positive LGA Peer Review all point to a high-performing system that is now actively shaping national reform through Families First, Family Hubs, and Best Start in Life initiatives, while maintaining the financial discipline that underpins sustainable excellence.
The RoleWe are looking for a Director of Children's Services who can lead from a position of strength - sustaining an Outstanding service while driving the next ambitious phase of reform, innovation, and system leadership. This is not a turnaround role. It is something arguably more demanding: the opportunity to take what is already exceptional and make it genuinely transformational. You will bring senior leadership experience at the highest level, credibility as a system leader, and the personal authority to inspire confidence across politicians, partners, practitioners, and the communities you serve. Above all, you will be authentic and values-driven, someone who leads with humanity as well as ambition.
Who we're looking forYou are a proven senior leader in children's services , someone with the experience at this level, presence, and conviction to lead a complex, high-performing directorate and shape its future with confidence. You understand what outstanding looks like and how to sustain it. You are as comfortable in the boardroom as you are listening to a frontline social worker or a family navigating difficult times. You bring strategic clarity, political acuity, and an unwavering commitment to the children and young people at the centre of everything Bromley does.
Applicants must hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
For full details, including the Job Description and Person Specification, please refer to the Recruitment Booklet.
For an informal discussion, please contact Ade Adetosoye CBE Chief Executive Ade.AdetosoyeCE@bromley.gov.uk
To apply: click Apply Now and submit your CV and supporting statement.
Closing date: 5 June 2026, 23:59.
We are forces family friendly and are part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (Bronze Award). We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and service delivery and as a disability confident committed employer we encourage applications from people with disabilities.As part of this commitment, we will consider reasonable adjustment to supportdisability employment. We offer a generous package including competitive pay, career average pension scheme, flexible working practices and the Bromley employee benefits scheme; Cycle2Work, Salary Sacrifice Lease Car, Technology Scheme, GymFlex and a wide range of local and national discounts.
Please note that we do not accept CV submissions from permanent recruitment agencies. If you are a candidate and would like to contact the Recruitment Team regarding the application process, please email Recruitment.Team@bromley.gov.uk
