Assistant Director Children & Families

Every child deserves the best possible start in life.

Hartlepool is a close-knit and ambitious borough where improving outcomes for children and families is at the heart of everything we do. Home to an Outstanding Children's Services department, and with strong support for children's services and a genuine commitment to collaboration, this is an opportunity to join a leadership team focused on making a lasting difference. We are looking for an exceptional children's social care leader to join us as Assistant Director, Children and Families and help shape the future of services for children, young people and families across the borough.

As Assistant Director, you will lead a significant portfolio that includes safeguarding, child protection, children in care, fostering and adoption, residential services, care leavers, youth justice and family support services. Working closely with senior colleagues across the directorate and wider partnership system, you will drive improvement, champion high-quality practice and ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time. You will play a key role in shaping strategic priorities, strengthening partnerships and delivering better outcomes for children and young people.

Building on the strong foundations of an Outstanding Children's Services department, you will bring the leadership, credibility and ambition needed to sustain excellence, drive continuous improvement and respond confidently to future challenges. You will be someone who can translate vision into action, inspire high-performing teams, build effective partnerships and lead with integrity, compassion and ambition.

In return, you will join an authority that values collaboration, innovation and collective leadership. Alongside a competitive salary, we offer access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, hybrid working arrangements, employee wellbeing support and a comprehensive benefits package. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children, young people and families in a borough that is determined to continue improving and delivering the very best services.

If you are an inspiring leader with the ambition, compassion and drive to make a lasting difference, this is your opportunity to shape services, influence communities and improve the lives of children and families across Hartlepool.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our colleagues at Tile Hill, Anita Denton 07725 554802     (anita.denton@tile-hill.co.uk) or Chris Barrow 07437 839048 (chris.barrow@tile-hill.co.uk).

Closing Date for Applications: Midnight Sunday 16^th August 2026

Technical interviews (virtual): Wednesday 9^th or Thursday 10^th September

Final Panel: Monday 21^st September

*Please note these dates may be subject to change*

To apply:

For further information, please download the Job Description and Person Specification here.

Please note that the full Candidate Pack, which includes further detail and supporting information, is being finalised and will be uploaded to this page by 31^st July.

Please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (four sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (four sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, and achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements. Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only. If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact matthew.ashby@tile-hill.co.uk

Applications should include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your notice period
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for an interview

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk

Hartlepool Borough Council are a Disability Confident Leader. If you’d like to apply under the scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.