Chief Officer - Family Help and Social Work

Leading a citywide safeguarding system with purpose

Leeds is a city with bold ambition for children and families. We are proud of our strong values, our commitment to inclusion and our relentless focus on improving outcomes.

We are driven by our Leeds Ambitions, prioritising the actions that will have the most impact for people in our city over the next decade. Working together with partners, communities and families, our shared goal as Child Friendly Leeds is that every child and young person will have the best start in life and be supported to thrive.

To help lead this next phase of improvement, we are recruiting three exceptional Chief Officers to join our Children and Families Directorate. These are influential, system‑leading roles that will work collectively as part of a strong and values‑driven senior leadership team, shaping the future of services across the city.

We are continuing to strengthen our social work and family help system - with prevention, early intervention and safeguarding at its core - and we’re seeking a courageous, experienced leader to help drive that work forward.

Reporting to the Director of Children and Families, the Chief Officer for Family Help & Social Work will provide strategic leadership across the end‑to‑end safeguarding system, from early help and the integrated front door through to statutory social work.

As a senior corporate leader, you will help shape the strategic direction of Children and Families and contribute to the wider leadership of the council and the Leeds Ambitions.

Your impact

You will lead area‑based children’s social work and family help services across Leeds, ensuring children are safeguarded, families are supported to stay together wherever it is safe to do so, and statutory responsibilities are delivered to the highest professional standards.

You will guide the ongoing development of the family help system, strengthening prevention, reducing unnecessary escalation and embedding strengths‑based practice through the Leeds Practice Model. Working closely with partners across education, health, police and the voluntary and community sector, you will ensure integrated, effective approaches to safeguarding and family support.

You will provide expert advice to elected members and senior leaders on safeguarding, social work practice and early help, and represent Leeds in regional and national forums. You will lead transformation and continuous improvement activity, maintaining readiness for Ofsted inspection and ensuring learning drives sustained progress.

As a leader of people, services and significant budgets, you will build a high‑performing, values‑driven workforce focused on excellent outcomes for children and families.

About you

You will be a registered social worker with substantial senior leadership experience in children’s social care. You will bring:

• Extensive experience leading safeguarding and statutory social work services
• Strong knowledge of legislation, policy and inspection frameworks (including Ofsted)
• A proven ability to lead complex systems and large‑scale change
• Political acumen and confidence operating in highly visible, sensitive environments
• Excellent communication, influence and partnership‑building skills

You will be driven by a clear purpose: keeping children safe, strengthening families and ensuring Leeds continues to deliver high‑quality, child‑centred services.

To find out more and apply, visit www.futureleeds.co.uk or contact Zarvesha Rasool (07551 392696) or Anita Denton (07725 554802).

Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 31^st May 2026

To apply:
To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (three sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (three 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 abbie.hamilton-grant@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