Service Director - Direct Services

Lead with Purpose. Transform Services. Improve Lives.

Sandwell is a borough with ambition, momentum and a clear commitment to improving outcomes for the people and communities we serve. This is a significant opportunity to join Sandwell Council as Service Director – Direct Services, leading a large and highly visible portfolio at the heart of Adult Social Care and Health. You will be responsible for the operational leadership, performance, transformation and sustainability of directly provided services, ensuring they are high-quality, person-centred, financially resilient and fit for the future. Direct Services are front-facing, complex and vital to the lives of residents, families and communities. From prevention, intermediate care and reablement through to accommodation, day services, residential and nursing provision, this role brings the opportunity to shape services that people rely on every day.

We are looking for a credible, visible and values-led leader who understands the realities of operational delivery, but can also step back and set a clear strategic direction. You will bring the confidence to lead transformation, the judgement to manage risk well, and the ability to build a culture where decisions are made at the right level, staff feel supported, and performance and accountability are strengthened.

You will play a key role in ensuring Sandwell’s directly provided services are modern, sustainable and responsive to changing needs. This will include leading service improvement, preparing for and responding to CQC inspections, strengthening quality assurance, shaping new delivery models and making better use of digital technology and intelligence to support integrated, efficient and joined-up services.  You will also undertake the ‘nominated individual’ role our CQC registered services.

Partnership will be central to your success. You will work closely with health partners, voluntary and community organisations, elected members, corporate colleagues and operational teams to ensure services are connected, coordinated and focused on what matters most to residents.

This is also a people leadership role of real scale. With a substantial workforce and significant budgets, you will need to inspire confidence, bring clarity, and create the conditions for teams to perform well through change. We want someone who can engage a committed workforce, support managers to lead with confidence, and bring fresh thinking to how services are delivered.

Sandwell is on an important improvement and transformation journey. There is strong senior leadership commitment, a stable and developing leadership team, and a genuine opportunity for this postholder to help shape the next phase of Adult Social Care and Health. You will join at a time when relationships are being built, structures are evolving and there is space to influence, contribute and make a lasting impact.

We are seeking an experienced leader with a strong understanding of adult social care, direct service delivery, safeguarding, quality, performance and operational transformation. You may come from local government, health, social care or a related environment, but you will need to demonstrate the ability to operate strategically, lead complexity, work confidently with members and partners, and keep the people we serve at the centre of every decision.

If you are ready to lead visible, essential services at scale, drive cultural and operational improvement, and help shape sustainable adult social care services for the future, we would be delighted to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our colleagues at Tile Hill, Anita Denton 07725 554802 (anita.denton@tile-hill.co.uk) or Helen Alwell 07931 543313 (helen.alwell@tile-hill.co.uk).

Closing Date for Applications: Midnight Sunday 6^th September

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

If the organisation we’re representing is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and 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.