Head of Integrated Children and Family Services

Head of Integrated Children and Family Services

Accountable to:
Chief Executive Officer

Hours:

1.0 FTE – 37 hours per week

Period of Notice: 1 month during probationary period, thereafter 2 months

Base:
Spring North, Suite 118 King’s Court, King Street, Blackburn BB2 2DH
Flexible/hybrid working, with regular travel across Lancashire & South Cumbria and other service areas as required.

Closing Date: 06/10/2026

The Head of Integrated Children and Family Services is a senior leadership post with strategic and operational accountability for Spring North’s EHWP+ work and the development of a coherent, high-quality children and family services portfolio. The postholder will provide visible leadership to teams and partners; ensure safe, effective and outcomes-focused delivery; strengthen links between existing services; and translate the needs and voice of children, young people and families into service improvement and future development.

Working with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will also identify and develop sustainable opportunities that extend Spring North’s impact.

• Hold delegated senior responsibility for the performance, quality, workforce, safeguarding and development of the children and family services portfolio.
• Lead EHWP+ as a key commissioned programme, ensuring that delivery remains aligned with contract requirements, local need, agreed outcomes and Spring North’s values.
• Hold senior accountability for the effective management and delivery of counselling and therapeutic services within the portfolio, including service quality, practitioner practice, professional standards, supervision arrangements and continuous improvement.
• Balance strategic direction with strong operational grip, intervening early where delivery, safety, quality, finance or partnership performance is at risk.
• Contribute to whole-organisation leadership, growth, resilience and culture as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team.

• Develop and implement a clear strategic direction for EHWP+ and the wider children and family services portfolio, aligned with Spring North’s organisational strategy and local commissioning priorities.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the changing needs of children, young people, parents and carers, using data, lived experience, professional insight and community intelligence to shape priorities.
• Create a more connected portfolio by linking existing services, clarifying pathways and reducing gaps, duplication and avoidable hand-offs for families.
• Promote early help, prevention, relationship-based and strengths-based approaches that improve emotional health, wellbeing, resilience and family outcomes.
• Keep abreast of policy, legislation, evidence and emerging practice affecting children, young people and families, translating these into proportionate action.

• Provide senior leadership and direction to the EHWP+ team, creating a shared focus on access, quality, outcomes, partnership delivery and continuous improvement.
• Lead the operational delivery of counselling and therapeutic provision, ensuring clear service models, referral and allocation arrangements, appropriate caseload management, safe thresholds, effective practitioner deployment and consistent therapeutic practice across employed teams and delivery partners.
• Ensure counselling and therapeutic interventions are delivered by appropriately qualified and competent practitioners, with suitable induction, supervision, continuing professional development and access to specialist or clinical advice where required.
• Ensure that service plans,…