Head of Service Quality Assurance & Safeguarding - Children's Services

Head of Service for Quality Assurance & Safeguarding – Children’s Services Job Information

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council

Salary: £73,452 - £80,878 per annum (plus additional £3k Market Supplement)

Location: Shute End, Wokingham

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time

Hours: 37 hours per week.

DBS Check: Enhanced

Closing Date: 08/03/2026 at 23:00

Reference: 710430

• Hold strategic responsibility for the Quality Assurance Framework, ensuring consistent high standards across Children's Social Care, Early Help, and SEND.
• Act as the Quality Assurance Lead for the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, providing expert insight on safeguarding standards and best practice.
• Lead and develop collaborative multi‑agency relationships, driving joint auditing, learning, and system‑wide improvements.
• Manage the Family Group Conferencing Service, promoting child‑centred and restorative approaches.
• Provide effective leadership to the Quality Assurance & Safeguarding Service, including overseeing the Team Manager for QA & Safeguarding.
• Lead on the development, delivery and evaluation of quality assurance activity, including case audits, learning reviews and thematic analysis.
• Manage the Children’s Services & SEND Complaints Manager, ensuring complaints are handled effectively and learning is embedded.
• Oversee the Participation Manager to ensure children and young people have access to advocacy, participation opportunities and co‑production that shapes service delivery.
• Contribute to multi‑agency safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with national requirements and emerging research.
• Represent Wokingham at local and national forums, horizon scanning for policy changes and emerging best practice.
• Participate in the Emergency Duty Team rota (every 6–8 weeks).
• Be an active member of the wider departmental and council management team.

• Salary: £73,452 – £80,878 per annum +£3k Market Supplement
• 31 days annual leave, rising to 36 with continuous service
• On‑site Gym access
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Local and national discounts
• Access to Tusker Car Scheme
• Enhanced Local Government Pension Scheme

All applications must be submitted online.

Please apply online via the link provided. We do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

For more information or if you would like to have an informal discussion regarding this vacancy, please contact either:

Carrie Mark, Service Director Practice Improvement Quality:

Alix Williams, Recruitment & Retention Specialist for Children’s Social Care:
Al

Interviews:
Monday 23rd March, in person at our Wokingham offices.

We will be reviewing applications on a daily basis and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

All offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually. If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the Final date to receive applications, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.