North West Children's Services Workforce Development Lead

Contract Type: Secondment

Salary: £59,000 - £64,000 per annum

Closing Date: 13th August 2026 at 23:59pm

Help Shape the Future of Children's Services Across the North West

We are seeking an exceptional children’s services professional to drive regional workforce development across children's services at a pivotal time of national reform.

This is a unique opportunity to work alongside senior children’s services leaders and influence how the children's workforce develops across the North West, working with local authorities and partner organisations to strengthen recruitment, retention, skills development and workforce stability.

The successful candidate will lead a programme of high-profile workforce improvement projects, supporting the implementation of children's social care reform and helping ensure the region is equipped to meet future workforce challenges.

If you are passionate about improving services for children, young people and families and have a strong professional track record in early help, family support, education, youth services or another child-focused service area, we would love to hear from you.

About the Role

As the North West Children's Services Workforce Development Lead you will work closely with the lead Director for Children’s Services for Workforce for the North West. You will engage collaboratively across local authorities and partner organisations to drive and deliver innovative workforce solutions that support better outcomes for children and families.

You will use workforce intelligence, evidence and sector insight to identify opportunities, address challenges and develop sustainable approaches to workforce planning and development.

You will play a key role in shaping how children's services responds to reform, develops talent and builds a resilient workforce for the future.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading regional children’s services workforce programmes focused on recruitment, retention, workforce stability and employee engagement.
• Supporting workforce planning and using data and intelligence to identify current and future workforce challenges.
• Providing leadership for workforce initiatives linked to children's social care reform.
• Developing innovative approaches to attract and retain talented professionals across children's services.
• Strengthening workforce capability through learning, development and leadership initiatives.
• Building strong relationships with directors, senior leaders, workforce leads and partner organisations across the region.
• Managing complex projects from planning through to implementation and evaluation.
• Facilitating regional networks, events and communities of practice.
• Representing the North West on regional and national workforce forums.

About You

We are looking for someone with significant experience within children's services and a strong understanding of workforce development and improvement.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• A professional background in social work, early help, family support, education, youth services or a related children's service.
• Strong experience of workforce, organisational development, transformation or service improvement programmes.
• A strong understanding of recruitment, retention, workforce planning and workforce development.
• Experience of managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of current children's services policy and reform agendas.
• The ability to influence and build effective relationships with senior leaders and partners.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use evidence and data to drive improvement.

Desirable

• Social Work qualification and registration, or another relevant professional qualification.
• Project management qualification such as PRINCE2, MSP or Agile.
• Experience of regional partnership working.
• Experience of workforce initiatives linked to children's social care reform.

Why Apply?

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a high-profile role and make a lasting impact for children and families across the North West during a period of significant change for children's services.

You will have the chance to:

• Influence workforce development across an entire region.
• Work alongside directors and senior leaders from across children's services.
• Shape innovative responses to national reform.
• Drive improvements that support better outcomes for children, young people and families.
• Contribute to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the children's services workforce.

Join us and help shape the future workforce that supports children, young people and families across the North West.

To arrange an informal conversation about the role please contact Ivan West ivan.west@stockport.gov.uk

To apply: Please send expressions of interest to victoria.gent@blackpool.gov.uk outlining how you meet the criteria, including details of current employment.

to view the Job Description.