Head of Service Quality Assurance, Inspection and Safeguarding

Job Description

Join Our Leadership Team as Head of Quality Assurance, Safeguarding and Audit

Location: County Hall, Preston, Lancashire

Directorate: Education and Children's Services, Children's Social Care

Salary: £77,883 - £85,119

About the Role:

Are you a leader with a passion for ensuring the highest standards in Children's Social Care? Lancashire County Council is seeking a dynamic Head of Quality Assurance, Inspection and Safeguarding to lead and shape our strategic approach to safeguarding, inspection readiness, and service improvement across Children's Social Care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Champion and sustain the Lancashire Family Safeguarding Model (LFSM), ensuring its continued impact and effectiveness.
• Lead the coordination of quality assurance across Children's Services, including audit planning, execution, and reporting.
• Drive preparation for inspections and peer reviews, contributing to the directorate's self-assessment alongside senior leaders.
• Manage Independent Reviewing Officers and provide professional oversight of key services including the Emergency Duty Team, LADO, Family Group Conferencing, SEND IAS, School Safeguarding, and Child Employment and Entertainment.
• Supporting the delivery of the Families First programme.
• Provide effective senior leadership and management of a diverse workforce, fostering a culture of continuous professional development.
• Develop and implement strategic business plans aligned with the core purpose of Children's Social Care.

What you will bring:

• Proven leadership experience in children's social care.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Experience in inspection preparation, quality assurance, and multi-agency working.
• An ability to demonstrate the behaviours and capabilities of our leadership framework.

For more details on the role and requirements, please refer to the job description & person specification linked below:

Job Description & Person Specification

Please attach a word document, no longer than 2 A4 pages with the following:

• a detailed account of your experience in leading a large Children's social care service.
• a statement on why you are the right candidate for this role.

Longlisting w/c 24th November 2025

Interviews 4th and 12th December

For a confidential conversation with our Executive Director please contact: sarah.baldacckino@lancashire.gov.uk

Lancashire County Council provides public services including education, social services, highways, waste disposal, libraries, registration, planning and trading standards across Lancashire.