5 Head of service jobs in London, Greater London

It’s a very exciting time to join VoiceAbility

We have a new Chief Executive, Kathryn Llewellyn, an innovative executive team and new trustees bringing fresh energy and ideas. This year we’re refreshing our strategy and building the foundations for future growth and development, and this new role is at the heart of that. You’ll lead how our advocacy services are delivered, and how they keep getting better.

Advocacy changes what happens to people. It’s the difference between a decision made about someone and a decision made with them. At VoiceAbility, we protect people’s rights and make sure their voices are heard. We offer a variety of advocacy and support services, delivered by both employed and volunteer teams.

Who we’re looking for

You’re an experienced operational leader who won’t settle for “good enough”. You know how to run services well, managing demand, budgets and contracts, but what drives you is making them better for the people who use them.
You lead through others. You build managers’ confidence, create a culture where people can reflect, raise concerns and learn, and hold teams to account with fairness and clarity. You’re curious about what the data and audits are really telling you, and you see actions through until practice changes.

You believe in people’s rights and in the independence of advocacy, and you’ll stand up for both, including with commissioners and partners. You value lived experience, and you bring colleagues, volunteers and experts by experience with you to shape what comes next.

You’ll have good judgement: you know when to act, when to seek specialist advice and when to escalate. Above all, you’re energised by change, and ready to help us build the next chapter of VoiceAbility.

What you’ll do

Reporting to the Director of Operations, and working hand in hand with our Head of Data and Impact, you’ll turn strategy into delivery that people can feel. You’ll:
• lead our services so people get timely, high-quality advocacy, using smart planning to manage demand, waiting lists and capacity
• set the bar for advocacy practice, and protect the independence that makes advocacy work
• build a culture of reflective supervision, learning and accountability, developing our operational managers and frontline leaders
• own our quality programme, using case sampling, audits, peer review and data to find out what’s really happening and drive change that lasts
• make sure safeguarding, incidents and complaints are handled well, and that every lesson improves practice
• work with commissioners and partners as a confident, constructive voice for quality and for the people we support
• open up improvement, so the people who use and deliver our services help design what comes next
What you’ll bring
• Significant operational leadership across multiple services or a complex portfolio, in advocacy, health, social care, the voluntary sector or a related setting.
• A track record of improving services and practice, even when resources are tight.
• Experience of developing managers and building strong supervision and accountability.
• Experience of practice assurance, audit and improvement, and the drive to see actions through.
• A sound understanding of safeguarding, and a real commitment to rights-based, person-centred advocacy.
• The ability to turn performance, quality and financial information into clear decisions.
• The confidence to have honest, constructive conversations with commissioners and partners.

You’ll have a degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional experience. Experience in independent advocacy, across adult and children’s services. 
Experience of mobilising new contracts would be a bonus, but isn’t essential.

Benefits 

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time colleagues) rising to 30 days upon 5 years’ service 

5% employer pension & minimum 3% employee contribution 

Salary sacrifices pension scheme 

Separate Life Assurance Cover (equivalent of two times your annual salary) 

Staff discount scheme including retail discounts, entertainment, holidays, gym membership etc 

24/7 Employee Assistance programme 

Access to remote counselling service 

Paid Disability Leave 

Paid compassionate Leave 

Home Working Allowance 

How are staff supported to work remotely? 

When you need to travel for work, expenses will be paid (mileage or public transport costs). 

VoiceAbility offers the usual regular manager one to ones, Staff forums and communities of practice depending on role. Team meetings with a mix of virtual and in person approach. 

Equality and Diversity

VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential.

VoiceAbility are a Disability Confident employer, any applicant that identifies themselves as having a disability and can demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview. If you need to apply in a different way, please us for further options.

How to apply

To apply for this role please sign up for a recruitment account by clicking the apply button on this page. Follow the instructions to create your account, upload your CV, and complete our short application form. 

Important Dates:

Closing date for applications; Midnight on 26th November 2026, however, VoiceAbility reserve the right to withdraw this vacancy before this date. 

Don’t forget to read the person specification so you can tell us about yourself and how your skills, abilities and experiences match the criteria outlined in the person specification. 

We look forward to hearing from you.