Interim Director of Children's Social Care

Interim Director of Children's Social Care
Specialist charity working to improve outcomes for children and families
Salary: Circa £80,000 FTE
Contract: Approximately six months
Location: Central London / Hybrid – minimum two days in the office

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior leader with a strong background in children's social care to join a specialist charity at an important point in its development.

The Interim Director of Children's Social Care will provide senior practice leadership during a significant period of growth and change, supporting a newly established leadership and Heads tier as the organisation delivers a major government contract and works towards its wider ambitions.

Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide clear practice authority, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong safeguarding and effective leadership across the service. You will bring a reflective and consultative approach, providing both support and constructive challenge to help colleagues navigate complex practice dilemmas, grow into their expanded responsibilities and work effectively as a cohesive team.

You will also provide organisational safeguarding leadership and oversight of contract delivery, ensuring key milestones and performance measures are achieved. This will involve working collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders, including local authority leaders, while maintaining the confidence and authority to challenge existing systems and influence positive change.

About you

We are looking for a values-driven senior leader with:

• Significant leadership experience and a strong understanding of children's social care practice, including its legal, policy and safeguarding context.

• The credibility and authority to engage with and constructively challenge senior local authority stakeholders, offering solutions that improve practice and outcomes.

• Experience of leading and developing teams through periods of change, providing strong line management, pastoral support and a balance of high support and high challenge.

• A reflective, consultative leadership style, with the ability to support colleagues through complex practice decisions and enable new leaders to thrive in their roles.

• Experience of organisational safeguarding leadership and oversight, with the ability to strengthen safeguarding practice and systems.

• Strong project and delivery management skills, with the ability to maintain oversight of complex contracts, deliverables and performance against key measures.

• The adaptability, resilience and judgement to operate effectively as part of a collaborative Senior Leadership Team.

The opportunity

This is a demanding but highly rewarding interim leadership opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and families, both individually and at a systems level.

The successful candidate will help embed a confident and effective leadership team, support the delivery of an important government contract and contribute to wider ambitions to influence children's social care practice, challenge systemic barriers and improve outcomes for children and families.


The successful candidate will be available to start as soon as possible.

How to apply
Candidates should apply through Giving Back Recruitment.

Closing date: Thursday 19th November 2026

CVs will be reviewed and candidates submitted on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended.

The successful candidate will be available to start in December 2026.