We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole – particularly your ‘Supporting Information’ – reflects your own voice.

Walsall Council’s Children’s Services are the only Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council’s journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children’s services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise and coordinate the Ready to Learn staffing team to deliver high-quality support for families across Walsall.
• Lead the development and delivery of Home Learning, Parenting and the Best Start in Life (1001 Days) programme.
• Collaborate with Best Start Family Hubs, health services and partner organisations to create a coordinated support offer.
• Design, monitor and report on performance frameworks, KPIs, audits and evaluations for the service.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings and co-design sessions with parents, carers and partners.
• Develop personalised support plans, removing barriers for families with complex needs.
• Produce written information, teaching materials, website content and social media resources.
• Manage the financial reporting requirements of the Department for Education for the service.
• Report risks, enquiries and progress to the Best Start Family Hub Steering Group and related working groups.
• Promote a preventative, strengths-based and inclusive approach to reduce health, wellbeing and education inequalities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Level 3 qualification in a related field or equivalent experience in children’s services.
• Project management qualification (Level 4) or significant programme management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead business change initiatives and deliver projects on time and budget.
• Excellent organisational, planning, analytical and data-management skills.
• Strong communication, marketing and public-relations abilities, with experience delivering training and information events.
• Proven experience working in partnership with parents, carers and multi-agency teams, including safeguarding awareness.
• Knowledge of early brain development, early years policy, UNICEF Baby Friendly standards and local Children’s Services frameworks.
• Ability to chair and facilitate meetings with diverse stakeholders and develop robust business cases.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and data protection principles.
• Willingness to travel across the borough, work evenings/weekends as needed and undergo a DBS check.

Here at Walsall, we want to attract the best talent. That's why - as well as a satisfying and rewarding job - we offer a range of attractive benefits [https://go.walsall.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers-/benefits-of-working-for-us]. Working arrangements in most jobs are flexible (you may work flexitime, full or part time and job sharing is usually available) and you can expect generous holiday entitlements, a first class pension scheme and plenty of opportunities for training and personal development.

We advertise vacancies because we want the best talent available. If that's you, we're waiting for your application.

Living in Walsall

Part of the Black Country, famous for its enterprising and industrial past, Walsall is reinventing itself to become a progressive modern community. The borough is centred around the major town of Walsall, but also includes five smaller and distinctive district centres (Bloxwich, Aldridge, Willenhall, Darlaston and Brownhills), together with numerous villages.

Walsall Council is committed to Safer Recruitment. To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce.

Social Work Matters - Children's Social Worker Recruitment

Some of our children require a special kind of support: yours. Visit our microsite [https://go.walsall.gov.uk/children-and-young-people/social-work-recruitment] to find out more about joining Walsall Council as a Children's Social Worker.