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Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council

Corporate Director for Children’s Services (DCS)

Salary £170,987

At BCP Council, children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. This is an opportunity to join a council that has made significant progress. In 2025, we achieved a ‘Good’ Ofsted judgement, won the prestigious Municipal Journal (MJ) Local Government Achievement Award for Senior Leadership Team of the Year, and in 2026, secured a C1 rating for our Housing Services, marking significant progress in our improvement journey. We continue to build positively - while remaining ambitious about what comes next.

We are looking for our next Corporate Director of Children’s Services to provide energetic, values-led leadership across education, SEND, children’s social care and commissioning. This is a role for a collaborative and politically astute leader who understands that sustainable improvement comes through strong relationships, collective ownership and genuine corporate working.

At BCP Council, improving outcomes for children and young people is a collective responsibility - embedded across the whole organisation, not held within one directorate alone. As Corporate Director of Children’s Services, you’ll play an integral part in shaping the vision, direction and performance of the entire organisation and delivering the Council’s overall strategy.

You will join an organisation where values genuinely matter and where culture, teamwork and shared accountability sit at the centre of how we lead. We are seeking someone who will bring children and young people’s voices into the heart of the organisation, while working positively across the council, with partners and within a complex political and social care system environment.

There are important priorities ahead: strengthening financial grip, continuing improvement in SEND, responding to rising demand and helping shape the next phase of our organisational journey. You will inherit strong teams who are professionally curious and committed to continuous improvement, allowing you to focus on strategic leadership, visibility, partnership working and organisational influence.

Life at BCP Council offers the chance to combine meaningful leadership with an exceptional quality of life across one of the UK’s most vibrant coastal regions.

If you are ready to help shape the future for children and young people at BCP, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please visit https://www.leadatbcp.co.uk/

For a confidential conversation about the role, please contact our recruitment partners at Penna:

• Nick Raper on 07715 690463 or email: nick.raper@penna.com
• Amin Aziz on 07709 514141 or email: amin.aziz@penna.com
• Kelly Ridley on 07709 512415 or email: kelly.ridley@penna.com

Closing Date: Midnight 28^th June 2026

How to Apply

1. Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
2. Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
3. Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
4. Please ensure that the file name of your CV and supporting statement includes your full name.
5. Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.
6. If you have a long-term health condition or disability and would like your application to be considered in accordance with a Disability Confident Scheme, please email: execapplications@penna.com to inform the Penna team.

This is a defining leadership opportunity in a borough with real momentum

Stockport is one of the UK’s leading local authorities – recognised nationally, ambitious locally, and clear about where we’re going next.

Ambitious Stockport

Award-winning. Partnership-led. Purpose-driven.

• MJ Local Authority of the Year 2025

• MJ Senior Leadership Team of the Year 2024

• Strong system leadership across Greater Manchester

• A culture built on collaboration, honesty and ambition

This is a Big Opportunity

This is a pivotal role at a defining moment for Stockport. With a clear long-term vision – One Stockport, One Future – we’re bringing partners, communities and services together to help everyone live happy, healthy lives.

The Stockport Family

A different way of working – rooted in people and place

Our model brings services together around:

• Prevention and early help

• Strengths-based, asset-led practice

• Community capacity and neighbourhood working

• Local delivery footprints for better insight and impact

The opportunity ahead

Strong foundations. Clear ambition. Space to lead.

We know where we are on our journey. Inspection recognised solid foundations and committed sta’— alongside areas to strengthen.

That’s your opportunity:

To lead the next phase of progress with full organisational backing. An independent peer review described Stockport as “an impressive organisation with strong relationships and a clear sense of purpose.”

What You’ll Lead

You will lead the next phase of improvement across:

• Children’s social care and safeguarding

• Education and SEND

• Early help and prevention

• Partnership delivery across the system

You’ll build on strong foundations, restore momentum and drive lasting change for children and families.

Who you are

A leader with purpose and presence

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Strategic ambition and clarity

• Warmth and authenticity

• Strong partnership working

• A deep commitment to children and families

Join us

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a borough with confidence, ambition and a clear sense of nationally acclaimed direction.

Contact Nick Raper on 07715 690463 or Kelly Ridley on 07709 512415 at Penna for a confidential discussion.

Closing date: 11:59pm, Sunday 28 June 2026

For further information, please click the links below:

www.stockport.gov.uk/leadingstockport

Executive Director of Children’s Services - Stockport Council

How to Apply

1. Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
2. Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
3. Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
4. Please ensure that the file name of your CV and supporting statement includes your full name.
5. Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.
6. If you have a long-term health condition or disability and would like your application to be considered in accordance with a Disability Confident Scheme, please email: execapplications@penna.com to inform the Penna team.

An opportunity for a Contracts and Procurement Lawyer has become available to work at Durham County Council as part of the Legal and Democratic Services Team.

Durham County Council is the 8^th Largest Local Authority in the country supported by an experienced and talented legal service. Based in Durham City with excellent transport links our County is a fascinating place to work with rich history and heritage, coastline as well as areas of outstanding natural beauty and a world heritage site on the doorstep.

We actively promote a positive work / life balance and support wellbeing. We offer flexible hybrid working, a friendly and supportive working environment and a wealth of interesting work.

What is Involved

This motivated highly professional team is looking for an individual committed to excellence to undertake contracts and procurement work. The successful candidate will support and assist the Senior Lawyer (Corporate and Commercial Governance) as well as being responsible for their own caseload, providing a professional legal service with support from dedicated Legal Assistants. You will join a small team supplying high quality legal advice with a significant and varied caseload undertaking work relating to all Council functions and the opportunity to provide advice to schools, academies and the Fire Service.

In particular you will be working closely with our excellent Corporate Procurement Team who deal with an annual spend of over £500 million on the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023. You will advise on contracts and procurement for the provision of works, services or supplies, event and art agreements, as well as grant agreements and associated legal documentation. You can expect to be involved in high value and complex construction, regeneration and ICT projects.

We are looking to hear from enthusiastic individuals with a can do approach to join our busy team who are committed to providing an excellent legal service. The Council will happily consider applications from those newly-qualified or those wishing to consider a new specialism.

What Will I Need

You should be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with current practising certificate (will consider those about to qualify having completed all academic stages).

Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the Job Description for your Supporting Statement to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.

Interviews

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

Benefits & Rewards

We can offer you a range of employee benefits including competitive salaries, a generous leave entitlement of up to 32 days, a government pension scheme and various flexible and hybrid working options (benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions).

Take a look at our comprehensive rewards and benefits package at the link below:-

https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits

Hybrid Working

Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise the value of difference, having a diverse talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and can provide support throughout the recruitment process, for more information please refer to the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion page on our website.

You can find the full Job Description for the role Here

For a confidential discussion please contact brian.gallagher@penna.com or 07716 098175

How to Apply

1. Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
2. Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
3. Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
4. Please ensure that the file name of your CV and supporting statement includes your full name.
5. Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.
6. If you have a long-term health condition or disability and would like your application to be considered in accordance with a Disability Confident Scheme, please email: execapplications@penna.com, to inform the Penna team.