Head of Strategic Recovery (Adult Social Care)
Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days in Southampton
Contract: 2-year fixed term contract or secondment
Salary: Up to £94,853 per annum
Lead improvement where it matters most
In Southampton, adult social care plays a vital role in supporting people to live independent, healthy and fulfilled lives. At a time of significant change and opportunity, we are investing in strong, strategic leadership to drive improvement and long-term sustainability across the system.
This is a critical, high-impact role for an experienced and credible leader who can operate at pace, bring clarity in complexity and deliver meaningful, lasting change.
About the role
This is a senior leadership role with a clear mandate: to lead and deliver the council’s adult social care strategic improvement programme. You will operate at a senior level across, working closely with the Adult Social Care Leadership Team, corporate services and system partners to ensure alignment, pace and impact.
You will lead during a period of high visibility and scrutiny, ensuring the council responds effectively to regulatory expectations, strengthens governance and delivers sustained improvement in outcomes for adults and carers.
What you’ll be responsible for
- Leading the council’s strategic improvement programme in Adult Social Care in response to regulatory findings and external assurance requirements
- Developing and delivering a comprehensive plan, including immediate corrective actions and longer-term system change
- Providing independent challenge and oversight to identify risks, performance issues and governance gaps
- Ensuring robust programme management, governance and performance monitoring to track progress and impact
- Working alongside senior leaders to drive urgent operational, structural and cultural improvements across Adult Social Care
- Acting as the senior liaison with regulators and improvement partners, coordinating high-quality submissions and assurance reporting
- Providing clear, timely reporting to senior leadership and Members on risks, progress and decisions required
About you
We are looking for a values-driven, resilient and highly capable leader with the credibility to operate at a senior level in a complex and high-profile environment.
You will bring a strong track record of leading improvement, recovery or transformation within adult social care or a comparable public sector setting, alongside excellent judgement and political awareness. The successful Head of Strategic Regulatory Recovery of Adult Social Care will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Substantial leadership experience within adult social care, regulation, improvement or transformation
- Strong knowledge of the Care Act 2014, statutory responsibilities, and the regulatory landscape
- Experience of leading complex recovery or improvement programmes in high-risk, high-scrutiny environments
- Ability to analyse performance issues, identify root causes and deliver sustainable solutions at pace
- Strong programme management, risk management and performance oversight
- Excellent communication skills, with experience producing high-quality reports and engaging senior stakeholders, Members and regulators
- Confidence to influence at executive and political level, building trust and maintaining constructive relationships
- Personal resilience, integrity and the ability to lead effectively under pressure
Why Southampton?
Southampton is a diverse and ambitious city, with both the challenges and the opportunities of a much larger authority. Adult Social Care sits at the heart of our ambition to tackle inequality, improve wellbeing and support independence.
This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in shaping recovery and improvement at pace, working alongside Members, partners and colleagues across the system to deliver real and lasting change.
If you are motivated by challenge, impact and public service, we would welcome your application.
What we can offer you:
Salary: Starting salary is up to £94,853 per annum.
Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.
- Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
- Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
- Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
- Flexible working options (role-dependent)
- Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
- Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
- Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
- Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
- Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
- Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
- Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
- Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer
- For further information on our benefits package, please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)
Contact details for informal discussion:
For further information and details regarding the Head of Strategic Regulatory Recovery (Adult Social Care) opportunity please contact Betty Butlin, Executive Director - Community Wellbeing (DASS) on [email protected].
Recruitment contact details:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023 8083 4033
For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council
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