Assistant Director - Children's Services Transformation and Commissioning

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

Make change happen and make it stick.

We’re looking for a senior leader who can turn ambition into reality, embedding change in practice and ensuring it delivers for children and families. This is a 2-year fixed-term role focused on driving and implementing our transformation priorities at pace

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Children’s Services, you will lead the implementation of transformation across the directorate.

This is a delivery-focused role. You will:

• Implement children’s reforms so they are consistently applied in practice

• Drive pace, grip and momentum, removing barriers to delivery

• Ensure new ways of working are owned and embedded by the workforce

• Translate strategy into clear expectations, practice and outcomes

Key focus

• Making change real: embedding new operating models and improving day‑to‑day practice

• Bringing people with you: building confidence, clarity and shared ownership across teams

• Co‑production and co‑design: working with children, young people, families and partners to shape and refine services

• Commissioning for impact: aligning services and the market to support and sustain change

• Partnership delivery: working with schools, health, providers and the voluntary sector to deliver joined‑up support for children

• Sustaining improvement: using data and feedback to ensure change lasts

What we’re looking for

You will:

• Have a strong track record of delivering and embedding transformation at scale

• Be confident working across complex partnerships and systems

• Bring experience of commissioning and service redesign

• Lead in a way that engages and brings the workforce with you

• Focus relentlessly on outcomes, quality and consistency

Why join us

You’ll be part of an ambitious leadership team committed to making change real working together to improve outcomes for children across North Somerset.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for the design and delivery of children’s reforms across the directorate ensuring alignment with national legislation, local consultation proposals and the council’s improvement priorities

• Lead the implementation of reforms that ensure sufficiency and sustainability of services that align with statutory requirements and local priorities.

• Lead and drive strategic commissioning across Children’s Services, including early help, social care, education placements and specialist services, shaping and influencing the provider market to secure sufficiency, quality, innovation and value for money through effective commissioning, contract oversight and performance management.

• Partnership Working

• Financial Management, Governance and Risk Management

• Workforce leadership and culture

• Contributing to the achievement of the Directorate & North Somerset’s strategy, vision, practices and policy objectives, including modelling the council’s values and expected behaviours

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office

• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.

• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent

• Relevant professional qualification

• Good understanding of local authority structures, financial and legal constraints

• A working knowledge of children’s social care and education legislation and regulations in regard to contracts and commissioning

• Sound understanding of the drivers for change across social care and the implications for the council and partner agencies

• A good grasp of working with the NHS and partners to deliver national policies

Experience:

• Significant relevant senior management experience in a social care, education or health setting

• Significant experience in contracts and commissioning in a social care, education or health setting

• Experience of leading partnership initiatives and integrating social care and other services, including health

• Experience of successfully managing complex change processes

• Experience of working successfully with elected members and partner agencies including third sector

• Proven track record of successful operational and strategic management

• Proven track record of collaborative working at all levels

• Proven commercial awareness and market intelligence

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits

• Flexible working arrangements

• Local Government Pension

• Opportunities for professional development

• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums

• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year

• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team

• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Claire Shiels, Director of Children's Services (Claire.shiels@n-somerset.gov.uk) on 01934 888891.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: 28 and 2 July 2026

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.