Head of Service - Mental Health & Disability

Please apply online via the link provided. Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.

About the Post:

Now is the time to come and work for Barnsley Council Adult Services and be part of the transformational change we are making.

We are seeking to appoint an exceptional and experienced Head of Service to support our new Neighbourhood Operating Model within Adult Social Care that will oversee the safe and effective delivery of care and support alongside having an extensive proven track record of managing Mental Health, DOLS & Learning Disability Services.

To join us, you’ll need to be educated to Degree level or equivalent; plus registration with Social Work England as a social worker.

As the responsible Head of Service, you will have excellent leadership skills, bringing an ability to balance strategic priorities and operational workload. You will maintain high-quality services whilst managing the overall performance of service delivery. This role also has an important external element drawing on your proven skills working with partners across the system. This will draw on your communication skills, stakeholder management and commitment to relationship-based practice.

The postholder will support the Service Director to deliver statutory obligations and deliver high quality, safe and effective operational services. The postholder will be responsible for the operational management of an agreed portfolio of services which will also include Mental Health, DOLS, Emergency duty team & Learning Disabilities, ensuring the effective and efficient use of allocated resources to provide a service organised around the needs of Barnsley residents and our local communities. You will be committed to delivering high performing, high quality services understanding how to motivate your services and providing containment at busy times. You will be passionate about making a difference to our most vulnerable adults their families, and networks, using this to lead and motivate your teams.

This is a senior leadership role and the postholder will be required to work in collaboration with the Adult Social Care senior leadership team, Health partners and the wider Council. With a proven track record of effective leadership evidence of strong performance and high-quality governance, workforce planning, emergency planning and on-going business development. The postholder will promote a culture of innovation, involvement and quality improvement.

Reporting to the Service Director and working closely with senior managers and operational leaders, you will provide strategic and operational leadership alongside the ability to deliver transformation, embed change and work within financial constraints

Key responsibilities

• Set and monitor practice standards across ASC; leading and implementing learnings from the Quality Assurance Framework, thematic audits and learning loops.

• Provide expert safeguarding leadership; strengthen governance, performance, and MSP outcomes.

• Ensure robust DoLS processes and MCA practice, working closely with legal and partners.

• Inspirational, visible, and credible leadership capabilities.

• Contribute to transformation programmes and workforce strategy with directorate, aligning improvements to the Adult Social Care Strategy and the Council 2040 Plan.

• Lead professional development via the Principal Social Worker, champion supervision, reflective practice, ASYE / Practice Education expectations.

What you’ll bring

• Leadership experience in Adult Social Care safeguarding / quality with clear impact on practice and outcomes.

• Deep knowledge of the Care Act, MCA/DoLS, and safeguarding statutory guidance, with confidence to lead complex risk management.

• Strong audit, governance, and improvement skills; ability to turn insights into coaching, standards and measurable change.

• Collaborative, valuesdriven leadership—able to inspire professional communities and build effective multiagency partnerships.

You would be joining a double award-winning, high-performing Council with a growing economy, a thriving town centre and some truly impressive outcomes in our communities. We were awarded Council of the Year for 2023 by the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) and The Municipal Journal (MJ). Our excellent Adult Services has been a key part of our win; we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved not just for the council but for our partners and Barnsley.

We’re impressed. Are you? It’s the perfect time to join and be part of our excellent team.

For more information, please see our website –

https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/adult-social-care/

Adult Social Care - in Barnsley, including getting help early, social care assessments, paying for care, and services.

Please note: interviews for this role will take place on Monday 2 March, 2026

For an informal discussion contact Julie Chapman, Service Director

Juliechapman@barnsley.gov.uk