Head of Service, Operations & Partnerships
Requirements
Requires an experienced leader with strong Adult Social Care knowledge and the ability to manage multi-disciplinary services at a locality level. Must be capable of driving transformation, managing budgets, and building strong partnerships with NHS and health system partners.
Job Description
Head of Service - Older Adults & UEC Directorate
Permanent
Grade 7: £66,627 to £85,845
Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review
Working hours: 36.5 hours per week
Be a leader in Birmingham’s journey to Outstanding Adult Social Care and leave a legacy in the lives of older adults.
Birmingham is resetting how we think, feel and act so every older adult can live with independence, dignity and choice.
As a locality Head of Service, you’ll report to the Director of Older Adults & UEC, sit on the Directorate Management Team, and lead a system‑critical portfolio spanning hospital discharge and flow, intermediate care, neighbourhood health, continuing healthcare, locality-based social care teams and occupational therapy.
What you will deliver
- Faster, safer flow: Provide strategic leadership to system escalations for urgent & emergency care within an identified locality; improve hospital discharge and flow across P1/P2/P3 pathways, reducing avoidable delays and length of stay.
- Neighbourhood strength: Ensure effective delivery of performance and consistency across locality social work and OT, enabling reablement, prevention and independence at home.
- Assurance ready, every day: Embed robust performance and quality oversight aligned to the CQC Single Assessment Framework, with clear evidence of good‑to‑outstanding practice.
- System leadership: Strengthen integration at a locality level with NHS partners across urgent & emergency care and CHC, strengthening resilience and winter planning.
- Culture & capability: Build a high‑support, high‑accountability culture - collaboration, kindness and courage - so teams thrive and citizens feel the difference.
- Financial stewardship: Deliver the directorate MTFP, targeting efficiencies while protecting outcomes and safeguarding.
What we’re looking for
You’ll be an incredible leader with strong Adult Social Care knowledge and experience, able to deliver high-quality services and lead a number of multi-disciplinary services at a locality level.
You will:
- Lead the design and delivery of a new Older Adults & UEC operating model.
- Drive transformation and embed strengths-based practice.
- Ensure safe statutory delivery with strong governance and safeguarding.
- Manage demand and performance of service delivery at locality, team and individual levels.
- Control resources, budget, assets, and staffing to maximise achievements of goals and required service standards in a safe and timely way.
- Build stronger partnerships across health and wider system.
Working pattern & location
This is an in‑person leadership role. You’ll be on site in Birmingham at least three days per week, with flexibility around how you shape the remainder of your working week to meet citizens’ and system needs.
Our commitment
We’re building an inclusive, equitable workplace where everyone belongs and can do their best work, guided by our principles of being helpful, open‑minded and focused on positive outcomes. If you share that purpose, you’ll find a home here.
How to apply
Please upload an up-to-date CV and Supporting Statement via the attachments part of your application. The Supporting Statement should outline how you meet the criteria for the role through your personal qualities, skills and experience and include your motivation for applying to the post. Note the Personal Statement should be no more than 1500 words. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV and Personal Statement attached
Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.
We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.
Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.
Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy | Birmingham City Council here.
Job Description and Person Specification
We are a disability confident employer and we encourage applicants with disabilities to apply. We also welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered.
Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) may need to apply for a visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and may require a Certificate of Sponsorship from Birmingham City Council for a skilled worker visa (if the job is eligible).
Skills
About Birmingham City Council
Local Government for Birmingham, England. Birmingham City Council, based in The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB, is the largest local authority in the UK. Serving a population of over a million citizens. Corporate Plan Birmingham and its citizens face significant opportunities and challenges and the council must be bold, ambitious, and confident: Bold in its aspiration, ambitious in setting its priorities, and confident in its ability to delivering them. The Corporate Plan 2022 to 2026 provides a common basis for our strategic planning and a focus on tackling inequalities and creating opportunities for citizens to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. Our strategic outcomes and priorities A Prosperous Birmingham: through a focus on inclusive economic growth, tackling unemployment, attracting inward investment, and maximising the benefits of the Commonwealth Games. An Inclusive Birmingham: through a focus on tackling poverty and inequality, empowering citizens, promoting diversity and civic pride, and supporting and enabling all children and young people to thrive. A Safe Birmingham: through a focus on making the city safer, safeguarding vulnerable citizens, increasing affordable housing, and tackling homelessness. A Healthy Birmingham: through a focus on tackling health inequalities, encouraging physical activity and healthy living, supporting mental health, and improving outcomes for adults with disabilities and older people. A Green Birmingham: through a focus on street cleanliness, improving air quality, continuing the route to net zero, and becoming a city of nature. Follow us on social media https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20179/news_and_publications/537/social_media
View company profile →