Ealing Council is a diverse and ambitious organisation that serves one of the largest and most multi-cultural boroughs in London.
We are committed to improving the lives of our residents by building strong and connected communities. We aim to create an environment where every child can reach their potential and achieve their dreams.
To help us achieve this, we have created a new role of Head of Innovation and Service Development – Children’s. We are looking to recruit someone who shares our vision and has a passion for involving local people and communities in the design of policies, strategies, and services in a way that genuinely transforms the role the Council plays in community life.
The successful candidate will be leading a newly formed team which is home to policy, strategy, service design, improvement and change delivery, and you will be joining an organisation with an appetite for innovation.
As the Head of Innovation and Service Development, you will:
Be responsible for providing expert advice and guidance whilst shaping future policy, strategy, and service design activities, developing clear and coherent frameworks which promotes involvement and participation of people and communities.
Develop brilliant relationships and new ways of working with statutory partners, our voluntary and community sector and the people of Ealing so that we work together to achieve the very best outcomes for our communities. You will lead on cross-council projects and programmes and pioneer new approaches to policy and service design.
You will need to work with humility as well as boldness of vision, adopt an experimentation and learning approach, practising curiosity and reflection, and prioritising relationships just as much as strategy and impact. Opening up space for challenging conversations and rigorously advancing equity in our work
• Drive and champion quality improvement, learning, innovation, and collaboration across Children’s Services
• Provide strategic planning and coordination to embed a culture and framework of continuous improvement across the Directorate, leading to improved outcomes for children, young people, and families
• Develop learning communities and internal capacity and capability for improvement by ensuring we have the right organisational learning, systems, and processes in place
• Support the Directorate in delivering efficient, effective, and evidence-based services, within sustainable resources
• Lead on designing a range of strategies that embed improvement practices, oversee the delivery of any post Ofsted recommendations, and monitor the progress of improvement.
Our ideal Head of Innovation and Service Development will have the following skills and experience:
• A clear understanding of the variety of services delivered to children and young people. Specialist knowledge and awareness of the variety of current issues and developments affecting children and young people and Children’s Services. Knowledge of relevant legislation, the key national and local policy issues, and of the opportunities and challenges relating to local government
• Good knowledge and understanding of the technical, behavioural, and contextual elements of continuous improvement and organisational change. Have demonstrable experience of successfully leading and implementing major change initiatives in the public or private sector. Sound knowledge of programme and/project management methodology.
Where we work
We try to go to the office at Ealing Headquarters at least twice a week, and some of our work is done in the communities of the borough of Ealing.
Get in touch if you would like to know more.
If you are interested in the role and working for Ealing, we would love to receive your application. If you would like an informal discussion about the role before you apply, contact Vickie Clegg via CleggV@ealing.gov.uk.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV along with a Supporting Statement addressing how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the essential criteria on the person specification for the role and a completed Equalities Monitoring form.
Your CV should be tailored and include detail of your education, qualifications, full employment history, and membership of professional bodies. Please aim to keep your CV and supporting statement to two pages each and include your name at the top of both documents on all pages used.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know about anything that would help you to demonstrate evidence that you meet the essential criteria for the role.
To apply, please email your documents to seniorrecruitment@ealing.gov.uk by no later than Monday 17 March 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please also send them to this same email address.
Ealing Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Ealing Council follows safer recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults. The post holder will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
This post is subject to Ealing Council’s enhanced vetting process.
Ealing Council is committed to creating good jobs and delivering on its connected communities’ agenda. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive.
We therefore welcome applications from all residents of the borough, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are entering the employment market in the early stages of their career and mid-career professionals, who are currently underrepresented in Ealing’s workforce.
Please note all applications will be determined on merit.
Role profile
Equalities Monitoring form
Ex-offenders policy
