Council jobs

About the Head of Adult Social Care role

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Head of Adult Social Care (mental health and disabilities) - £85,038 - £93,308

As the responsible Head of Service, you'll:

  • have excellent leadership skills, bringing an ability to balance strategic priorities and operational workload
  • maintain high-quality services whilst managing the overall performance of service delivery.
  • draw on your proven skills working with partners across the system
  • draw on your communication skills, stakeholder management and commitment to relationship-based practice
  • support the Service Director to deliver statutory obligations and deliver high quality, safe and effective operational services.
  • be responsible for the operational management of an agreed portfolio of services which will also include Mental Health, DOLS, Emergency duty team and 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.
  • be committed to delivering high performing, high quality services understanding how to motivate your services and providing containment at busy times.
  • be passionate about making a difference to our most vulnerable adults their families, and networks, using this to lead and motivate your teams. 

What you’ll need

This is a senior leadership role and the you'll be required to work in collaboration with the Adult Social Care senior leadership team, health partners and the wider Council. 

You'll have a proven track record of effective leadership, evidence of strong performance and high-quality governance, workforce planning, emergency planning and on-going business development. You'll promote a culture of innovation, involvement and quality improvement.

Reporting to the Service Director and working closely with senior managers and operational leaders, you'll 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, values driven leadership able to inspire professional communities and build effective multi agency partnerships.

Read the full Head of Adult Social Care (mental health and disabilities) job profile.

For a confidential conversation, please contact our retained consultants at Tile Hill:

How to apply

If you’re excited by the opportunity to help improve Barnsley's health then apply today.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 9am
Final panel interviews: Friday 15 May 2026 (in person in Barnsley)

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