Head of Service opportunities in Adult Social Care

Welcome from the Chief Executive

Thank you for your interest in joining City of York Council as a Head of Service within Adult Social Care.

York is at an important point in the development of our Adult Social Care services. As part of our wider improvement work, we have reviewed our senior structure and service design to make sure we have the right leadership, capacity and expertise to respond to changing needs and deliver the best possible outcomes for the people of York. We are now looking to appoint a number of Heads of Service to help lead this next phase.

York’s history is well known but it is also a dynamic, modern city that is going places. While it is popular with the millions that visit each year, its greatest strength is its people.

As I have begun this exciting new chapter with the City of York Council recently in April, I have already been inspired by the passion and commitment of our residents, members and colleagues. I am proud to have the opportunity to make a positive impact here.

For over 20 years, I have had the pleasure of being a Corporate Director of Health and Adult Services in other authorities and a variety of contexts. For me, this next step is personal, a continuation of my commitment to improving lives through strong, effective adult social care and wider enabling services.

We have set out a bold vision in our Council Plan “One City, for All” (2023–2027) which focuses on York being a city that prioritises the health of its residents and one that makes access to opportunity fairer for all our residents. Together with delivering on that Plan, I will lead in working hand-in-hand with our Combined Authority and our local partners to ensure the council is maximising opportunities for collaboration, efficiency and attracting funding and investment into York. It is clear that we cannot deliver our ambitions alone. York’s strong partnerships with community, business and regional stakeholders are key to our success.

Like all local authorities, financial challenges exist but how we respond to those challenges is what is important. We are seeking can-do, highly skilled and effective leaders in Adult Social Care who look for solutions and are committed to doing the best for York, regardless of the pressures we face. You will lead in making best use of resources and delivering real improvements in services and outcomes for our residents. To be successful you will be a visible leader who works across traditional boundaries to deliver for the city.

City of York Council has a proud record of innovation and strong and effective partnership working. But we know we can achieve even more. We are seeking exceptional leaders in Adult Social Care who share our passion for doing our very best for York and our people.

York is a very special place that offers fantastic quality of life benefits. If you have the vision, strategic leadership and drive to improve health and wellbeing in our city by delivering an ambitious agenda, we really want to hear from you.

Welcome from Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Integration

Our ambitions for York are clear. Through our Council Plan Council Plan “One City, for All” (2023–2027), we are working towards a city that is healthier, fairer, more affordable and more inclusive, where everyone feels valued and able to live a fulfilling life.

Adult Social Care is central to achieving that vision. Through these roles, you will help people to live independently, remain connected to their communities and access the right support at the right time. This is critical to individual wellbeing and the strength of the city as a whole.

We are already making progress, and we are committed to being open about both our achievements and the areas where we must go further. Our regular Council Plan progress reflects a strong focus on improving health and wellbeing, reducing inequalities and ensuring support is targeted where it is needed most. These priorities are shaping how we modernise services, strengthen prevention, and work more effectively across organisational boundaries.

We have taken the opportunity to review our senior leadership structure and service design, ensuring that our arrangements reflect the changing needs of York and give our services the leadership capacity they need. As a result, we are recruiting to several Head of Service opportunities across Adult Social Care. This offers successful candidates a rare opportunity to join a new leadership cohort, shape how services develop and contribute collectively to the next stage of our improvement journey.

That is why these roles are so important.

We are looking for leaders who are visible, collaborative and values-driven, people who are confident working across systems, able to navigate complexity, and motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible difference. These are roles where strategic leadership and operational grip go hand in hand.

We recognise the importance of supporting colleagues as they join us, particularly as we build this new leadership cohort. Successful candidates will benefit from a robust induction and development programme, including support tailored to senior leaders in Adult Social Care, alongside wider corporate development opportunities. As the team comes together, there will also be a strong focus on relationship building, shared learning and developing an effective collective leadership approach.

You will be joining a leadership team that is committed to doing things differently, building on strong partnerships, focusing on what matters most, and ensuring that we deliver real, lasting improvements for the people of York. You will play an important role in delivering our improvement plans and have a genuine opportunity to make a lasting difference for the people of York.

If you are interested in joining our team and are inspired to contribute to the next phase of our journey, we look forward to your application. In the meantime, following an initial conversation with our recruitment partners at The Resourcing Solution, I would be delighted to discuss the roles with those who might wish to learn a little more.