Director of Children's Services (DCS)

Be the DCS you always wanted to be.

Swindon Borough Council is forging an exciting future. We're integrating services, connecting our workforce with a sense of mission, fostering improved partnerships, and harnessing AI and data to inform our preventative approach. Our Swindon 2028 programme captures our ambition to transform how we deliver services to achieve better resident outcomes.

Improving outcomes for our children and young people is our number one priority, and we have a clear vision to transform services and improve lives. We're now seeking a visionary, creative and passionate Statutory Director of Children's Services to turn the dial on performance and drive our improvement plans forward. We've created additional capacity (in the Prevention and Communities Directorate) to deliver Education and SEND Services to provide assurance and to allow you to focus on the children's social care improvement journey. With responsibility for Early Help, Social Care and Youth Justice, you'll play a vital role in embedding the Council's vision, values and practice framework, implementing the reforms, and ensuring we attract and retain exceptional staff.

A qualified social worker, you'll have the technical knowledge around children's social care, but also have the ability to operate as a systems leader with our strategic partners. You'll empower staff and play a significant role in maintaining the momentum of positive change we've created. Crucially, you'll have a strong track record of improving children's social care outcomes. This role requires a standout candidate with strong experience and expertise in actively listening to the voice of children, young people and their families, and putting this at the heart of everything you do.

There are exciting opportunities to work outside of your direct sphere of influence and Swindon is a place where you can achieve things quickly and make a real difference. If you're an inspirational leader who is passionate about making a positive change to the lives of children, young people, and their families, then we'd love to hear from you.

Visit to find out more about the role, the place and how to apply. Or, for an informal discussion, please contact Chris Barrow on or Anita Denton on at Tile Hill.

Closing date: midnight on Sunday 31st August 2025

To apply:
To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (four sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (four sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, and achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements.Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only.If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact

Applications should include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your current salary and notice period
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for an interview.

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email .