Head of All Age Early Help

Head of All Age Early Help
South West local authority
6‑month initial contract | Start date: June 2026
£650–£700 per day
Inside IR35 (via umbrella)
Hybrid working - 3 days on site

 

CVs are being reviewed immediately and interviews will be taking place week commencing 3 June 2026

 

This is a rare opportunity to step into a high‑profile, system‑wide leadership role with real influence and pace. Reporting directly into the Director, you will take ownership of a complex, visible and politically important agenda focused on prevention, early intervention and whole‑system change. As Head of All Age Early Help, you will bring together services, partners and leaders around a single ambition: stopping people in our communities from falling into crisis.

 

You will hold a broad portfolio spanning Early Help, Early Years, Family Hubs, Prevention and Best Start for Life, with responsibility for shaping strategy, leading transformation and influencing across adults, children’s, public health and homelessness services. This is a delivery‑focused role with a clear mandate to break down silos, redesign ways of working and create sustainable impact at scale.

 

• System leadership – bringing together adults, children’s, public health and homelessness services around a shared prevention strategy
• Prevention & early intervention – defining new capabilities to identify risk early and intervene before crisis
• Service integration – leading Early Help, Early Years, Family Hubs and Best Start for Life into a joined‑up all‑age offer
• Multi‑agency transformation – breaking down barriers with partners to create effective multi‑disciplinary teams
• Visible leadership – influencing senior leaders, members and partners while driving pace and accountability

 

• Senior leadership experience within Children’s Services, Early Help or a closely related system role
• A strong track record of large‑scale transformation and service redesign across complex environments
• Deep understanding of early help, prevention and whole‑system working
• Extensive experience leading multi‑agency partnerships and operating at senior strategic level
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, with confidence managing budgets and change at pace

 

This role offers the chance to shape a whole‑system prevention model, embed early help across the life course and leave a lasting legacy. If you thrive in complex environments, enjoy operating at pace and are motivated by real‑world impact, this contract will stretch and reward you.

 

If you’re an experienced Head of All Age Early Help ready to make an immediate difference, apply now or contact Sarah Macrae to discuss next steps.

 

(We offer a senior referral scheme upon successful placement of your recommendation, so please do get in touch.)

 

Our clients are committed to creating and evolving a diverse workforce and do not discriminate. Recruiting decisions are based on experience and skills, and any reasonable adjustments will be fully supported throughout the recruitment process.