Adults Deputy Head of Service - Access & Duty

Adult Social Care - Adults, Health & Integration£450 per day (Umbrella)

Hackney Council is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Deputy Head of Service - Access & Duty to play a pivotal leadership role at the front door of Adult Social Care. This is a high-impact interim opportunity, combining operational oversight with innovation, system-wide collaboration and strong people leadership.

As Deputy Head of Service, you will provide senior leadership across the Access & Duty service, supporting safe, timely and person-centred responses for adults contacting Adult Social Care. You will work closely with the Head of Service, Assistant Director and wider system partners to drive quality, performance and continuous improvement.

A key focus of the role is transforming how residents access support, ensuring services are preventative, strengths-based and responsive to need.

You will:

• Lead the expansion of digital access, increasing the availability of information and self-assessments through Hackney's digital programme.
• Work in partnership with Customer Services and internal teams to strengthen entry points into Adult Social Care and improve customer experience.
• Support and embed a reablement-first approach, aligned with new models of delivery launching in January 2026.
• Drive the increased use of Occupational Therapists as a preventative intervention for new Adult Social Care referrals.
• Provide operational and strategic oversight, ensuring statutory duties, quality standards and KPIs are met.
• Manage resources effectively, contributing to budget control, efficiencies and value for money.
• Lead service improvement, change management and new ways of working.
• Line manage one direct report (Team Manager), with scope to support an expanding team and evolving processes.

You will be a confident senior leader with significant experience in Adult Social Care or a related health or social care setting. You will bring:

• A relevant professional qualification (e.g. Social Work, Nursing, Allied Health Profession, Public Health) with appropriate registration.
• Proven leadership experience in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Strong background in service transformation, performance management and partnership working.
• Sound knowledge of adult social care legislation, safeguarding duties and national policy.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A strong commitment to equality, inclusion and strengths-based practice.

To Apply:

Get in contact with QSW Talent Partner,

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