Welcome to Buckinghamshire
Welcome from the Chief Executive
Thank you for your interest in becoming Buckinghamshire Council’s next Corporate Director of Children’s Services.
This is a significant children’s leadership opportunity. Not because we are standing still, and not because we are facing crisis, but because we are ambitious about what comes next.
Buckinghamshire is a place of scale, complexity and opportunity. We are a large and growing unitary authority serving diverse communities across market towns, rural areas and expanding urban centres. We are a county with a strong economy, outstanding natural assets, high aspirations and a clear determination to ensure that every resident has the opportunity to live well and succeed. Our newly published Corporate Plan places opportunity and aspiration at the heart of everything we do, alongside a commitment to shaping great places, supporting thriving communities and protecting our most vulnerable residents.
Children’s Services has made significant progress over recent years and is firmly on a positive journey. Recent feedback recognised strong leadership, a committed workforce and clear understanding of the areas where further improvement is required. Our challenge now is not simply to improve, but to build on those foundations and accelerate our ambition for children, young people and families.
This is a role that spans the full breadth of the children’s agenda. You will lead services that touch the lives of thousands of children and families every day, including safeguarding, family help, SEND, education, commissioning and corporate parenting. You will oversee a complex programme of service modernisation, the development of children’s homes, implementation of national reforms and the continued strengthening of our partnership with schools, health colleagues and communities.
While Buckinghamshire is often viewed as a prosperous county, our ambitions are rooted in a recognition that opportunity is not experienced equally by everyone. Many of our residents are thriving, but some children and families continue to face barriers that can limit life chances. Our role is to identify where support is needed most and work collaboratively across public services to ensure no child is left behind. This philosophy underpins programmes such as Opportunity Bucks, where we are bringing together data, community insight and integrated services to improve outcomes in our most disadvantaged communities.
We are looking for a leader who can think and operate at scale. Someone who understands complexity, who is comfortable navigating system leadership and who can work across organisational boundaries to deliver meaningful change. We need an individual who combines strategic vision with a relentless focus on delivery; someone who can inspire confidence amongst members, partners and colleagues while maintaining an unwavering focus on improving outcomes for children and families.
Importantly, this is also a genuinely corporate role. You will be part of an experienced and supportive corporate leadership team, helping to shape the future of Buckinghamshire as a whole. We are building a more empowered, accountable and innovative organisation. One where talented people are trusted to lead, where constructive challenge is welcomed, and where digital, data and new ways of working help us deliver better outcomes for residents.
You will work closely with elected members, partners and communities to deliver our ambitions not only for children’s services but for the wider place. You will join a council with stable politics, sound financial foundations and a clear commitment to investing in the services that matter most.
For the right person, this is a rare opportunity. The chance to lead at scale, to influence the future direction of a growing county, and to ensure that every child and young person in Buckinghamshire can make the most of the opportunities available to them. We will provide the support, investment and encouragement you need to succeed. In return, we are looking for a leader who shares our ambition and who is excited by the possibility of helping us achieve even more.
I hope, having explored this microsite, that you will be inspired to consider joining us.
Buckinghamshire Council