Opportunities with London Borough of Harrow

Thank you for your interest in the role of Assistant Director - Adult Social Care (Older Adults, Physical Disabilities and Hospital Discharge) at the London Borough of Harrow. Before we get into things properly, some big reasons why you should be interested in this role:

• The scope is big, but not too big. You won’t get bored and you can make a significant difference.
• We have built momentum behind positive improvement. There is lots of good development work underway and even with lots of change, staff satisfaction has significantly improved in the last two year.
• You will be joining a supportive, collaborative team that will help you to succeed.
• The enabling factors are strong – a supportive administration, good relationships with partners and a budget that is in a relatively good position (for ASC).

On the outskirts of London, with one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse populations in the country, Harrow offers excellent transport connections to central London, alongside extensive parks and green spaces. It is this unique blend of urban opportunity and community spirit that makes Harrow such a vibrant, modern and inclusive borough, where people from all backgrounds can thrive. Combined with a strong culture of collaboration across the Council, the NHS, voluntary sector organisations and our wider partners, we are committed to delivering high-quality services that make a meaningful difference to residents' lives.

As our new Assistant Director - Adult Social Care, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for services supporting older adults, people with physical disabilities and individuals transitioning from hospital back into the community. You will lead a portfolio responsible for delivering the Council's statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, overseeing approximately 95 staff through four Heads of Service and managing around £50m of care spend. You will play a critical role in ensuring residents receive high-quality, person-centred and sustainable support whilst achieving the best possible outcomes for our communities.

This is a pivotal leadership role within our Adults and Public Health directorate. You will act as a key adviser to senior leaders and elected members, deputise for the Director of Adult Social Care when required, and represent Harrow across a range of strategic partnerships. A particular focus of the role will be strengthening our relationships with NHS partners, leading on hospital discharge pathways, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and the wider Neighbourhood Health agenda, ensuring residents experience seamless and effective care across organisational boundaries.

We are looking for an experienced and values-driven leader who can successfully navigate complexity, inspire high-performing teams and drive continuous improvement. You will bring a strong understanding of adult social care, safeguarding, financial stewardship and service transformation, alongside the ability to work confidently within a political environment and across complex partnership landscapes. Most importantly, you will share our commitment to delivering person-centred services that help residents maintain their independence, wellbeing and dignity.

If you are a collaborative, resilient and ambitious leader with the vision and determination to shape the future of Adult Social Care in Harrow, we would be delighted to hear from you.

James Mass
Strategic Director of Adults and Public Health