Package Description
Responsible to: Director of LIIA
Starting salary: from £115,982 per annum
Working Hours: 35 per week
Contract details: This role is a full-time, fixed-term contract (FTC) until 31st March 2028. Monday to Friday. 9:00 am to 5 pm. Hybrid working, some mandatory office days required.
London Councils operates in hybrid working environment as an agile employer, working across its Strategic Directorates.
If you have any queries or would like to informally discuss the role, please contact Marissa Kodikara, Project Support Officer (London RCC) at Marissa.Kodikara@londoncouncils.gov.uk
For any issues with your application please contact recruitment@londoncouncils.gov.uk
- Application deadline: 11:59pm on Friday 20th November 2026.
- Interviews: Anticipated to take place in person during the week commencing 7th December 2026.
Job Introduction
The London Innovation and Improvement Alliance (LIIA) is the Association of London Directors of Children's Services (ALDCS) sector-led improvement partnership and is hosted by London Councils. We exist to facilitate collaboration to address ALDCS priorities, provide a platform for innovation, identify and share effective practice, and produce and make accessible shared datasets.
The RCC Deputy Director will provide leadership for London's Regional Care Cooperative (RCC), driving the continued development and implementation of a significant reform programme designed to strengthen children's social care across the capital. Working with London's 33 local authorities and a wide range of partners, the RCC addresses some of the most significant challenges facing the care system, including placement sufficiency, market sustainability, rising costs, and the need for more local, family-based care options.
Reporting to the RCC Strategic Director, you will lead a diverse portfolio of programmes and transformation initiatives, helping to strengthen partnerships and build a more coordinated and effective care system across London. This is a high-profile role requiring close engagement with senior leaders across local government, central government and the wider children's services sector.
The role is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of the RCC priorities, and maintaining alignment with the strategic direction agreed by the RCC Board and the Association of London Directors of Children's Services.
Role Responsibility
As Deputy Director, you will provide strategic leadership for London's Regional Care Cooperative (RCC), overseeing a significant portfolio of regional programmes and partnerships that improve outcomes for children and young people across the capital.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the planning, delivery, governance, evaluation and continuous development of the RCC's programme portfolio.
- Driving the implementation of London's regional sufficiency strategy, including market-shaping, placement sufficiency and fostering initiatives.
- Overseeing connected major regional programmes, including Home Again, Room Makers, and the Foster Carer Retention and Support innovation project.
- Developing innovative approaches to commissioning, service design and operating models that strengthen local provision and reduce reliance on high-cost placements.
- Building strong relationships with senior leaders across local authorities, providers, government departments and partner organisations in a highly complex environment to influence change and drive collective action.
- Providing strategic advice, analysis and recommendations to governance boards and senior decision-makers.
- Leading and developing a high-performing RCC programme and delivery team, and the LIIA Resources and Commissioning Programme.
- Hold responsibility for the RCC's £5.6m budget, ensuring robust financial management, reporting and sustainability planning.
- Maintain programme reporting arrangements for governance bodies and funders.
- Promote equity, diversity and inclusion across all RCC programmes and activities; and ensure the voices of children and young people inform decision making.
This is a politically restricted post, under Section 2 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
Read about the job activities in more detail in the Job Description and Person Specification document attached below.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for an experienced and influential leader with a strong track record of delivering strategic change within the children's social care sector. You will bring extensive knowledge of children's social care policy, sufficiency, commissioning and market development, alongside a strong understanding of programme delivery, governance and partnership working in complex multi-agency environments.
Leading a diverse programme team, you will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and accountability, while championing equality, diversity and inclusion, and ensuring the voices of children and young people shape decision-making.
Read about the job activities in more detail in the Job Description and Person Specification document attached below.
About the Company
London Councils is the collective of London local government, the 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation. They come together through London Councils to work in collaboration to deliver their shared ambitions for London and Londoners.
Through lobbying, collaboration and partnership, we ensure the voice of the London boroughs are united, and heard at a local, regional and national level.
We also run a number of services on behalf of the boroughs including the Freedom Pass, Taxicard and Health Emergency Badge (HEB) and London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS).
Read more about London Councils - London Councils
Our Recruitment Approach
The application process involves answering a small number of application questions aligned to the essential criteria for the role. All applications will be processed using a blind sifting method. This means that personal identifying details will be removed to ensure fair and unbiased shortlisting of applications.
The panel sees only the anonymised generated CV that Tribepad builds from the Education and Employment History sections of the application form.
Uploading a personal CV is optional and only helps auto-populate these sections - it does not replace completing them.
Please ensure these sections are fully completed. If they’re left blank, key information won’t appear in the anonymised pack and fair review becomes harder.
Your full details and original CV are not shared with the panel until after the shortlist is agreed and you are invited to interview.
We are committed to equal opportunities and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be made to support candidates during the recruitment process.
