Head of Early Years
Location: Sir Henry Mitchell House, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Salary: £74,676 – £85,052 based on experience and expertise
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: 5th August 2025
Interview Date: 15th August 2025
Panoramic Associates has partnered up with Bradford Children and Families Trust to assist them in reshaping the way children and families are supported, putting prevention, integration, at the heart of their services.
We’re seeking a strategic, outward-facing leader for a newly created post: Principal Early Help Head of Service. This is your opportunity to lead the development of a modern, responsive early help system that works collaboratively across sectors and delivers excellent, commissioned services that reduces escalation to statutory intervention.
About the Role
This pivotal role demands a strategic and outward-facing leader with a proven track record in early help, capable of scaling up services and embedding excellence.
You will:
- Champion early intervention, embedding the Early Help Assessment as standard practice across partners
- Lead the development of consistent, high-quality early help through Family Hubs, outreach, and the voluntary sector
- Build strong, outward-facing relationships with schools, health professionals, and community partners
- Drive shared responsibility and visibility of concerns across agencies, reducing duplication and preventing escalation into statutory services
- Embed robust tool-kits and assessment practices to prevent families from reaching social care thresholds
- Promote parental consent and integrated information systems to ensure appropriate, timely support
- Lead a system-wide response to complex family needs, supporting the integrated front door approach
- Establish and lead a strategic board, aligning activity with the Families First reform agenda
- Increase family engagement – scaling from 1,100 to 4,000+ families through innovative outreach and accessible support
- Influence with impact – the role requires someone with clout, credibility, and the confidence to lead transformation at scale
- Commission and co-design services that respond to local need, enable innovation, and support diverse families across Bradford
- Ensure commissioned services align with wider system strategy and drive down demand for high-cost statutory intervention
About You
You will bring:
- A strong background in Early Help, with extensive knowledge of early intervention, assessment models, and multi-agency delivery
- Demonstrable success in embedding high-quality practice and leading transformation at pace
- Experience in developing and managing large-scale services, performance frameworks, and outcome-based approaches
- In-depth understanding of DfE frameworks, Ofsted readiness, and regulatory compliance
- Excellent relationship-building skills across health, education, and voluntary sectors
- A strategic mindset, with a collaborative approach and a commitment to inclusive, family-first support
If this role resonates with your profile, please feel free to reach out to Abdullah Faheem at 01174094741. We are aiming to shortlist candidates by the 5th of August 2025 followed by interviews on the 15th of August 2025.
