Senior Policy and Strategy Lead - Southwark Council : Job Details

The Role

Do you have experience in adult social care and leading high-impact service improvements?

Are you passionate about using research, policy, and strategy to drive better outcomes for vulnerable adults?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Our Performance, Development and Quality (PDQ) Team is looking for a dedicated and experienced Senior Policy and Strategy Lead to join us and help shape the future of Adult Social Care in Southwark.

About the Role:

As Senior Policy and Strategy Lead, you’ll play a central role in driving service improvement and innovation across Adult Social Care. You will:

• Lead and manage strategic projects, research, and policy development to improve services and outcomes.
• Provide expert advice and intelligence to senior managers and council leaders to ensure services remain compliant and future-focused.
• Support and embed policy changes across operational teams through clear communication and implementation planning.
• Proactively research and share best practice to ensure Southwark remains at the forefront of adult social care policy and delivery.
• Deputise for the Service Manager (PDQ) when required and manage a small team to deliver high-quality project outcomes.

About You:

We’re looking for someone with:

• Significant experience in adult social care policy, strategy, or service development.
• Proven ability to deliver complex projects and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong political awareness and the ability to translate national policy into local action.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex issues to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience of leading, motivating, and supporting staff.
• Strong IT and project management skills to support evidence-based decision-making.

About the Team:

You’ll be part of Southwark’s Performance, Development and Quality Team, which plays a vital role in shaping and improving Adult Social Care services. Our vision is to enable people with care and support needs, and their carers, to live healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives in their communities.

We’re committed to innovation, collaboration, and using evidence and research to inform practice. As a key member of the team, you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders, influence change at a strategic level, and develop your own expertise in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sarah Bullman at .uk.

Additional Information:

This post requires a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) DBS check at Enhanced level.

Benefits and more information:

In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.

Recruitment timetable

Advert close date: 11:59pm on 14th September 2025

Shortlisting date/s: w/c 15th September 2025

Interview date/s: 25th September 2025

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Attachments

• Senior Policy and Strategy Lead 230124.pdf