Head of Service – Social Care

St Helena Island, South Atlantic

2 years FTC available immediately

Total package value up to £91k per annum depending on experience and qualifications. The package is inclusive of International Supplement based on family status, Relocation costs and Pension contribution.

Enjoying unique lifestyle opportunities, St Helena Island is a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Although better placed to develop economically and socially as a result of opening our international airport in 2017, we are not at the stage of self-sufficiency and therefore remain dependent on UK government aid.

Leading the operational delivery of Children and Adults Social Care (which includes the Probation Service) you will help define the Service strategy, focused on improvement, prevention and early intervention.

You must support Health and Social Care integration, with the expertise to ensure integration between functions and services. You will have overall responsibility for the Social Care budget and wider resources.

You will make sure appropriate quality assurance systems are in place and are reviewed and developed.

Promoting a strong culture of performance management you will enable training programmes. Developing and delivering the Public Service’s strategic agenda, you will ensure that the Portfolio Director, Chief Secretary and Minister have access to the best professional advice and information on all aspects of Social Care.

Challenging everything, you will build and nurture strong relationships and take on people management issues, sometimes as Investigating Officer or Hearing Manager and completing Manager Self Service (HR21) processes where appropriate.

Holding a level 6 degree or level 7 masters in a relevant subject or with relevant experience, you are a UK Qualified Social Worker, CQSW or DipSW or equivalent, with current registration. Alternatively you have relevant professional qualifications, registration and experience in related fields.

You have an extensive and varied background as a senior manager in Social Care and in writing and implementing policy and strategy. A strong leader, you inspire others to deliver transformational projects and impactful results.

Analysing and interpreting, you develop solutions and solve problems, having planned and implemented change. You are adept at managing and controlling budgets, resources and funding.

In addition, you must demonstrate our core values of fairness, integrity and teamwork and use your diverse expertise and experiences to ensure your time on the Island has the broadest benefit to St Helena. As an officer funded through the Technical Co-Operation Programme you will be expected to share your knowledge and skills beyond the workplace contributing to workforce, community and capacity development in St Helena.

Our Benefits Package Includes:

• Economy class flights from your home country to St Helena at the start and end of the tour of duty
• Mid-term fare-paid flights for tours of 18 months or more
• A freight allowance of up to a standard 20ft container at the start and end of the tour of duty
• An International Supplement, full details of which are in the Overseas Vacancy Information at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh
• Relocation Allowances, full details of which are in the Overseas Vacancy Information at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh
• Annual Pension Contribution of 7.5% of the basic aggregate salary
• Employees and accompanying dependant/s will be entitled to medical and dental treatment under the SHG Public Health Scheme at the rate applied to resident St Helenians.
• Free schooling for dependent children from 3 to 16 years
• Annual Leave of 30 days per annum (with an additional 10 days of public holidays).

The appointment will be subject to:

• Satisfactory employment references
• DBS check
• Satisfactory medical and dental clearances

How to Apply:

An application form is available at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh where further information can also be found, or you may contact Kedell Worboys on 0203 818 7610 or via email: shgukrep@sthelenagov.com.

Applications must be sent to recruitment@sainthelena.gov.sh and received by 4 Nov 2026

Interviews will be held week commencing 16 Nov 2026.

To be considered for this role, you must complete our application form. Failure to do so will mean that your application will not be considered. Please do not submit your CV.

The Public Service positively accepts applications from all members of the community regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and will consider all applications on the basis of merit, in accordance with the person specification.

The St Helena Public Service welcomes all applications from across our whole community, including our St Helenian diaspora wishing to return to St Helena. If you are a St Helenian currently living and working overseas, please contact us at recruitment@sainthelena.gov.sh to discuss how we can support you.