Assistant Directors - Adult Social Care and Health

Role Responsibility

Assistant Directors – Adult Social Care and Health 

Prevention & Adult Social Care Connect | Hospital Discharge Pathways
 

Kent is one of the largest and most ambitious Adult Social Care systems in the country, supporting over 34,000 residents across diverse communities. As we deliver our refreshed Making a Difference Every Day Adult Social Care Strategy, we are seeking exceptional Assistant Directors to help lead system-wide transformation, improve outcomes and shape sustainable services for the future.

Our strategy sets out a renewed and ambitious direction for Adult Social Care in Kent. It reaffirms our commitment to strengths-based practice, prevention and partnership working – making this an exciting time to join our leadership team.

As an Assistant Director you will work as part of the Senior Leadership Team, to provide both strategic leadership and operational oversight, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe and sustainable services that meet our statutory duties and improve outcomes for Kent residents.  These are critical roles leading key areas of delivery at a time of continued transformation and increasing demand.

The roles

Assistant Director – Prevention and Adult Social Care Connect

This role leads the Council’s front door and Occupational Therapy services across the County, ensuring effective access to support through Prevention and Adult Social Care Connect.

You will:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for prevention, early intervention and occupational therapy services
• Ensure delivery of statutory duties and safe, timely decision-making
• Drive strengths-based, community-focused approaches and neighbourhood integration
• Lead continuous improvement aligned to the Directorate’s strategic priorities, including quality, performance and meaningful outcomes

Assistant Director – Hospital Discharge Pathways

This is a new role leading the Adult Social Care hospital discharge and short-term pathway services, working across system partners to improve flow and outcomes. 

You will:

• Provide leadership across acute, community and mental health discharge pathways
• Align and integrate teams to support timely, effective discharge from hospital
• Work with health and system partners to deliver key Directorate priorities
• Provide strategic oversight of service delivery and commissioning to support sustainable pathways

About you

We are seeking experienced leaders who can demonstrate:

• A strong track record of leading complex operational services in adult social care or health
• In-depth knowledge of legislative and statutory responsibilities
• The ability to deliver performance improvement, quality assurance and innovation
• Experience of building effective partnerships across organisational boundaries
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to influence and deliver change at scale 

You will bring the ambition and capability to make a sustained difference to residents and services across Kent. 

Further information

• This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and requires either a professional or management qualification (level 7 equivalent).
• This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. 
• The selection process will include psychometric assessment, Director interview including presentation and an interview with people with lived experience.

Psychometric testing – week commencing 15 June 2026

Director interviews – between 26 June and 3 July 2026

Lived experience interviews – week commencing 22 June 2026

Application process

Candidates are asked to indicate their preference for either role, or to be considered for both, in the 'How you meet the requirements of the role' section of the application.

Contact Details

For further information on the roles please contact Michael Thomas-Sam, Director of Operations, Short Term Support on 03000 417238 or via email at michael.thomas-sam@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.