Changing childhoods. Changing lives.

Thank you for taking an interest in the role of Director of Health at Barnardo’s. This is an exceptional senior leadership opportunity within the UK’s largest children’s charity, and I am delighted that you are considering joining us at such a pivotal moment in our continued development as a health and social care charity.

My name is Steve Oversby, and I am the Executive Director of Children’s Services (Delivery). Barnardo’s has supported children, young people and families for 160 years. We work with over 350,000 children, young people, parents, and carers every year. Today, we deliver a wide range of services, including early help, family support, mental health and therapeutic services, children in care and leaving care, disability services, and many more. Our purpose is clear: to ensure every child has the best possible start in life and we are changing childhoods, changing lives.

As Executive Director of Children’s Services, I lead our operational delivery portfolio across the UK. The Director of Health is a central and high‑profile leadership role within Barnardo’s. The postholder will provide strategic direction and professional leadership for our Health pillar, ensuring Barnardo’s continues to grow its capacity, capability, and influence across the wider health and integrated care system.

You will hold accountability for a substantial national portfolio, including quality, safeguarding, financial performance, and operational delivery of all our health contracts with oversight of a budget of up to £50 million. You will lead the development of a high‑performing senior leadership team, supporting the continued transformation of Barnardo’s into an integrated health and social care charity. You will drive innovation ensuring our work is informed by evidence, insight and best practice and act as Barnardo’s lead health spokesperson, representing the organisation nationally with government departments, professional bodies, provider collaboratives, and health policy partners.

You will chair key internal and external groups and contribute to sector‑wide leadership, influencing strategy, policy and system change affecting children and young people and serve as a key member of our Corporate Leadership Group and the Children’s Services Leadership Team, helping to shape and deliver our corporate strategy, organisational transformation, and culture.

This role requires a leader with significant experience in health and children’s services, strong strategic capability, and the ability to operate with confidence in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments. It calls for someone who can inspire others, build strong partnerships, and lead with clarity, purpose and integrity.

Above all, we are seeking a leader who shares our commitment to ensuring that the voice, needs and lived experience of children and young people sit at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you once again for your interest. I hope that you will consider joining us and contributing to our mission to changing childhoods and changing lives for children and young people across the UK.