We are seeking an outstanding and inspiring Associate Director for Adult Social Care Operations to join our senior leadership team.

This newly established role provides a unique opportunity to shape, strengthen and lead high quality adult social care services for residents aged 18 and over, ensuring they receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. quality adult social care services for residents aged 25 and over.

As Associate Director, you will play a pivotal role in delivering Dudley’s new Adult Social Care operating model, coproduced with people with lived experience, our workforce, partners and providers. You will champion a strength based, outcomes focused, person centred approach, ensuring individuals are empowered to live independently, stay connected to their communities and achieve positive outcomes. produced with people with lived experience, our workforce, partners and providers. You will champion a strengths based, person centred approach, ensuring individuals are empowered to live independently, stay connected to their communities and achieve positive outcomes.

You will be responsible for the strategic direction, daily management, and delivery of care services for vulnerable adults.  Providing visible, strategic leadership across all operational services, ensuring they remain safe, effective, and financially sustainable, meeting national legislation, regulatory standards and local priorities.

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What you’ll lead:

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•    Delivering a responsive, accessible front door
•    Embedding strength-based assessment and planning based assessment and planning
•    Reducing admissions and supporting independence
•    Ensuring effective crisis response and safeguarding practice
•    Leading hospital discharge, recovery and reablement pathways
•    Strengthening partnerships across health, voluntary and community sectors
•    Driving transformation, innovation and modernisation across Adult Social Care

 

You will also deputise for the Director of Adult Social Care when required and contribute fully to the Council’s Senior Management Team.

We’re seeking a forward thinking, highly experienced leader with professional registration, strong senior operational and transformational change experience, deep adult social care expertise, and the resilience and integrity to inspire teams, build partnerships and deliver high quality, person centred services. thinking, highly experienced leader with professional registration, strong senior operational and transformational change experience, deep adult social care expertise, and the resilience and integrity to inspire teams, build partnerships and deliver high quality, person centred services.

Why Join Dudley?

Dudley Adult Social Care is proud of its ambitious workforce and strong values. You will be joining a service that is investing in its people, its culture, and its future, creating an environment where leaders can make a real difference.

This is a rare opportunity to play a central role in shaping adult social care for the future and improving the lives of people across Dudley.

Apply Now

If you are a dynamic, committed leader ready to drive excellence in adult social care and help us build a more resilient, community focused and inclusive future for Dudley, we want to hear from you. focused and inclusive future for Dudley, we want to hear from you.

For an informal discussion please contact Emma Matthews, Director of Adult Social Care, via Jo Cook – Joanne.Cook@dudley.gov.uk 

Application Process

Applications close: Tuesday 3 March 2026.

Please submit your CV and supporting statement/summary with your application.

The recruitment process will be to undertake technical interviews with longlisted applicants to confirm the shortlist. Short listed candidates will be invited to assessment centres and attend final interviews. Please indicate any periods you are unavailable.