Service Lead - Provider Services

Terms & Conditions: Full Time, Permanent, 37 hours

Department: People

Closing Date: 6th April 2026

Interview Date: 13th April 2026

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Provider Services Leadership Team at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council rated Good by CQC.

We are looking for an experienced manager to join our Senior Leadership Team and shape the future of our in-house provider services. The right candidate will have a proven track record in delivering high quality care and developing new services, whether in Local Authority provision or the independent sector.

Our teams deliver high quality, person-centred care to local residents across a range of settings, including residential services, enablement focused home care, Shared Lives and day services. We are looking for a manager to drive forwards our transformation journey whilst ensuring the highest quality in CQC regulated care.

This role is an integral part of the department’s leadership team, working to deliver outstanding provider services. We are looking to develop our services on a number of pathways, including Supported Living for Adults with Mental Health needs, services for adults with Learning Disabilities and short-term Enablement provision. As such, there is an opportunity to shape the role in line with your skills and experience. The successful candidate will work closely with our our Commissioning team, as well as staff across the full Adults & Health department, and partners across the wider system.

At Blackburn with Darwen Council, our size is our strength. Working for a small borough means close collaboration across our leadership team, partners and local services. We are an ambitious borough with a proud sense of place and a strong identity. As a unitary authority, we work to provide the best opportunities for our residents, investing in employment and housing, developing our physical environment, town centres and cultural offer, and empowering people to thrive. Good partner relationships and our positive ‘can do’ approach means that we deliver for our communities. We are proud that CQC has recognised us as a Good Local Authority. We are determined to continue learning, improving and innovating, in pursuit of delivering outstanding services to our residents.

The service lead role is key in

• ensuring our in-house services provide the highest standards of care
• providing assurance that our registered services are inspection-ready and meet all standards of the CQC regulatory framework
• managing key staff in provider services, including registered managers
• collaborating with colleagues in our commissioning team to review our in-house offer and to plan for arising transformation work
• participating as an active member of the department’s Senior Leadership Team
• working collaboratively with partners across health and social care

We are looking for someone who is

• Passionate about providing high quality services for local people
• With significant experience managing CQC-registered care services, including experience of transformation work and developing new services.
• Experienced at working alongside key stakeholders and people with lived experience
• Able to work through periods of transformation and change, bringing people along with you to achieve our ambitions for provider services
• A compassionate leader who can enthuse, inspire and deliver

We are passionate about creating a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ applicants, disabled candidates, people with lived experience of services, and individuals seeking a new direction in their careers.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Ed Johnston as Head of Service / Nominated Individual: ed.johnston@blackburn.gov.uk

For further information and to apply head to our website at: Blackburn.gov.uk/recruitment