Camden Council is a step closer to appointing a new Director of Adult Social Care Operations, following a meeting of the Audit and Corporate Governance (Appointment Panel) Sub-Committee on 19 November 2025.

The sub-committee convened to discuss the appointment, a role Camden is seeking to fill with a strategic and expert leader. The new director will be responsible for ensuring adults with care and support needs are safe from harm, and will deputise for the Executive Director Adults and Health, who also serves as the statutory Director of Adult Social Services (DASS).

The post-holder will work with colleagues to tackle inequalities and improve access to services for all, with a particular focus on those with the highest levels of need, including an integrated service to residents with learning and physical disabilities. The directorate and council are expected to continue to 'shift the balance' to prevention and delivery of earlier interventions and to embed relational practice in all areas of work.

The appointment process has been rigorous, according to the Director of Adult Social Care Operations Final Member Panel report. It included:

  • Advertising the role.
  • Longlisting candidates on 9 October 2025.
  • Conducting technical interviews with longlisted candidates.
  • Shortlisting five candidates on 24 October to proceed to an assessment centre.
  • Holding an assessment centre on 30 October 2025, which included officer, resident, and partner panels. One candidate was recommended to the Final Member Panel.

The sub-committee will interview the candidate and, if deemed appropriate, recommend an offer of appointment. This is subject to no objections from the Cabinet, satisfactory reference and medical checks, and agreement on a starting salary.

The job profile outlines the specific skills and experience the panels were looking for during the assessment process. Camden seeks someone to provide strategic and expert leadership to ensure the safety of adults with care and support needs. The person specification includes:

  • Successful leadership of adult social care services for a large, diverse population in a complex environment.
  • Successful delivery of operational services.
  • Proven ability to work across the children's and adults services to ensure a whole family focus.
  • Leadership of a safeguarding system.
  • Whole system leadership including demonstrable achievements in partnership / integrated working in particular with health.
  • Experience of driving high performance and quality services, including through innovations.
  • High level of understanding and awareness of the legislative, policy and best practice context relevant to adult social care.
  • It is essential that the person appointed shares the same core values and level of ambition as set out in We make Camden.
  • Must be able to demonstrate experience of significant innovation and challenge to conventional management logic.
  • Must be able to demonstrate significant organisational achievements and understanding of culture within organizations.
  • Must have a good understanding of the political, social, and economic context and challenges in local government in Camden and across London.
  • Must have a collaborative personal style, highly effective interpersonal skills including strong emotional intelligence; and highly effective presentational skills.
  • Must have a coaching / developmental leadership style that fits our sense of shared leadership responsibility and empowered organizational culture.
  • Must have excellent analytical skills and an aptitude for complex problem solving.
  • Must be able to champion the pursuit of diversity and inclusion and demonstrate a record of accomplishment of this.
  • Proven leadership of high-performing teams and complex portfolios, with an ability to navigate risk, ensure compliance, and deliver transformational change.
  • Strong political acumen, with a track record of working credibly with elected members, central government, regulators, and community stakeholders.
  • Commitment to service user voice and co-production, with a belief in equity, dignity and shared responsibility as the foundation for public service.

The post-holder will oversee several key services, including:

  • Adult Integrated Neighbourhoods, including the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and Hospital Discharge.
  • Integrated Learning Disability and Physical Disability Service.
  • Mental Health Social Work.
  • Principal Social Worker.
  • Quality, Insight and Financial Services.

Camden Council emphasizes its commitment to a representative workforce at all levels. As a Timewise council, all positions are open to flexible working arrangements unless there is a valid business reason otherwise. The council also publishes detailed data on gender, ethnicity, and disability pay gaps.

Due to the confidential nature of the discussions, the sub-committee was expected to exclude the public and press during consideration of the item, as the information falls under Category 1 of Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972.