Social services work with families and children to help them manage or overcome difficult life circumstances. They have a legal duty to protect vulnerable children and young people. Directors of social services are the senior managers within public authorities (often municipalities). Under the oversight of local elected councillors, the director is responsible for strategic and financial planning of social work and care services with children and families.

In cooperation with other actors, they may manage a range of specialist and supporting services, notably family support centres, child protection procedures, fostering and adoption assessments and placements. Social services have a wider impact on children’s well-being and life chances through work with parents, themselves facing social exclusion and poverty, to support job activation, adult learning or to help them overcome addictions. Local government and other public agencies shape the economic, social and spatial environment where children grow up.

Across the range of services, the core value of social work with children is that the best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration.