Head of Service
Illustrative calculators for Head of Service within Councils, part of the Local Government sector. Pick a tool below to model pay, working patterns, leave, take-home pay or CPD. Then confirm anything important with your employer, contract or union.
All figures are illustrative. Use your contract, payslip or employer for definitive amounts.
Sector context
Head of Service roles within Councils sit in the Local Government part of the UK public sector. Pay, leave and family leave terms are usually shaped by national or sector frameworks, then applied by your employer. The calculators below use illustrative data for this role; your contract and local policies always take precedence.
How pay works in local government
Many council roles use the National Joint Council (NJC) Green Book pay spine: spinal column points (SCPs) with annual increments until the top of the scale. Social workers, revenues staff, planners and support roles each map to a grade and SCP range. Pay awards are negotiated nationally but local market supplements and regrading can apply. Leave, sick pay and maternity terms usually follow NJC or local agreements.
For Head of Service, our dataset typically maps this role to Chief Officer (SCP 44–50) on Local Government pay (NJC). Your actual grade may differ; check your contract.
About this role
Find out more about the Head of Service role within Councils and whether it would be the right role for you.
What is a Head of Service?
A Head of Service leads a major service or directorate in a local authority. Pay is on chief officer or senior management scales.
Typical demands, progression and balance
Headship offers council-wide impact. Pay and satisfaction depend on authority and service. Progression to director or chief executive is common.
Progression and pay
Service Manager → Head of Service → Director. Use the calculators on this page to see how pay changes over time.
Calculators for this role
Browse our career-focused calculators for those who work as a Head of Service, covering pay progression, promotion paths, take-home pay, working patterns, leave, allowances and more. Click the calculators below to get started.
Common questions
Which calculators should I use first for Head of Service?
Start with pay progression to see how Chief Officer (SCP 44–50) pay could move over time. If you are weighing promotion, try career decisions. For part-time or reduced hours, use work patterns. Take-home pay, annual leave, sick pay and maternity calculators help with day-to-day planning.
Are these figures official for Head of Service at Councils?
No. All outputs are illustrative planning aids based on Local Government pay (NJC). Pay awards, spine points, allowances and local policies change. Always check your payslip, contract, HR team or union for definitive amounts.
Does Councils pay exactly like the national framework?
Often yes for base pay and leave, but employers can have local agreements, spot salaries, market supplements or academy freedoms. Use these tools to understand typical structures, then confirm anything material with your employer.
Can I plan part-time working as Head of Service?
Yes. Use the part-time or reduced hours calculator for your role, then follow the part-time planning journey to link allowances, leave and take-home pay with the same band and FTE saved in your browser.
Where can I read longer guides on pay and leave?
Open Guides in the site menu for in-depth articles on AfC, teachers' pay, FTE, sick pay, maternity and more, with links back to role calculators like this page.
In-depth guides
Longer articles on pay frameworks, FTE, leave and career planning for your sector.