The course, which may run over 12 months, could include a three-day residential, individual training and support and learning from experienced leaders from other local authority areas. Twenty-four directors will initially take part.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said: "As a DCS, you don't just have to lead professionals from schools or social care but also from the early years, healthcare, youth work, the police and all of the other different services that work with children and young people. I want to see all future chiefs of local authority children's services gain experience in areas outside their own specialism before they are appointed. But I also want to make sure that all DCSs have the skills and experience they need to provide the dynamic leadership children's services need."
Balls said he expected eventually all DCSs and aspiring DCSs would take the programme, which is being developed by the National College for School Leadership, the Association of Directors of Children's Services and the Children's Workforce Development Council.
The training programme was announced last year as part of the 2020 Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy.
