3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

The Service Manager will lead one of the following service areas:

• Integrated Referral Hub
  
• Child Assessment Team
  
• Family Support and Child Protection
  
• Children with Disabilities
  
• Children Looked After
  
• 16+ Independence
  
• Fostering and Permanency
  
• Quality Assurance (IROs and Child Protection Chairs)
  

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operational management of teams, ensuring services prioritise the best interests of children and comply with statutory frameworks.
  
• Ensure timely and effective responses to all contacts and referrals.
  
• Deliver positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.
  
• Manage staff and resources to ensure services meet:
  
  • Government legislation and policy
    
  • Council policies and procedures
    
  • High-quality, customer-focused standards
    
• Provide leadership to frontline staff, implementing policy, procedural, and organisational changes.
  
• Support senior leadership by advising on strategy, policy, and service development.
  
• Monitor and report on service performance and targets, addressing risks and underperformance.
  
• Manage budgets effectively, ensuring value for money and compliance with financial regulations.
  
• Build strong partnerships across:
  
  • Council departments (Education, Housing, Adult Social Care)
    
  • External agencies (Health, Police)
    
  • Voluntary and community sector
    
• Drive service improvement and cultural change, ensuring effective multi-agency collaboration.
  
• Lead on strategic projects and joint initiatives with partners.
  
• Maintain effective team communication and engagement.
  
• Promote service user participation, especially children, young people, and families.
  
• Monitor team performance and address issues proactively.
  
• Provide supervision, appraisal, and development for staff.
  
• Lead quality assurance activities, including audits and performance analysis.
  
• Set and review objectives, targets, and service plans.
  
• Ensure effective workload management and case allocation.
  
• Strengthen multi-agency partnerships to improve safeguarding outcomes.
  
• Contribute to strategic planning and service development.
  
• Provide expert advice on complex social work practice and risk management.
  
• Manage budget performance, ensuring financial balance.
  
• Ensure compliance with equality, diversity, and health & safety policies.
  
• Participate in out-of-hours duty rota when required.
  

Requirements

• In-depth knowledge of children’s services legislation and statutory requirements
  
• Understanding of government guidance and professional standards
  
• Relevant qualification (e.g. CQSW, DipSW or equivalent) with professional registration
  
• Minimum 5 years’ experience at Team Manager or Senior Social Worker level
  
• Proven success delivering safe, high-quality services in a multi-agency setting
  
• Experience achieving service plans and performance targets
  
• Strong track record in:
  
  • Performance management
    
  • Budget management
    
  • Project delivery and implementation
    
• Experience in:
  
  • Leadership and people management
    
  • Conflict resolution
    
  • Producing complex reports
    
  • Communicating with diverse stakeholders
    

• Bi-Weekly Payments
  
• 35 Hours Per Week
  
• Hybrid Working