Service Manager - Childrens Services

About the Role: As the Service Manager for our statutory child protection service area you will be responsible for supervising leading and supporting a team of managers who oversee key services such as child in need child protection children looked after and careexperienced young adults. This is a pivotal role where you will be expected to work in a dynamic and often highpressure environment addressing a range of complex risky and diverse challenges in safeguarding vulnerable children and young people. You will be instrumental in ensuring that services are delivered to the highest standard promoting the safety welfare and best outcomes for the children and young people in our care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise and lead a team of managers ensuring they are supported in their role and that highquality services are delivered within the statutory child protection framework.
  
• Take overall responsibility for risk management and decisionmaking within the service area ensuring that practice aligns with relevant laws statutory guidance and local policies.
  
• Promote the Signs of Safety practice model and ensure that a solutionfocused collaborative approach is integrated into all aspects of service delivery.
  
• Lead the recruitment retention and ongoing professional development of staff ensuring an adequate workforce to meet the service s needs.
  
• Provide expert social work and child protection knowledge to support staff and multiagency professionals in understanding and addressing the diverse needs of children and young people.
  
• Chair and participate in complex strategy meetings legal planning meetings and other forums ensuring decisions are made with the child s best interests at the centre.
  
• Liaise with multiagency partners to coordinate the best level of multidisciplinary support for children and families.
  
• Monitor and ensure compliance with statutory guidance policies and procedures in safeguarding children ensuring effective implementation of care plans case management and decisionmaking processes.
  
• Lead on service development and strategic oversight contributing to the formulation and delivery of service improvement plans.
  
• Ensure a positive and productive working environment providing regular supervision and appraisal for managers to promote ongoing professional development and reflective practice.
  

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Staffing & Recruitment: Oversee recruitment and interview processes for new practitioners and managers ensuring that the team is appropriately staffed in line with fluctuating workloads absence or illness.
  
• Crisis Support: Be available outside of regular working hours to offer management guidance and support to workers and managers dealing with emergencies or crisis situations ensuring the safety and welfare of children.
  
• Emergency Duty Rota: Participate in the outofhours emergency duty rota providing management oversight and decisionmaking to safeguard children.
  
• General Service Management: Undertake any additional duties necessary to maintain the smooth functioning of the service and meet corporate parenting and safeguarding responsibilities.
  

Learning and Development:

• Professional Growth: Regularly reflect on practice and identify areas for professional development. Engage in training opportunities both internally and externally to enhance your skills further.
  
• Promoting Development: Encourage continuous learning within the team supporting staff in identifying learning needs and facilitating opportunities for them to develop.
  
• Sharing Best Practice: Promote an environment where learning and development are shared amongst colleagues including through joint case working and shadowing to improve practice across the team.
  

Professional Capability Framework (PCF) Expectations for Social Work Managers:

• Leadership & Performance Management: Lead motivate and manage a team ensuring the delivery of effective services and positive outcomes for children. Oversee performance quality assurance and manage resources and budgets.
  
• Policy & Practice Development: Contribute to the development of practice procedures and policies supporting the professional development of the team. Ensure effective professional supervision performance appraisals and mentoring.
  
• Casework Oversight: Manage complex cases ensuring timely decisionmaking and that childrens plans are implemented and reviewed regularly.