CLA / Care Leaver Service Manager

Herts Legal Service - Hertfordshire County Council; Farnham; On-site; GBP 71,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council is seeking an experienced Corporate Parent Service Manager to support CLA, SMC and Care Leaver teams, initially line-managing four Separated Migrant Team Managers. The role shapes future service delivery, strengthens practice, and ensures high-quality outcomes for looked-after children and care leavers.

Based in Stevenage with countywide travel, you’ll join a senior management group within a trauma-informed, cross-team service.

Qualifications

• Qualified & registered Social Worker.
• Extensive post-qualifying frontline statutory experience.
• Proven ability to lead and develop practice within children’s services.
• Strong understanding of statutory responsibilities and legislation.
• Experience in service planning, performance management and quality assurance.
• Ability to build, motivate, supervise and support teams to achieve high standards.
• Strategic thinking with ability to drive continual service improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Children Looked After, Separated Migrant and Care Leaver teams.
• Develop and monitor the service plan; ensure statutory obligations are met.
• Drive excellence through performance monitoring, evaluation and staff supervision.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to shape service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Performance management

Education

Qualified & registered Social Worker

Job description

Job Introduction

Job Title: CLA / Care Leaver Service Manager

Starting Salary: £70,803 progressing to £77,711 (including market enhanced pay) per annum

Hours: 37

Location: Farnham House, Stevenage with countywide travel required

Contract Type: Permanent

Directorate: Childrens' Services

About The Team

Our Children Looked After, Separated Migrant and Care Leaver Service exists to ensure that every young person in our care — and every care leaver we support — has the stability, guidance and opportunities they need to thrive into adulthood. Our purpose is to provide consistent, relationship‑based support that helps young people feel safe, valued and empowered as they navigate their journey toward independence.

You will be joining a dedicated and passionate senior management group within a service made up of 14 teams, all working collaboratively to deliver high‑quality, trauma‑informed support. You will be joining the service at an exciting time as we are reconsidering our service delivery model, prompted by changes in the local needs of our children and young people; a recent staff survey and in preparation for local government reform. As a Corporate Parent Service Manager, you will, initially line manging four Separated Migrant Team Managers and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our service, strengthening our practice, and ensuring we deliver the best possible outcomes for the children and young people we serve.

About The Role

As an experienced manager, you will be a valued member of the management group, supporting the Children Looked After (CLA), Separated Migrant (SMC) and Care Leaver Teams to be the best corporate parent, delivering a high-quality service to Hertfordshire Children Looked After and Care Leavers.

Key Responsibilities Will See You

• Work in partnership with a range of internal and external stake holders to lead and develop practice, identify, and respond to challenges and learn from our strengths. You will have the ability to develop and sustain partnership working and be an effective advocate for the Council.
• Ensure statutory obligations are met through the development and delivery of the service plan. You will drive excellence through the effective monitoring and evaluation of service performance, ensuring a capable, trained, supported, and supervised workforce
• Support your teams by developing strategies using your understanding of external influences, legislation, and council processes to continually improve the service.
• Lead and develop teams, inspiring best practice, and guiding and supporting your teams to deliver positive outcomes.

You will also have the joy of working with the children and young people who are members of our Children in Care Council, ensuring that their voices are continuing to influence service delivery.

Essential

About you

• Qualified & registered Social Worker
• Extensive post qualifying experience in frontline statutory services
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop practice within children’s services, including partnership working with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of statutory responsibilities and legislation relevant to Children Looked After services.
• Proven experience in service planning, performance management, and quality assurance.
• Ability to build, motivate, supervise, and support teams to achieve high standards of practice and outcomes.
• Strategic thinking skills with the ability to respond to challenges, learn from strengths, and drive continual service improvement.
• Effective communication, relationship‑building, and advocacy skills at a senior level.

Passionate about achieving outcomes and making a difference, this is a senior management position in a service of likeminded, equally passionate professionals, all working towards the same goal.

Applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 14. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles - Health and social care

Interview Date: w/c 5th October - Face to Face; Stevenage office.

Additional Information

We are changing

Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly‑created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/.

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving Required

You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.