Deputy Head of Service SPA

ACHIEVING FOR CHILDREN COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY; Kingston upon Thames; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Kingston upon Thames seeks a dynamic Deputy Head of Service to lead the Single Point of Access team. The role demands experience in social work management, overseeing safeguarding practices, and supporting team leaders. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to professional development and team leadership skills. Competitive salary and benefits, including hybrid working options, are offered.

Benefits

29 days annual leave

Local Government pension scheme

Flexible working options

Employee Assistance Programme

Learning and development support

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading teams, including line management, performance oversight, and change management.
• Active Social Work England registration with a commitment to professional development.
• Solid understanding of evidence-informed practice.

Responsibilities

• Oversee threshold and safeguarding decisions.
• Supervise SPA Team Leaders, ensuring high-quality practice.
• Respond to complex queries and complaints in the absence of the SPA Service Manager.

Skills

Team leadership

Decision-making

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree-level qualification in Social Work

Job description

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About the role

The Deputy Head of Service plays a key role in the day-to-day leadership of the Single Point of Access (SPA). As a qualified and experienced social work manager, you'll work closely with the SPA Service Manager to bridge strategic priorities with operational delivery ensuring the service runs smoothly and effectively.

You'll be responsible for overseeing threshold and safeguarding decisions, handling escalations, and providing expert guidance across the team. In the absence of the SPA Service Manager, you'll take the lead making final decisions and responding to complex queries and complaints. You'll also directly supervise the SPA Team Leaders, supporting high-quality practice and consistent decision-making.

For an informal conversation please reach out to Dan clark at, [e-mail]

About you

We're looking for a dynamic and experienced manager who thrives in high-pressure environments and is confident in leading complex decision-making. You'll be comfortable supervising social workers and managers, ensuring sound, consistent application of thresholds and safeguarding practice every day.

You'll bring:

• A degree-level qualification and professional qualification in Social Work
• Active Social Work England registration with a strong commitment to ongoing professional development
• Proven experience in leading teams, including line management, performance oversight, and change management
• A solid understanding of how to apply research, theory, and evidence-informed practice in real-world settings
• Confidence in building and sustaining strong partnerships, and co-producing solutions with a wide range of stakeholders - including children, young people, and families
• A strong advocate for the voice of the child, ensuring lived experiences inform every decision

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

• 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
• Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
• Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
• Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of staff benefits and discounts
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here . For our social work offer click here . For our Recruitment Journey, click here.

Important Information

Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.

Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.