Early Help Team Leader

Civic Recruitment Limited; Dudley Wood; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Civic Recruitment Limited are seeking an experienced service leader to head the Early Help function within the Front Door Service in Dudley. You will provide senior management oversight, drive effective decision-making on contacts requiring Early Help, and ensure consistent threshold application across partner agencies.

You will promote timely interventions, lead multi-agency collaboration, monitor performance and drive continuous improvement while ensuring compliance with safeguarding

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with current registration.
• Significant leadership and management experience.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and procedures.
• Experience in Front Door/MASH environments.
• Ability to analyse complex information and make sound decisions.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-demand environments.
• Commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and families.
• Professional qualification in Social Work or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Early Help function within the Front Door Service.
• Provide management oversight and decision-making for Early Help contacts.
• Ensure robust threshold decision-making in line with procedures.
• Promote timely interventions for children and families.
• Lead multi-agency collaboration and information sharing.
• Develop partnerships with services and voluntary sector organisations.
• Monitor demand, performance indicators and outcomes.
• Lead performance management and ensure compliance with standards.
• Oversee quality assurance including case audits, practice reviews, thematic audits, learning reviews.
• Identify trends and risks; develop improvement action plans.
• Ensure safeguarding legislation compliance and policy adherence.
• Contribute to governance, strategic planning and policy development.
• Prepare performance reports for senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Lead, motivate and support staff through supervision and coaching.

Skills

Team management

Strategic leadership

Safeguarding knowledge

Performance management

Multi-agency collaboration

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Social Work qualification

Leadership qualification

Job description

To provide leadership, management and oversight of the Early Help function within the Front Door Service, ensuring children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time through effective early intervention and multi-agency collaboration.

The postholder will play a key role within the Front Door Leadership Team, promoting high-quality decision-making, consistent threshold application and strong partnership working across Children's Services, Education, Health, Police, Early Help providers and the voluntary sector. The role will drive service improvement, quality assurance and performance management to ensure positive outcomes for children and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Early Help function within the Front Door Service.
• Provide management oversight and decision-making in relation to contacts requiring an Early Help response.
• Ensure robust and consistent threshold decision-making in line with local safeguarding procedures and Early Help frameworks.
• Promote timely and effective interventions that support children and families at the earliest opportunity.
• Lead multi-agency collaboration, information sharing and professional challenge to ensure effective outcomes.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with Children's Services, Health, Education, Police, Early Help providers and voluntary sector organisations.
• Monitor service demand, performance indicators and outcomes, using data and intelligence to inform decision-making.
• Lead performance management activities and ensure compliance with service standards and statutory requirements.
• Oversee quality assurance processes including:
  • Case Audits
  • Practice Reviews
  • Thematic Audits
  • Learning Reviews
• Identify trends, emerging risks and areas for service improvement.
• Develop and implement action plans to improve performance, efficiency and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and local procedures.
• Contribute to service governance, strategic planning and policy development.
• Prepare performance reports, briefings and updates for senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Lead, motivate and support staff through supervision, coaching, mentoring and reflective practice.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, learning and high professional standards.
• Support workforce development and performance management processes.
• Represent the service at partnership meetings, strategic forums and multi-agency events where required.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Front Door and Early Help services across the authority.

Requirements

• Significant experience working with children, young people and families within:
  • Early Help Services
  • Children's Social Care
  • MASH
  • Safeguarding Services
  • Front Door Services
• Experience managing teams and providing professional leadership.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Safeguarding legislation and procedures
  • Early Intervention models
  • Threshold Frameworksl
  • Children's Services processes
  • Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements
• Experience of performance management and service improvement.
• Experience undertaking quality assurance, auditing and practice reviews.
• Ability to analyse complex information and make sound professional decisions.
• Experience working effectively within multi-agency environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence partners and challenge practice appropriately.
• Experience supporting and developing staff through supervision and coaching.
• Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and high-demand environment.
• Commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and families.
• Professional qualification in Social Work, Early Help, Youth Services, Education or a related discipline.
• Experience within a Front Door or MASH environment.
• Management or leadership qualification.
• Experience contributing to strategic service development and transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of local authority performance frameworks and inspection requirements.

Additional Information

• Location: Dudley
• Bi-Weekly Payments