Family Help Service Lead Transformational Child Safeguarding

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Flexible working opportunities

Modern Civic Offices in Reading

Life Assurance

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking an exceptional Service Manager, Family Help to lead the integrated Family Help Service, bringing together Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection into a unified, relationship-based approach.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership, shaping practice and partnerships across education, health, police, housing and the voluntary sector to improve outcomes for children and families in Reading.

Qualifications

• A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Significant leadership experience within children's social care and safeguarding services.
• Strong knowledge of Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection practice.
• Experience of leading managers and developing high-performing teams.
• Ability to lead change, influence partners and deliver service improvement.
• Commitment to relationship-based and strengths-focused practice.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and strategic leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Family Help Services.
• Drive the implementation and ongoing development of the Family Safeguarding Model, ensuring high-quality multidisciplinary practice.
• Provide inspirational leadership to Team Managers, creating a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
• Ensure children receive timely and effective support, intervention and protection when they need it most.
• Champion strengths-based, relationship-focused practice that empowers families and builds resilience.
• Lead service performance, quality assurance and improvement activity, ensuring consistently high standards of practice.
• Build strong relationships and work collaboratively with key partners across the children's system.
• Support workforce development, succession planning and staff wellbeing, enabling teams to thrive and deliver excellent services.
• Contribute to strategic planning and service transformation as a valued member of the wider leadership team.
• Use data, insight and performance information to drive continuous improvement and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Skills

Leadership experience

Knowledge of Early Help

Child in Need & Child Protection

Leading managers

Relationship-based practice

Strategic leadership

Excellent communication

Education

Social Work qualification

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

Reading Borough Council is seeking an exceptional Service Manager, Family Help to lead the integrated Family Help Service, bringing together Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection into a unified, relationship-based approach.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership, shaping practice and partnerships across education, health, police, housing and the voluntary sector to improve outcomes for children and families in Reading.