Interim Service Manager - Family Help

Hoop Recruitment Ltd; Kingswood; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Hoop Social Work recruits an experienced Interim Service Manager for the Family Help Team at South Gloucestershire Council. This initial three-month assignment is based in Kingswood, with potential to support the Central Family Help Team during short absences.

You will provide senior operational leadership, oversee delivery and promote continuous improvement, working with Team Managers and partner agencies to safeguard children and deliver high-quality early help services.

Qualifications

• A recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Significant Local Authority children’s social care experience.
• Experience in senior leadership or Service Manager level.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and relevant legislation.
• Proven ability to lead managers and drive service improvement.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Experience of performance management and quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior operational leadership across the Family Help service.
• Lead and support Team Managers, promoting confident leadership.
• Ensure services deliver safe, timely and child-centred support with safeguarding focus.
• Use performance, quality assurance and service data to monitor and improve.
• Collaborate with partner agencies to address challenges and demand.
• Support inspection readiness and ongoing development of children's services.
• Provide management cover across the South and Central Family Help teams.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Decision making

Performance management

Quality assurance

Child safeguarding

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Social Work qualification

Social Work England registration

Job description

Interim Service Manager – Family Help South Gloucestershire Council | £425 per day Initial 3-month contract | 37 hours per week | Mainly office-based

Hoop Social Work is recruiting an experienced Interim Service Manager for the Family Help Team at South Gloucestershire Council. South Gloucestershire’s children’s social care service is rated Good by Ofsted, with a strong focus on child-centred practice, supportive leadership and positive outcomes for children and families.

This is an initial three-month assignment within the South Family Help Team, based in Kingswood, to provide cover pending the arrival of a new starter. You may also be required to support the Central Family Help Team, based at Badminton Road, during a short-term absence of their Service Manager.

The role

As Interim Service Manager, you will provide visible, confident and values-led leadership, supporting Team Managers and practitioners to deliver safe, effective and high-quality services for children and families. You will set clear priorities, oversee service delivery and promote a culture of learning, accountability and continuous improvement. Working closely with colleagues and partner agencies, you will use performance information and quality assurance to identify areas for development, respond to service pressures and maintain consistently strong practice. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced social care leader who can quickly establish themselves within a service, provide stability and direction, and support teams to achieve positive outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Provide senior operational leadership across the Family Help service, ensuring effective service delivery and high standards of practice.
• Lead and support Team Managers, promoting confident leadership, workforce development and a positive learning culture.
• Ensure services deliver safe, timely and child-centred support, with a strong focus on safeguarding and improving outcomes for children and families.
• Use performance, quality assurance, financial and workforce information to monitor service effectiveness and drive improvement.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to address challenges, manage demand and ensure services respond effectively to families’ needs.
• Support inspection readiness and contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of children’s services.
• Provide management cover across the South and, if required, Central Family Help teams.

What we’re looking for

• A recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Significant experience within Local Authority children’s social care.
• Previous management experience, ideally at Service Manager level or in a comparable senior leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of statutory children’s services, safeguarding and relevant legislation.
• Proven ability to lead managers, oversee complex services and maintain high standards of practice.
• Excellent leadership, decision‑making and communication skills.
• Experience of performance management, quality assurance and service improvement.
• The ability to quickly build relationships, provide stability and lead effectively within an interim assignment.

Essential requirements

• A relevant Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• A minimum of six months’ experience working as a registered Social Worker in the UK.
• An Enhanced DBS registered on the Update Service, or willingness to apply for one.
• Three years’ referencing history.
• A full driving licence and access to a car.

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.