Portfolio Lead Worker

Rochdale Borough Council; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Casual user car allowance

Job summary

Rochdale Borough Council’s Our Place service is hiring a Portfolio Lead – Risk Management to oversee risk identification, mitigation, and reduction for vulnerable young people in residential and edge-of-care settings.

You will lead risk management activities, supervise Keyworkers, and ensure robust plans are regularly reviewed, with a focus on safeguarding and high-quality outcomes for families.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a level 3 qualification.
• Experience with risk management in children and young people services.
• Willingness to work unsocial hours including sleeps, weekends and bank holidays.

Responsibilities

• Identify, manage and reduce risk for young people within the service.
• Develop and implement robust risk management plans.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues on risk within practice.
• Complete residential shifts within short- to medium-term home.
• Manage a small caseload of young people on the edge of care or returning home.
• Supervise a small number of Keyworkers to ensure high-quality practice.

Skills

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Level 3 qualification

Job description

No Wrong Door – Portfolio Lead (Risk Management)

Welcome to Our Place

Are you passionate about working with young people? Do you bring creativity, flexibility, and a commitment to delivering high-quality support? Are you a strong advocate who ensures young people always have someone in their corner?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our leadership team as a Portfolio Lead – Risk Management.

About the Role

As Portfolio Lead for Risk Management, you will take a strategic and operational lead in identifying, managing, and reducing risk for young people within the service. You will work across both the residential setting and our edge-of-care outreach provision.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring risk management plans are robust, consistently implemented, and regularly reviewed
• Delivering direct interventions to support young people in reducing risk
• Providing guidance, advice, and support to colleagues managing risk within their practice
• Completing residential shifts within our short- to medium-term home
• Managing a small caseload of young people on the edge of care or those being supported to return home (rehabilitation)
• Supervising and supporting a small number of Keyworkers to ensure high-quality practice and outcomes for young people.

About Our Place

Our Place is a creative, flexible service supporting some of the most vulnerable young people and their families. Originally developed by North Yorkshire County Council as the No Wrong Door model, it was renamed Our Place by the young people we support.

We work with young people aged 9+ who are in care, on the edge of care, or at risk of entering care, with the aim of achieving permanence within a family setting.

Our approach is relational and restorative, ensuring we listen to young people, understand their experiences, and support them at their pace to thrive and reach their full potential.

Our Service Includes:

• A residential provision (rated Good by Ofsted – February 2025)
• Responsive and flexible outreach support
• Bespoke care packages tailored to individual needs

Our Team

The service is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team led by a Practice Manager (Registered Manager), supported by:

• 2 Deputy Managers
• 6 Portfolio Leads
• 8.5 Keyworkers

Our team is strengthened by embedded specialists, including:

• Clinical Psychologist (Life Coach)
• Speech and Language Therapist (Communication Worker)
• Foster carers and supported lodgings providers
• Data Analyst and Business Support

Additional Information

• The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment.
• A Casual User Car Allowance is payable.
• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, including a barred list check (child workforce).
• The role includes sleep‑ins, weekends, and bank holiday working.
• You must be able to undertake a Team Teach physical restraint (training will be provided).
• Minimum of a level 3 qualification needed

Further Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

• Courtney Smith – [e-mail]
• Kyle Sykes – [e-mail]
• Gaynor Ashcroft – [e-mail]