Programme Manager (Families First Partnership Programme)

Bradford Children and Families Trust; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Local Government pension

Parental leave

Health & wellbeing support

Professional development

Job summary

Bradford Children and Families Trust is seeking a driven programme leader to drive the Families First Partnership Programme in Bradford. The role focuses on designing and delivering a multi-agency delivery plan with partners across Police, Education and Health to improve family support and child protection services.

You will oversee budgets, monitor delivery, and lead a team of project staff to establish an integrated Family Help Service and robust family-based decision making, delivering reform

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in leading transformational change.
• Deep knowledge of Families First reform agenda and related child services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the Families First Partnership Programme across multi-agency partners (Police, Education, Health).
• Design, coordinate, oversee and execute delivery plans to implement integrated Family Help service and multi-agency child protection arrangements.
• Manage budget oversight, monitor progress, and lead evaluation activities for the programme.

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Bradford

Job Reference bradfordcft/TP/653/685 - RE220

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Full Time / Permanent

Working Hours:

37

Location:

Bradford

Closing Date:

06/09/2026

Job Category:

Early Help & Transformation

Region / Division:

Bradford

Business Unit:

Early Help & Prevention

Job Introduction

Salary: Grade Special A - Special B, - £53,384 - £60,593, permanent>, 37 hours per week, Hybrid, 2 days per week based at Sir Henry Mitchell House.

Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.

We are fully committed to equal opportunities and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Building on the work that we have already begun, you will;

Work within our teams and with multi-agency stakeholders (Police, Education, Health, etc.) to facilitate change and improvements for children, young people and families by managing the implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme. This will include designing, coordinating, overseeing and executing a multi-agency delivery plan to ensure our organisation delivers:

• an integrated Family Help Service,
• multi-agency child protection teams
• robust family based decision making.
• changes to the case management system to support the reforms.

The role will ensure that Children’s Services are set up as a single integrated system that supports the wellbeing of, and protects, all children from significant harm, inside and outside of the home.

The role will ensure the programme is delivered in line with national statutory guidance for the Families First Partnership Programme by April 2027. This will require working closely with key partnerships including Health, Police, Education and the voluntary and community sector. The role includes budget oversight of any grant funding, monitoring progress of the delivery plan and leading associated evaluation activity. The role is also responsible for managing the project support officers allocated to the programme. You will need to be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the reform agenda, and ideally will have experience of leading change of this scale previously. Given the pace of the programme, it would be beneficial to have a background in children’s services.

Using strong programme and project management skills and understanding, the role will provide day-to-day coordination and management of the project, applying the most appropriate methodologies and approaches to meet project needs and ensure success.

The role will work closely with senior managers within Children’s Services, across our organisation’s services, and with external partners, reporting progress of the delivery plan to governing boards and government departments.

Our strategic vision and values are upheld across the Trust, fostering a reliable and supportive environment for both staff and the children in our care.

Our approach is rooted in restorative and relational practice, fostering trust, mutual respect, and meaningful relationships with children, families, and professionals.

You’ll also:

• Provide professional leadership and direction to key workstreams, including workforce culture and development, policies and procedures and communication and engagement, to ensure that Children’s Services are set up as a single integrated system
• have oversight of the maintenance, coordination and monitoring of both the Department for Educations implementation plan and Bradford children and families trust programme and project plans.
• supporting governance and equality frameworks, systems and processes, undertaking risk management activity for the programme and ensuring the delivery team and workstream leads are organised and remain within budgets and programme timescales.

To be successful in this role you will need:

• Extensive experience in a similar role, leading and delivering transformational change
• Deep knowledge of the Families First reform agenda and ideally some experience working within children’s services however this is not essential.

You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:

• Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
• Excellent Local Government pension
• Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
• Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
• Professional development and career progression opportunities

For full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.

Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.

To arrange an informal discussion, please contact Samantha Sirisambhand, [e-mail]

Closing Date: 6th September