Senior Manager | Children's Social Care - Family Safeguarding | Lancaster & Fleetwood

Lancashire County Council; Morecambe; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a leader in Children’s Social Care. The role involves managing specialist teams to provide timely support for children and families while ensuring service quality and statutory compliance. Candidates should be passionate about improving life chances for children and possess relevant qualifications and experience in social work. Competitive salary and a range of benefits offered.

Benefits

Generous local government pension

Flexible working

Employee Assistance Plan

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in leadership within children’s social care.
• Registered Social Worker (Social Work England).
• Strong knowledge of Children Acts and care planning regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead a cluster of specialist teams for assessments and support for children.
• Shape operational strategy and drive service transformation.
• Champion inclusion and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Knowledge of statutory frameworks

Communication

Empathy

Education

CQSW, DipSW, BA in Social Work or equivalent

Job description

Description

Salary £66,336 - £72,151 Per Annum | Permanent, Full time, 37 hours per week | Children’s Social Care - Lancaster & Fleetwood

International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship

Children in Need / Child Protection and Court Services

Location: North Lancashire

About Us

Lancashire County Council is one of the largest local authorities in the UK, supporting over 1.5 million residents. Our Children’s Services are nationally recognised for their commitment to safeguarding, innovation, and delivering high-quality outcomes for children, young people, and families. We are proud of our values-led culture and our focus on continuous improvement, collaboration, and inclusion.

About You

Service Excellence – You will lead a cluster of specialist teams to deliver first-class assessments and timely support for children, young people, carers, and families. You will ensure services are responsive, outcome-focused, and delivered within statutory frameworks and budgetary constraints.

Leadership – You will work closely with the Head of Service to shape operational strategy and drive service transformation. You will inspire and develop high-performing teams, embed a performance culture, and ensure inspection readiness. Your leadership will promote cross-organisational working and multi-agency collaboration.

Passion – You are passionate about improving life chances for children and young people. You will champion inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement. You will ensure that children and families have a voice in shaping the support they receive and that services are delivered with empathy, integrity, and professionalism.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• CQSW, DipSW, BA in Social Work or equivalent
• Registered Social Worker (Social Work England)
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in leadership within children’s social care
• Strong knowledge of statutory frameworks including Children Acts, Working Together 2018, and care planning regulations

Why Join Us

Inclusivity – We are committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working environment. Our aim is to ensure that everyone is equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society, working in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. We especially welcome applications from traditionally under-represented groups including people of colour, from the LGBTQ+ community or those with a disability. We provide support networks including our Disabled Workers Forum, Forum of Asian & Black Employees, LGBTQ+ Employee Network & our Employee Support Team.

Benefits – We offer a wide range of benefits including our benefits platform “Vivup” with savings on groceries, clothing, dining, entertainment, gym memberships and more. Excellent Employee Assistance Plan to support family challenges around finance, fitness and health. Generous local government pension (~16%) with shared contributory AVCs, cycle to work schemes, eye test reimbursement, and more. Flexible working to improve work-life balance, up to 32 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, 2 additional days at Christmas, and up to 20 days that can be purchased.

Development – Support and development throughout the journey including time for supervision, opportunities for personal growth, qualifications, multidisciplinary initiatives, mentoring, and the chance to make a difference and achieve job satisfaction.

How To Apply

If you are interested in applying for this role, please provide the following with your application:

• Supporting Statement – Highlighting why you fit the role requirements.
• CV/Resume

If you have any questions before applying, we would be delighted to have an initial confidential chat. Please contact Lee Byrne via email: [e-mail] to arrange a call.

Closing Date: Sunday 5th October

Interviews: TBC

You must be registered (SWE) to be appointed as a Social Worker or have applied to register with the Social Care Council. For Social Worker/Care Manager positions where non social worker qualifications are accepted, registration is not required, and you will be appointed as a Care Manager.

You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a disclosure. Further information can be found on the Our Recruitment Process tab.

Lancashire County Council reserves the right to close this job advertisement at any time prior to the stated closing date. This decision may be made without prior notice and is at the sole discretion of Lancashire County Council. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly, as we may fill the position before the advertised closing.