Service Improvement and Support Manager

Rochdale Council; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Rochdale Council's Children7s Services is recruiting a Service Improvement and Support Manager to drive strategic and operational improvements, workforce development and performance across the service. You will work closely with senior managers to implement improvement priorities, support inspection readiness and embed outstanding practice within a culture of high support, high challenge.

The role focuses on leading workforce development, practice improvement and service performance,

Qualifications

• Significant management experience within Children's Services or a related environment.
• A strong understanding of practice improvement, quality assurance, workforce development and performance management.
• Experience of leading change, service transformation and improvement programmes.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to analyse performance information and use business intelligence to drive improvements.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality services that improve outcomes for children and families.
• Experience of working within a complex, multi-agency environment and contributing at a senior management level.
• Knowledge and understanding of Ofsted frameworks and inspection preparation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Service Improvement and Support Service, ensuring high-quality and effective delivery across all functions.
• Provide strategic leadership for workforce development, training, practice improvement, business intelligence, and business support services.
• Contribute as a member of the Children's Social Care Senior Management Team, helping shape and deliver service priorities and improvements.
• Drive innovation and service development to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
• Lead performance management across teams, ensuring services are responsive, efficient and outcome-focused.
• Coach, supervise and support Team Managers, promoting a positive culture of accountability, development and wellbeing.
• Champion high-quality evidence-based practice and continuous professional development across Children's Services.
• Lead and support improvement initiatives, including delivery of the Achieving Excellence Plan.
• Support Ofsted readiness and inspection activity, working collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies.
• Manage people-related processes effectively, ensuring staff are supported to excel in their roles.
• Deputise for the Head of Service where required and represent Children's Services at internal and external meetings, boards and forums.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Influencing skills

Performance management

Workforce development

Change management

Job description

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of Children's Services, requiring a strong, strategic leader who is passionate about driving service improvement and achieving the very best outcomes for children, young people and families.

Service Improvement and Support Manager

Children's Services

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for service improvement, workforce development, and delivering outstanding outcomes for children and families?

We are seeking an exceptional Service Improvement and Support Manager to join our Children's Services Senior Management Team. This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in driving excellence across the service, supporting innovation, strengthening practice, and ensuring children and young people receive the highest quality support.

About the Role

As Service Improvement and Support Manager, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a range of key functions including workforce development and training, business intelligence, business support, practice improvement, and service performance.

Working closely with senior leaders and partners, you will lead the delivery of improvement priorities, support preparation for inspection, and ensure the service continually develops and embeds outstanding practice. You will be instrumental in driving the Children's Services improvement agenda, helping to create a culture of high support, high challenge, and continuous learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Service Improvement and Support Service, ensuring high-quality and effective delivery across all functions.
• Provide strategic leadership for workforce development, training, practice improvement, business intelligence, and business support services.
• Contribute as a member of the Children's Social Care Senior Management Team, helping shape and deliver service priorities and improvements.
• Drive innovation and service development to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
• Lead performance management across teams, ensuring services are responsive, efficient and outcome-focused.
• Coach, supervise and support Team Managers, promoting a positive culture of accountability, development and wellbeing.
• Champion high-quality evidence-based practice and continuous professional development across Children's Services.
• Lead and support improvement initiatives, including delivery of the Achieving Excellence Plan.
• Support Ofsted readiness and inspection activity, working collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies.
• Manage people-related processes effectively, ensuring staff are supported to excel in their roles.
• Deputise for the Head of Service where required and represent Children's Services at internal and external meetings, boards and forums.

About You

• Significant management experience within Children's Services or a related environment.
• A strong understanding of practice improvement, quality assurance, workforce development and performance management.
• Experience of leading change, service transformation and improvement programmes.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to analyse performance information and use business intelligence to drive improvements.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality services that improve outcomes for children and families.
• Experience of working within a complex, multi-agency environment and contributing at a senior management level.
• Knowledge and understanding of Ofsted frameworks and inspection preparation.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference across Children's Services by leading improvement, supporting innovation, and helping to ensure every child and young person has the opportunity to thrive.

If you are an ambitious and values-driven leader who is committed to excellence and passionate about improving children's lives, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help shape a service where children, young people and families are at the heart of everything we do.

Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced DBS including a barred list check child workforce

Supporting Documents

Rehabilitation of offenders policy
Job Description and Person Specification