Service Manager

Sheer Jobs Ltd; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site role

Flexible four-day pattern

Job summary

Sheer Jobs Ltd seeks an experienced Service Manager to lead the Children with Disabilities Service and oversee the Activities Unlimited Short Breaks. You will drive improvement, manage budgets, and work with senior leaders to deliver strategic priorities for children and families.

You will champion practice development, ensure high-quality outcomes, and guide teams through change while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships and governance reporting.

Qualifications

• Significant management experience in children's services, with a focus on disabilities.
• Proven track record leading service improvement, change and transformation programmes.
• Strong operational leadership with ability to motivate and develop teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to analyse complex issues, develop solutions and deliver improvements.
• Experience managing performance within budgetary constraints.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and management within the Children with Disabilities Service.
• Lead development and improvement of the Activities Unlimited Short Breaks Service.
• Drive service improvement initiatives with clear objectives and milestones.
• Support practice to promote high standards of service delivery and outcomes.
• Engage staff during change and embed sustainable improvements.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to deliver transformation and priorities.
• Monitor performance and implement effective solutions.
• Contribute to budget management and ensure cost controls.
• Prepare reports and presentations for governance meetings.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders to support service development.

Skills

Management experience

Service improvement leadership

Operational leadership

Communication

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Change management

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead and support the ongoing development and improvement of our Children with Disabilities (CWD) Service, with a particular focus on the Activities Unlimited Short Breaks Service.

This role will play a key part in driving service improvement, supporting practice development and ensuring high-quality outcomes for children and families. Working closely with senior leaders, managers and frontline practitioners, you will lead the delivery of an established improvement programme, embedding sustainable change and ensuring services are delivered effectively and within budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and management within the Children with Disabilities Service.
• Lead the continued development and improvement of the Activities Unlimited Short Breaks Service.
• Drive forward service improvement initiatives, ensuring agreed objectives, milestones and outcomes are achieved.
• Support and challenge practice to promote high standards of service delivery and positive outcomes for children and families.
• Work closely with teams to implement change, ensuring staff are engaged and supported throughout the improvement journey.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and project support colleagues to deliver strategic priorities and transformation activity.
• Monitor performance, identify areas for improvement and implement effective solutions.
• Contribute to budget management and ensure services operate within agreed financial parameters.
• Prepare reports and presentations for senior leadership and governance meetings as required.
• Develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support service development and continuous improvement.

Candidate Requirements

• Significant management experience within Children's Services, with recent experience in a Children with Disabilities (CWD) Service.
• Proven track record of leading service improvement, change and transformation programmes.
• Strong operational leadership skills with the ability to support, motivate and develop teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to analyse complex issues, develop solutions and deliver sustainable improvements.
• Experience of managing performance and working within budgetary frameworks.
• A proactive and resilient approach, with the ability to drive change and bring others on the journey.

Working Arrangements

• -3 to 4 days per week on site to provide visible leadership and support practice development.
• Four-day working patterns may be considered.