Service Manager - Assessment Service

WMJobs; Brierley Hill; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

3 in-person office days/week

Job summary

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead the Assessment Service within Dudley Children’s Services. You will oversee multiple teams, ensuring consistent, high-quality practice and timely decisions for children and families at the front door.

The role reports to the Principal Service Lead and involves shaping service direction and driving continuous improvement. We offer a leadership role in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with hybrid working

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with substantial leadership in children's services.
• Strong understanding of front door services, thresholds and assessment practice.
• Experience leading managers and driving service-wide improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight to Team Managers across the Assessment Service.
• Drive consistency of practice, performance and decision-making across all teams.
• Ensure timely, high-quality assessments that are analytical and outcome-focused.
• Lead on service development and continuous improvement across teams.
• Support and develop managers to deliver high standards of practice.

Skills

Social work leadership

Front door services

Decision making under pressure

Education

Qualified social worker

Job description

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council,

Ready to lead and shape practice at the front door of children’s services?

We’re looking for an experienced, strategic and passionate Service Manager to lead our Assessment Service at Dudley Children’s Services. This is a pivotal leadership role where you will oversee multiple teams at the front door, ensuring consistency, quality of practice, and strong decision‑making for children and families at the earliest point of contact. You will play a key role in setting the direction of the service, driving improvement, and ensuring children receive the right help at the right time.

Reporting to the Principal Service Lead, you will work as part of a strong leadership team to support delivery, manage demand and embed high‑quality, child‑centred practice across all assessment teams.

If you are a confident leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and is committed to making a meaningful difference—this could be the role for you.

As Service Manager, you will:

• Provide leadership and oversight to Team Managers across the Assessment Service
• Work closely with the Service Managers and Principal Service Leads in Family Help to manage demand across areas
• Drive consistency of practice, performance, and decision‑making across all teams
• Ensure the delivery of timely, high‑quality assessments that are analytical and outcome‑focused
• Maintain oversight of risk, thresholds and safeguarding decisions at the front door
• Lead on service development and continuous improvement, embedding best practice across teams
• Manage service demand and performance, ensuring resources are used effectively
• Support and develop Team Managers to deliver strong leadership and high standards of practice
• Work closely with partners to ensure a coordinated, multi‑agency approach
• Contribute to strategic planning and service direction alongside the Principal Service Lead

About You

• Is a qualified and highly experienced social worker, with substantial leadership experience in management in children’s services
• Has a strong understanding of front door services, thresholds, and assessment practice
• Brings experience of leading managers and driving service‑wide improvementsIs confident making complex decisions in high‑pressure environments
• Has a track record of improving performance, quality and outcomes for children
• Is a strong communicator, able to influence, challenge and support at all levels
• Is committed to delivering consistent, high‑quality, child‑centred practice across services

Why join Dudley?

• Lead a critical front‑line service, shaping practice at the earliest stage of a child’s journey
• Drive consistency and excellence across multiple teams
• Work as part of a supportive and ambitious senior leadership team
• Influence service‑wide improvement and strategic direction
• Benefit from hybrid working, with an expectation of 3 in‑person office‑based days per week

We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications.

So that we can demonstrate Dudley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to improve bias in the recruitment process that could create barriers for candidates.

All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK.

Please note: Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.

Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross‑match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so.

The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/privacy-disclaimer-statement/

Attached documents

Service Manager G14 JDPS.pdf

Employee Benefits List.pdf