Service Manager - Family Help

The Methodist Church in Britain; Normanton on Trent; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Flexible working opportunities

LGPS pension

Life assurance

On-site day nursery

Season ticket loan

Lease car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is recruiting for a Service Manager to lead the Family Help Service within children's services, guiding early help through to safeguarding and child protection. The post emphasizes embedding the Family Safeguarding Model and multidisciplinary practice.

You will direct Team Managers, drive service improvement, and build partnerships across the children's system to ensure timely support and positive outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Recognised social work qualification.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Significant senior leadership experience in children's social care and safeguarding.
• Experience leading managers and developing high-performing teams.
• Proven record of leading change, influencing partners and delivering service improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Family Help Service from early help through to statutory safeguarding and child protection.
• Provide leadership to Team Managers, building a culture of accountability, learning and improvement.
• Drive implementation and development of the Family Safeguarding Model with high-quality multidisciplinary practice.
• Ensure children receive timely support, intervention and protection.
• Champion strengths-based, relationship-focused practice that builds family resilience.
• Oversee service performance, quality assurance and improvement.
• Build strong partnerships across the children's system.
• Support workforce development, succession planning and staff wellbeing.
• Contribute to strategic planning and service transformation within the wider leadership team.
• Use data, insight and performance information to drive improvement and outcomes.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic leadership

Excellent communication

Relationship-based practice

Early Help knowledge

Education

Recognised social work qualification

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

This Service Manager post leads the Family Help Service within Reading Borough Council's children's services, combining Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection work. The role directs Team Managers and multidisciplinary teams, covering support from early intervention through to statutory safeguarding. It centres on embedding the Family Safeguarding Model, joining social workers with adult specialists on domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health. Candidates need a recognised social work qualification, Social Work England registration and significant senior leadership experience in children's social care.

What the job involves

• Lead the Family Help Service, from early help through to statutory safeguarding and child protection
• Provide leadership to Team Managers, building a culture of accountability, learning and improvement
• Drive implementation and development of the Family Safeguarding Model with high-quality multidisciplinary practice
• Ensure children receive timely support, intervention and protection
• Champion strengths-based, relationship-focused practice that builds family resilience
• Oversee service performance, quality assurance and improvement
• Build strong partnerships across the children's system
• Support workforce development, succession planning and staff wellbeing
• Contribute to strategic planning and service transformation within the wider leadership team
• Use data, insight and performance information to drive improvement and outcomes

What’s required

Qualifications

• Recognised social work qualification

Registration & licences

• Registration with Social Work England

Experience

• Significant leadership experience in children's social care and safeguarding
• Experience of leading managers and developing high-performing teams
• Proven record of leading change, influencing partners and delivering service improvement

Skills & knowledge

• Strong knowledge of Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection practice
• Commitment to relationship-based and strengths-focused practice
• Excellent communication, collaboration and strategic leadership skills
• Ability to inspire confidence, motivate others and build a positive, ambitious culture

What’s offered

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years' service and 33 days after 10 years, with option to buy additional leave
• Flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Life assurance of three times annual salary (LGPS members)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery), rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season ticket loan for rail or bus travel
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme, including insurance, servicing and road tax