Social Care Service Manager

Suffolk County Council; Lowestoft; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a Service Manager for Family Time and Edge of Care to provide strategic leadership and oversight across services countywide. The role offers hybrid working arrangements across multiple locations and requires extensive experience in child protection, safeguarding and senior management within children's services.

You will lead cross-functional teams, manage workforce development, and ensure delivery of high-quality family support while maintaining best value

Qualifications

• a recognised Social Work qualification and registration, or an appropriate equivalent professional qualification
• extensive experience within Family Time, Edge of Care or outreach services, working alongside statutory social care teams
• strong knowledge and practical application of the Children Act 1989; Children Act 2004 and associated regulations and guidance
• a sound understanding of the current issues affecting children in care
• a proven track record of providing leadership, management and professional oversight within children's services
• excellent organisational, leadership and communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a senior and complex service environment.

Responsibilities

• provide leadership and oversight across Family Time and Edge of Care, ensuring referrals are responded to promptly, safely and in line with the needs of children and their families
• work confidently within child protection, pre-proceedings and public law, escalating concerns appropriately and ensuring robust safeguarding practice
• lead and manage Family Time and Edge of Care teams, supporting the effective delivery and continued development of high-quality services
• strengthen pathways between Family Time, Edge of Care and statutory social care, enabling smooth transitions and continuity of support
• work closely with fieldwork social work teams to support shared principles, priorities and outcomes
• lead on workforce sufficiency and development, ensuring teams have the capacity, skills and support needed to deliver services safely and effectively
• collaborate with Service Managers to develop a safe, coherent and consistent approach to Family Time and Edge of Care across Suffolk
• build effective relationships with colleagues and partners across Children's and Young People's Services and the wider Family Help system
• contribute to the development and cohesion of the Children's Social Care workforce, supporting the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families
• ensure services provide best value within available budgets
• oversee the effective management of buildings and environments where Family Time takes place.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Social Work qualification and registration

Job description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address:Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX, West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU or Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ. Hybrid work
• Salary: £62,119 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change.

We're not just a local authority; we're a team of dedicated individuals working together to improve lives across our diverse communities.

As our new Service Manager for Family Time and Edge of Care, you will join the Suffolk Cares Management Team and play a pivotal role in ensuring children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time. This is a countywide role, working across Suffolk, with the flexibility to be based at Riverside, Lowestoft, West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds or Endeavour House, Ipswich.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

A key part of this role will be providing strategic leadership and direct oversight of practice across our Family Time and Edge of Care services.

You will ensure services are developed and delivered effectively, providing safe, positive and child-centred Family Time for children in care, alongside effective support for children and families where there is a risk of a child becoming looked after, or where children may be able to return to their family's care.

You will work confidently within the child protection arena, including pre-proceedings activity and cases progressing into public law proceedings.

You will:

• provide leadership and oversight across Family Time and Edge of Care, ensuring referrals are responded to promptly, safely and in line with the needs of children and their families
• work confidently within child protection, pre-proceedings and public law, escalating concerns appropriately and ensuring robust safeguarding practice
• lead and manage Family Time and Edge of Care teams, supporting the effective delivery and continued development of high-quality services
• strengthen pathways between Family Time, Edge of Care and statutory social care, enabling smooth transitions and continuity of support
• work closely with fieldwork social work teams to support shared principles, priorities and outcomes
• lead on workforce sufficiency and development, ensuring teams have the capacity, skills and support needed to deliver services safely and effectively
• collaborate with Service Managers to develop a safe, coherent and consistent approach to Family Time and Edge of Care across Suffolk
• build effective relationships with colleagues and partners across Children's and Young People's Services and the wider Family Help system
• contribute to the development and cohesion of the Children's Social Care workforce, supporting the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families
• ensure services provide best value within available budgets
• oversee the effective management of buildings and environments where Family Time takes place.

What you will need

• a recognised Social Work qualification and registration, or an appropriate equivalent professional qualification
• extensive experience within Family Time, Edge of Care or outreach services, working alongside statutory social care teams
• strong knowledge and practical application of the Children Act 1989; Children Act 2004 and associated regulations and guidance
• a sound understanding of the current issues affecting children in care
• a proven track record of providing leadership, management and professional oversight within children's services
• excellent organisational, leadership and communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a senior and complex service environment.

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to have a driving licence and access to personal transport. If you feel you can meet these travel requirements through other suitable means, please contact the Hiring Manager before applying to discuss.

You can view a full list of requirements in theJob and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

The team

This role sits within the Suffolk Cares Management Team, leading Family Time and Edge of Care services and helping to ensure children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time.

Working closely with social care colleagues and partners, you will help create consistent, high-quality and strengths-based practice across Family Time and Edge of Care pathways, contributing to a cohesive and child-centred approach across Suffolk.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve.

We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Luke Froment, he/him, for a casual conversation. You can reach them by either calling 07889 914142 or emailing [e-mail]

Closing date:11.30 pm, 17 November 2026.

Interview dates: 30 November, 2 December or 3 December 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.