Strategic Manager - Children in Care (Head of Service)

JR United Kingdom; Northampton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's social care organization is seeking a Strategic Manager for the Children in Care Service in Northampton. This senior leadership role involves driving service improvement and ensuring high-quality care for children and young people. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in social work, excellent leadership skills, and experience with inspections. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to making a positive impact on children's lives.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in managing excellent service delivery.
• Experience with Ofsted inspections.
• Ability to inspire and engage teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the Children in Care Service.
• Ensure high-quality, trauma-informed care.
• Develop strategic improvement plans.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team Management

Strategic Planning

Quality Assurance

Education

BA in Social Work or equivalent

Job description

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Strategic Manager - Children in Care (Head of Service), northampton

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Client:

Northamptonshire Children's Trust

Location:

northampton, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

1

Posted:

23.05.2025

Expiry Date:

07.07.2025

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Job Description:

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our Senior Management Team within the Children in Care Service to play a crucial role in NCT’s improvement journey.

Are you a forward thinking, child centred senior leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people?

Are you an experienced leader in children’s social care, able to inspire others to drive a sustainable improvement to the lives of children and families?

Driving positive change and supporting the awesome workforce that make that change achievable can only happen with fantastic leadership and this is a great opportunity to join a forward looking and ambitious service.

You will be responsible for leading and motivating the Children in Care Service and will lead our award winning Circle to Success Programme delivering a high-quality service to our cared for children and young people. Your focus will be on ensuring all children and young people are well supported to maximise their life chances; where they can thrive in our care, are safe from any harm or abuse, have access to the best education and training, and feel prepared for adulthood. This is a key operational and strategic management role and an essential part of our improvement journey.

This is a senior leadership role requiring both strategic foresight and operational excellence. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams and Service Managers, ensuring that children receive high-quality, trauma informed care that supports their emotional wellbeing, education, identity, and long-term stability.

You will lead from the front, motivating and energising your team and the ability to engage and collaborate will be key. You will manage with compassion and patience instilling confidence and enabling transformation. You will be a competent decision maker with fantastic leadership and management skills and possess an unwavering passion and commitment to make a difference to the lives of children and young people.

You will have a proven track record in managing excellent service delivery and leading service improvement. You will be able to operate with equal success in the here and now but also have the vision and ambition to look ahead, develop strategic improvement plans and deliver on them to improve outcomes for children in care.

As part of the Corporate Parenting Service senior management team, you’ll be a vital link between management, commissioners, practitioners and those who make strategic decisions in partner agencies. You should have a proven track record in managing excellent service delivery and leading service improvement. Familiarity with Children’s Social Care Inspection Framework and experience with inspections is essential.

About you

• You must have a BA in Social Work or Diploma in Social Work, CQSW or CSS, or other professional social work qualification recognised by Social Work England
• You can inspire colleagues and stakeholders to fully engage with the aims and the long-term vision
• You have experience of embedding an inclusive culture of creating positive and supporting teams
• You can communicate with conviction and clarity in the face of tough negotiations or challenges
• You share your expertise through coaching and mentoring to support teams to succeed
• Using a range of quality assurance tools, you will drive high quality and efficient service delivery
• You can translate strategic priorities into clear outcome focused objectives for managers and teams
• You will have had previous experience of being involved in an Ofsted inspection

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check