Children's Social Worker - Head of Service

BBS Recruitment; New Jersey; On-site; USD 86,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Somerset vacancy for a Children’s Social Worker – Head of Service is a senior leadership post within the Children’s Social Care service. You will oversee Family Safeguarding Teams across four sites, providing strategic direction, ensuring high-quality services for children and families, and guiding the rollout of the Families First Partnership reforms.

You will lead on legal processes, chair Legal Gateway Meetings, and work with four Operations Managers to drive service improvements.

Qualifications

• Social Work degree or equivalent required.
• Senior management experience in Children's Social Care.
• Experience supervising operations managers.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and Families First reforms.
• Experience with legal processes and chairing meetings.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Family Safeguarding Teams across four sites and provide strategic leadership to ensure high-quality services for children and families.
• Lead the implementation of Families First Partnership reforms and manage the transition across the county.
• Coordinate legal processes and track legal activity, chair Legal Gateway Meetings and support decision-making.
• Directly manage four Operations Managers, providing leadership, guidance and performance oversight.
• Collaborate with the Head of Service management group to drive service improvements and uphold standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic leadership

Communication

Decision-making

Stakeholder management

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Children's Social Worker - Head of Service

We are recruiting for a Children’s Social Care – Head of Service in Somerset.

Responsibilities for Children's Social Worker

• Oversee Family Safeguarding Teams across Somerset, operating across four different sites.
• Provide strategic leadership and management to ensure high-quality services are delivered to children and families.
• Lead the implementation of the Families First Partnership reforms, ensuring a smooth transition across the county.
• Specialise in legal tracking and oversee the coordination of legal processes.
• Chair weekly Legal Gateway Meetings and ensure effective decision-making.
• Attend and chair other senior management meetings as required.
• Directly manage four Operations Managers, providing leadership, guidance and performance oversight.
• Work collaboratively as part of the Head of Service management group to drive service improvements and maintain high standards of practice.

Requirements for Children's Social Worker

• Social Work qualification (Degree or equivalent).
• Significant experience in senior management within Children's Social Care.
• Strong leadership and management experience, including managing operational managers.
• Extensive knowledge of safeguarding, family safeguarding and children's social care services.
• Experience of legal processes, legal tracking and chairing Legal Gateway Meetings.
• Good understanding of the Families First Partnership reforms.
• Excellent communication, decision-making and strategic leadership skills.
• Ability to manage services across multiple sites and drive effective service delivery.