Service Manager

Contract | Civic Recruitment Limited | United Kingdom

Posted On 26/03/2026

Job Information

Work Experience 4-5 years

Interim & Executive Management

City Plymouth

Province Devon

Postal Code PL2

Job Description

3 month contract role with a Local Authority

Job Summary:

• The Service Manager (Children, Young People & Families) will provide both strategic and operational leadership for Plymouth’s Targeted Help Service, ensuring high-quality, intervention-focused support for children and families.
• The role focuses on preventing escalation into statutory services by delivering effective early help, safeguarding, and family-led interventions aligned with national social work reforms.
• The postholder will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive service improvement, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation while promoting positive outcomes for children and young people.

Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):

• Lead and manage the Targeted Help Service, ensuring effective delivery of early intervention and family support services.
• Provide professional leadership and oversight to social workers, family help practitioners, and team managers.
• Ensure compliance with statutory frameworks including the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014, and Working Together 2023 guidance.
• Drive performance management, quality assurance, and continuous service improvement.
• Oversee assessments, planning, and interventions to ensure consistent, high-quality decision-making.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with internal teams, education, health, and external agencies.
• Support seamless transitions between Targeted Help and Child Protection services.
• Embed a culture of reflective practice, learning, and workforce development.
• Lead organisational change in line with national reforms and local transformation programmes.
• Participate in senior management duties, including on-call responsibilities where required.

Skills/Experience:

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• Significant experience in children’s social care, particularly early help, safeguarding, and family intervention.
• Proven experience in a senior leadership or management role within children’s services.
• Strong understanding of UK legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding frameworks.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex caseloads.
• Demonstrable experience in service improvement, performance management, and quality assurance.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership working skills.
• Ability to lead through change and implement national reforms at a local level.
• Strong communication, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

Additional Information:

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