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- Tasks: Lead a team ensuring child protection and quality assurance in social services.
- Company: Join Cambridgeshire County Council, dedicated to safeguarding children and supporting families.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible holidays, wellbeing packages, paid volunteering, and discounts through Our Cambs Rewards.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while growing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Must be a registered Social Worker with leadership experience and strong safeguarding knowledge.
- Other info: Interviews on February 28, 2025; commitment to diversity and inclusion is key.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our Benefits
We value our colleagues in Cambridgeshire County Council and have developed a number of benefits in addition to the basics like annual leave, sick pay, pension and mileage…
- A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing , both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family
- Buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro-rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme
- Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
- Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
- Access to development opportunities , apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth
- Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
- Access to Peer Support Groups through our IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network
- Opportunities to nominate and receive Employee Recognition Awards
- An Our Cambs Rewards account, giving you access to in-store and online discounts as well as our Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes
Take a look at our Employment Benefits Brochure attached to this advert to find out more.
About the role
The Cambridgeshire Child Protection Service and Cambridgeshire Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) sit in Quality Assurance Practice & Improvement (QAPI) within the Children’s Families and Education directorate. There are three Service Managers (one for this vacancy, one for the Independent Reviewing Officers and one for Quality Assurance, Participation and Independent Visitors) plus a manager for the Children’s Complaints team who report directly to the QAPI Service Director.
The CP Chairs, Independent Reviewing Officers and LADOs are all experienced Social Workers who work collaboratively with children and families, colleagues from within Children’s Services and partner agencies to ensure the best outcome is achieved for children. Our Quality Assurance officers undertake audits alongside colleagues, to help Cambridgeshire look at areas of practice where further development and learning is beneficial and to celebrate and build on positive practice. The Participation team work with children and young people providing support and activities. Cambridgeshire works hard to ensure children and young people in care have an Independent Visitor if this is something they have requested. Colleagues in the Complaints team share learning gained from complaints, this is disseminated across Children’s Services.
If you would like more information or an informal discussion about this role please contact Julie Boot, PA to Liz Clarke, Service Director Quality Assurance and Practice Improvement, on 01480 377685
Interviews will be held in person on 28th February 2025 at New Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald.
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
About you
This role requires an experienced, registered Social Worker who has significant knowledge and skills in safeguarding. The successful candidate needs to be able to demonstrate leadership qualities and line management experience.
You will need to be able to work under pressure and make decisions to ensure all work undertaken is in line with keeping children safe. The Service Manager needs to ensure concerns about practice, cases or children are escalated to enable a multi-agency approach to complex matters with the knowledge and oversight of the Senior Leadership Team.
For a full list of the requirements of the role, please check out the Job Description & Person Specification.
About us Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we believe benefits our employees, the organisation and our communities. our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.
Service Manager - Child Protection Chairs and Local Authority Designated Officers, PE29 3AD employer: Cambridgeshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Cambridgeshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Child Protection Chairs and Local Authority Designated Officers, PE29 3AD
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the specific safeguarding policies and practices in Cambridgeshire. Understanding local protocols will not only help you in the interview but also demonstrate your commitment to child protection.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your leadership experience in previous roles. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've successfully managed a team or led initiatives that improved outcomes for children and families.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees of Cambridgeshire County Council. They can provide valuable insights into the organizational culture and expectations, which can be beneficial during your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss how you handle pressure and make decisions in complex situations. Use real-life scenarios to illustrate your problem-solving skills and your ability to work collaboratively with multi-agency teams.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Child Protection Chairs and Local Authority Designated Officers, PE29 3AD
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Make sure to thoroughly read the job description and person specification. Highlight the key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these.
Tailor Your CV: Customize your CV to reflect the specific skills and experiences that are relevant to the Service Manager position. Emphasize your leadership qualities, safeguarding knowledge, and any line management experience.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only outlines your qualifications but also demonstrates your passion for child protection and your commitment to safeguarding children. Use specific examples from your past work to illustrate your points.
Prepare for the Interview: Since interviews will be held in person, practice common interview questions related to social work and leadership. Be ready to discuss your approach to multi-agency collaboration and decision-making under pressure.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridgeshire County Council
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Service Manager, demonstrating your leadership qualities is crucial. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully led a team or managed a project, especially in safeguarding contexts.
✨Understand the Role's Requirements
Familiarize yourself with the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Be ready to discuss how your skills and experiences align with the needs of the Cambridgeshire Child Protection Service.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your decision-making abilities under pressure. Think of scenarios where you had to make tough calls regarding child safety and be prepared to explain your thought process.
✨Emphasize Collaboration and Multi-Agency Work
Highlight your experience working collaboratively with various agencies. Discuss how you have effectively communicated and coordinated with other professionals to ensure the best outcomes for children.
