At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop three new children's residential homes from the ground up.
- Company: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, committed to improving local children's care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunity to shape services, and impactful leadership role.
- Other info: Unique opportunity to create a new operational model and influence service delivery.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by building and managing essential services for children in care.
- Qualifications: Degree level education, registered social worker, and team management experience required.
The predicted salary is between 61350 - 66512 £ per year.
Barnsley is investing in three new children’s residential homes as part of its Children in Care Sufficiency Strategy 2026 to 2030, reducing reliance on external and out of area placements and giving more of our children in care a home in Barnsley.
We’re recruiting a Service Manager to lead this residential portfolio from the ground up. You’ll take responsibility for all three homes as they move through registration, staffing and opening, and then for their ongoing operational and strategic management once live.
What you’ll be doing
- You’ll provide leadership and line management across the three homes, taking the lead on their development and on the recruitment of the staff who’ll run them, including Registered Managers.
- You’ll build relationships with partner agencies and stakeholders across the sufficiency programme, represent the homes at internal and external forums, and manage the budgets, contracts and performance systems that keep the service running to standard.
- You’ll also sit on the Out of Hours Senior Management Rota.
This is a new post, and you’ll be building the team and the operating model for the homes rather than stepping into something already established.
What we’re looking for
- Educated to degree level or equivalent, and a qualified, registered social worker.
- A post-qualifying award, ideally with a postgraduate leadership or management qualification.
- Team manager level experience (or equivalent) of operational management in a large organisation delivering services to children, young people and families.
- Experience managing complex budgets and financial processes.
- Experience of planning or delivering services in a multi-agency context, including within a commissioning environment.
- A track record of leading and motivating teams to deliver sustainable, high quality service improvement.
- Sound knowledge of the legislative and policy framework around children’s services, and of the regulatory and inspection regime you’ll be operating under, including Ofsted registration requirements.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and resolve conflict at a senior level.
Why this role
You’d be shaping three services from inception rather than inheriting an existing structure, with direct input into staffing models, practice standards and how the homes operate day to day. It’s a chance to build something rather than manage around the edges of something already fixed.
Service Manager - Residential Portfolio in Cirencester employer: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff. As a Community Reablement Support Worker, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable individuals while enjoying flexible working hours and a strong commitment to employee growth and training. Join us in Barnsley, where your contributions are valued, and you can truly help foster independence in our community.
Contact Details:
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Residential Portfolio in Cirencester
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Residential Portfolio in Cirencester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
