At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Early Help Gateway Service, ensuring timely support for families and children.
- Company: Join Bradford Children and Families Trust, a diverse and impactful organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, a great pension, and health support.
- Other info: Exciting career progression opportunities in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in Early Help or Children's Services and strong supervisory skills required.
The predicted salary is between 37035 - 45265 £ per year.
Early Help Gateway Operational Manager
Salary: PO4, SCP 35-38, £46,142 - £49,282, Permanent, 37 hours per week, Based in Bradford at Sir Henry Mitchell House, Hybrid working arrangements – As per service need work from other BCFT locations will be required
Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography.
You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.
We are fully committed to equal opportunities and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Operational Manager to support the effective day-to-day delivery of the Early Help Gateway Service.
This is a key operational role responsible for overseeing daily service activity, supervising staff, managing workflow, and ensuring children, young people and families receive a timely, high-quality response.
Working alongside the Team Manager, the Operational Manager will provide practice leadership and operational oversight across the Gateway, ensuring referrals, requests for support and contacts are managed efficiently and consistently.
The successful candidate will play a central role in supporting practitioners, promoting high standards of practice, overseeing performance, and ensuring the service remains responsive to demand while delivering positive outcomes for children and families.
This role is ideal for an experienced practitioner or first-line manager looking to take the next step in operational leadership within an Early Help environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Management
- Support the Team Manager in the day-to-day running of the Early Help Gateway Service.
- Provide operational oversight of workflow, referrals, allocations, and service demand.
- Monitor daily activity to ensure contacts and referrals are processed within agreed timescales.
- Coordinate service delivery and respond to emerging operational pressures.
- Act as a first point of escalation for operational and practice issues.
- Deputise for the Team Manager when required.
- Staff Supervision and Support
- Provide regular supervision, case discussions, and support to Gateway practitioners and support staff.
- Offer guidance and advice on early help thresholds, practice issues, and decision-making.
- Support staff development through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
- Assist with induction, training, and the development of new staff.
- Promote staff wellbeing and foster a positive, supportive working environment.
- Practice Oversight and Quality Assurance
- Monitor the quality and consistency of practice within the Gateway.
- Undertake regular audits and quality assurance activity to ensure high standards are maintained.
- Provide constructive feedback to practitioners to support continuous improvement.
- Ensure assessments, decisions, records, and plans are accurate, timely, and outcome-focused.
- Promote reflective practice and learning across the team.
- Performance and Service Improvement
- Monitor performance against service targets and key performance indicators.
- Support the Team Manager in identifying trends, pressures, and opportunities for improvement.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of operational improvements.
- Assist in compiling service performance information and operational reports.
- Ensure compliance with relevant policies, procedures, and statutory guidance.
- Partnership Working
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners.
- Support collaborative approaches to identifying and meeting the needs of children and families.
- Provide advice and guidance to professionals regarding Early Help processes and pathways.
- Represent the Gateway at operational meetings and multi‑agency forums as required.
- Safeguarding
- Promote and support effective safeguarding practice across the service.
- Ensure decisions are child‑centred and informed by risk and need.
- Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately and support practitioners in decision‑making.
- Maintain a strong focus on achieving positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.
About You
You will be a confident and experienced practitioner with strong operational and supervisory skills, capable of providing support and direction within a busy front-line service.
Essential Criteria
- Significant experience working within Early Help, Children's Services, Family Support, Safeguarding, or a related field.
- Experience of supervising, mentoring, or leading practitioners within a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Sound understanding of Early Help, safeguarding, thresholds, and child‑centred practice.
- Experience managing competing priorities and working in a fast‑paced environment.
- Strong decision‑making and problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to monitor performance and promote high standards of practice.
- Excellent communication and partnership‑working skills.
- Successful candidates will need an NVQ 4 (prior to 2011) or Diploma 5 in Health & Social Care, (Children & Young People) or a Level 5 Management qualification or an equivalent service‑related degree qualification.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working within a referral, screening, gateway, or multi‑agency setting.
- Experience undertaking quality assurance and audit activity.
- Leadership or management training/qualification.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in supporting the delivery of a busy and impactful Early Help Gateway Service.
You will help shape high‑quality practice, support staff development, and ensure families receive the right help at the right time.
- Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
- Excellent Local Government pension
- Family‑friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
- Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
- Professional development and career progression opportunities
- we are a National Living Wage employer
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
- Recruitment Process
- Initial Shortlisting: 31 August 2026
Candidates who are successfully shortlisted at the initial stage will be contacted and provided with further information regarding the next steps of the recruitment process, including assessment and interview arrangements.
Further recruitment activity is expected to take place during the week commencing 7 September 2026.
Candidates are therefore encouraged to make themselves available during this period where possible.
We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, only those progressing beyond the initial shortlisting stage will be contacted.
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Early Help Gateway Operational Manager employer: Bradford Children and Families Trust
Bradford Children and Families Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to creating a supportive and nurturing environment for both staff and the young people in their care. With a strong focus on professional development, employees are encouraged to grow and advance their skills while making a meaningful impact in the community. The Trust fosters a collaborative work culture that values compassion and commitment, making it an ideal place for those passionate about improving the lives of children and families.
Contact Details:
Bradford Children and Families Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Early Help Gateway Operational Manager
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace Early Help Gateway Operational Manager
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 Bradford Children and Families Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Bradford Children and Families Trust! 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 Bradford Children and Families Trust
✨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.
