Service Manager - Safeguarding Partnerships & Participation in Bristol

This is an exciting opportunity to shape a developing role at a time of change and ambition, with real scope to influence how Bristol listens to children, adults, families and communities and turns learning into meaningful improvement. Bristol is a diverse & vibrant city, shaped by strong communities and a commitment to inclusion and social justice. We are ambitious about ensuring that our safeguarding arrangements reflect the voices, experiences, and strengths of all who live here, particularly those from communities who have historically been less well heard.

This role will play a key part in ensuring that our partnerships are not only effective, but rooted in equity, trust and authentic engagement with Bristol's communities. As the Service Manager for Safeguarding Partnerships and Participation, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership Business Unit. You'll work closely with senior leaders across the council and partner agencies to ensure that safeguarding arrangements for children, adults and communities are effective, well governed and shaped by learning, evidence and lived experience.

Because this is a new post, we are keen to attract individuals who are curious, reflective and motivated by system leadership. We recognise that people will bring different experiences, perspectives and strengths, and we are open to shaping the role as it develops.

You will:

• Lead and develop the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership Business Unit, ensuring strong multi-agency safeguarding arrangements across children's safeguarding, adult safeguarding and community safety.
• Strengthen participation so that lived experience, particularly from Bristol's diverse communities, meaningfully shapes priorities, learning and improvement.
• Provide oversight of statutory safeguarding reviews and learning processes, ensuring learning leads to measurable improvements in practice and outcomes.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with partners across statutory and voluntary, community and faith sectors, recognising the vital role these organisations play across Bristol.
• Lead and support a skilled team, managing resources and driving a culture of learning, inclusion and continuous improvement.

We're looking for someone who brings:

• Significant experience in safeguarding and partnership or multi‑agency working.
• Confidence operating at a senior level in complex systems.
• Strong analytical, communication and influencing skills.
• A clear commitment to participation, equity, inclusion and anti‑discriminatory practice.

You don't need to have done this exact role before, but if you can demonstrate transferable skills, strategic thinking and a passion for safeguarding and participation in a diverse city like Bristol, we would love to hear from you.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working. Join us and you'll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you'll be working in a supportive environment where you'll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

We are a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Contact: Nicola McGrath, Head of Service for Strategic Safeguarding & Quality Assurance, Nicola.mcgrath@bristol.gov.uk or Tel: 0117 922 4483. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.