At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in the Edinburgh Family Wellbeing Service to support children and families.
- Company: Children First, Scotland’s national charity dedicated to child welfare.
- Benefits: 40 days annual leave, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a values-driven team committed to continuous improvement and impactful outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and help shape future services.
- Qualifications: Degree in social work or equivalent, with experience in child services.
The predicted salary is between 50726 - 50726 £ per year.
Do you want to create a safer, brighter future for all children in Scotland? Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, has an exciting opportunity for a confident, enthusiastic and committed leader to truly make a difference to children and their families. We are seeking to appoint a Service Manager within our Edinburgh Family Wellbeing Service.
By joining our team, you will help us stand up for children, keep them safe and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services. The role involves leading on the day-to-day implementation, management, development and growth of our whole family wellbeing service. This includes working as part of multiagency partnerships such as Edinburgh Umbrella Hubs, a collaborative partnership offering early help to children and their families, support for Forces families and transition support through our Space to Grow service.
Taking a child-centred approach, you will work to ensure the safety of children and young people by protecting and promoting their rights. You will join an ambitious values driven team at an exciting stage of development and growth, with the freedom to innovate, build strong partnerships and influence how services are designed and delivered for children and families. This is an exciting opportunity to lead change, develop new approaches that will create lasting impact for children, young people and communities across Edinburgh.
Working within key strategic partners across City of Edinburgh, you'll play a key role in driving service growth, embedding trauma-informed practice and ensuring families receive the right support at the right time. You'll be empowered to bring your ideas, expertise and leadership to a service that is committed to continuous improvement and meaningful outcomes.
We are keen to attract the right person to help drive the next stage of our development and are therefore open to discussing flexibility around working hours, with the role available for up to 35 hours per week.
What we are looking for:
- You will be an inspiring leader and will possess a degree or diploma in social work, or equivalent professional qualification at SCQF level 9, in addition to recent significant experience in a relevant practice area relating to young people.
- You will always put Children First.
- You will be relational in your approach and have experience of working collaboratively with partners to ensure the right support at the right time.
What you can expect from us:
- 40 days annual leave, inclusive of public holidays.
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
- Access to Westfield Health and wellbeing support.
- Blue Light Card discounts.
- A Fair Work accredited workplace.
- Ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.
- The opportunity to help shape a national service that is transforming how families access support across Scotland.
Our values:
- With Love: We put children first with compassion and kindness.
- With Purpose: We work alongside families and partners to transform children's lives together.
- With Strength: We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children.
We believe all children should have hopes, dreams and opportunities. But for many they don’t exist. This has to stop. We must put children first. We welcome and encourage applications from potential colleagues from all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, belief, disability who share our values.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the role before applying, please contact: Anna.oreilly@childrenfirst.org.uk
Role Summary:
- To provide strategic and operational leadership for the Edinburgh Whole Family Wellbeing Service, driving innovation, development and sustainable growth to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
- To shape and develop services in line with agreed objectives, respond to review of needs, gaps, and trends ensuring involvement of the individuals who use our service, and to oversee support services to those individuals in line with service delivery requirements.
- To be part of the Edinburgh Umbrella Hub leadership team, representing Children First and contributing to the development of collaborative partnership working across Edinburgh.
- To lead innovation and continuous improvement across the service, identifying new approaches, opportunities and partnerships that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
Key Results Areas:
- Work to ensure the safety of children and young people by protecting and promoting their rights.
- To create effective plans for children and young people based on clear outcomes, ensuring a high degree of responsiveness to stakeholders and individuals who use our service.
- To ensure effective service delivery with a specific focus on outcomes for children/young people engaged with the service.
- To develop a Service that enhances the safety and wellbeing of Children.
Operational Requirements:
- To develop, implement and review on a regular basis, a quality improvement system that seeks to develop the support available to families and builds on our ability to meet children and family’s needs.
- To manage a complex budget and ensure expenditure is in line with service plan.
- To maintain and develop income streams for the service, through statutory or other sources, working in partnership with the Fundraising department as appropriate.
- To take a lead role in promoting the use of Information Technology and ensure compliance with Children First recording systems and standards.
Relationships with others:
- To contribute to the establishment of appropriate networks and communication channels and disseminate information on the service as appropriate.
- To actively participate in and contribute to management, locality and organisational service development groups.
- To support staff working in multi-agency partnerships to secure the best outcomes for the individuals we are supporting.
Person Specification:
- Degree or Diploma in Social Work, or equivalent professional qualification at SCQF Level 9, alongside substantial experience of leading services for children, young people and families.
- Recent significant experience in a relevant practice area relating to young people.
- Experience of working within safeguarding, children’s services and/or around supporting recovery from trauma.
- Ability to work strategically within a multi-agency network and development of service in response to external drivers.
About us:
Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because all children should have a safe childhood. We protect children from harm and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services. Our core values guide how each one of us works in our individual day to day job.
Service Manager (Edinburgh) employer: Children First
Children First is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families in Glasgow and surrounding areas. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we offer 40 days of annual leave, flexible working arrangements, and access to comprehensive health resources, all within a supportive and values-driven work culture. Join us in our mission to transform lives, where your contributions will be valued and you will have opportunities for personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager (Edinburgh)
✨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 Children First.
✨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 Children First!
✨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 Children First, 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 Children First 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 (Edinburgh)
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 Children First:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Children First! 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 Children First
✨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.
