At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the National Safeguarders Panel and manage complaints to protect children's rights.
- Company: Children First, dedicated to safeguarding children's rights across Scotland.
- Benefits: 40 days annual leave, flexible working, health support, and professional development.
- Other info: Join a Fair Work accredited workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while collaborating with passionate colleagues.
- Qualifications: Leadership experience in children's services and strong knowledge of children's rights.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About the role
Working alongside the Assistant Director and two other Service Managers, you will help lead the National Safeguarders Panel on behalf of the Scottish Government.
You’ll take the lead on complaints and concerns relating to Safeguarders, ensuring these are managed fairly, consistently and in line with legislation and best practice.
You’ll champion children’s rights throughout our work, drive continuous quality improvement and help shape learning and development for Safeguarders across Scotland.
You’ll also build strong partnerships with Scottish Government, Children’s Hearings Scotland, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and other key stakeholders to ensure children remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is a strategic leadership role where you’ll combine operational management, quality assurance, relationship building and service development to make a lasting difference for children and young people.
- What you’ll bring
- Significant leadership experience within children’s services or a related environment.
- Experience of managing investigations, complaints or quality assurance processes.
- Strong knowledge of Scotland’s Children’s Hearings System and children’s rights.
- The ability to build effective relationships across complex partnerships.
- Experience leading teams, managing resources and delivering service improvement.
- Excellent judgement, communication and decision‑making skills.
- A collaborative leadership style that reflects our values.
- A Social Work qualification or another relevant professional qualification at SCQF Level 9 (or equivalent) is essential.
Why join Children First?
By joining us you will be helping to shape services that protect children’s rights across Scotland while working alongside passionate colleagues who share your commitment to making a difference.
We offer
- 40 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays)
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Pension scheme
- Westfield Health wellbeing support
- Blue Light Card discounts
- Learning and development opportunities
- Fair Work accredited workplace
Our values
Everything we do is guided by our values.
With love, we put children first.
With purpose, we transform children’s lives together.
With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.
If you’re an experienced leader who shares our commitment to children’s rights and wants to influence practice on a national scale, we’d love to hear from you.
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Service Manager (Rights and Quality Improvement) in Edinburgh employer: Children First
As a Community and Events Fundraiser with Children First, you'll join a Fair Work accredited workplace in Edinburgh that prioritises values of love, purpose, and strength. Enjoy generous benefits including 40 days of annual leave, flexible working arrangements, and comprehensive wellbeing support, all while making a meaningful impact in the community by empowering supporters and driving fundraising initiatives to protect Scotland's children.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager (Rights and Quality Improvement) in 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 (Rights and Quality Improvement) in 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.
