At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Front Door Service, ensuring high-quality safeguarding for children and families.
- Company: Join a dynamic team focused on improving children's services in Swindon.
- Benefits: Competitive pay of £600 per day, with bi-weekly payments.
- Other info: 6-month contract with opportunities for professional growth and leadership.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while driving service improvement.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and significant senior management experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 78000 £ per year.
- Head of Service â
- Front Door (Children's Services) â
- 6 Month Contract
Location
Swindon
Rate
£600.00 per day (Umbrella)
Hours
37 Hours per Week
Contract
Temporary (6 Months)
Pay
- Bi-weekly
- Summary
This role is a 6-month contract position responsible for leading the Front Door Service within Children's Services.
The Head of Service will ensure the delivery of high-quality safeguarding services for children, young people, and families.
The role involves providing strategic and operational leadership across various functions, including Children in Need, Child Protection, Pre-Proceedings, and Court Work.
The postholder will play a crucial role in driving service improvement, enhancing safeguarding practices, and embedding a culture of restorative, relationship-based social work.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead and manage the Front Door Service.
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across safeguarding functions.
- Ensure effective and timely interventions for children and families.
- Contribute to the Children's Services improvement programme.
- Drive sustainable service improvement and practice excellence.
- Safeguarding & Child Protection
- Lead Children in Need, Child Protection, Pre-Proceedings, Court Work, and Safeguarding Services.
- Ensure child-focused, effective safeguarding practices compliant with statutory requirements.
- Promote strong decision-making and effective risk management.
- Maintain high standards of practice and professional accountability.
- Service Improvement
- Lead service improvement initiatives and transformation programmes.
- Use performance data and quality assurance findings to drive change.
- Identify development areas and implement improvement plans.
- Ensure continuous improvement in service delivery and outcomes.
- Practice Leadership
- Champion restorative and relationship-based social work practice.
- Promote excellent social work standards across teams.
- Support managers and practitioners in delivering high-quality interventions.
- Embed Family Safeguarding principles and systemic practice approaches.
- Performance Management
- Monitor service performance and statutory compliance.
- Ensure performance targets and service objectives are achieved.
- Use management information to assess effectiveness and inform decision-making.
- Address areas of underperformance and implement corrective actions.
- Court & Legal Services
- Oversee court proceedings and pre-proceedings work.
- Collaborate effectively with legal services and court representatives.
- Ensure robust evidence-based decision-making.
- Support managers and staff involved in legal processes.
- Partnership & Multi-Agency Working
- Build effective relationships with Police, Health Services, Education Providers, Legal Services, and Safeguarding Partnerships.
- Promote effective partnership working across agencies.
- Strengthen safeguarding arrangements through collaborative working.
- Workforce Development
- Lead, support, and develop managers and practitioners.
- Promote a positive, supportive, and accountable culture.
- Support workforce planning, learning, and development activities.
- Encourage reflective supervision and continuous professional development.
Requirements
Requirements
Qualifications
- Essential: Degree in Social Work or equivalent recognised qualification; Current Social Work England registration.
- Desirable: Leadership or management qualification; Post-qualifying social work awards; Management development or safeguarding leadership training.
- Knowledge
- Extensive knowledge of Children Act 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Child Protection Procedures, Public Law Outline (PLO), Care Proceedings, Family Court Processes, and safeguarding legislation and guidance.
- Understanding of Family Safeguarding and restorative practice models.
- Knowledge of performance management and quality assurance frameworks.
Experience
- Essential: Significant senior management experience within Children's Social Care; Experience leading Front Door or Safeguarding Services; Experience overseeing Child Protection, Children in Need, Pre-Proceedings, and Court Work; Experience delivering service improvement and transformation programmes; Experience managing large multidisciplinary teams; Experience working with inspection frameworks and improvement plans; Experience working with courts, legal services, and safeguarding partners.
- Desirable: Experience within a local authority improvement journey; Experience implementing Family Safeguarding models; Experience developing leadership and management capability across services.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong strategic leadership skills.
- Excellent safeguarding knowledge and decision-making capability.
- Outstanding communication and influencing skills.
- Ability to lead change and drive improvement.
- Strong analytical and performance management skills.
- Ability to build effective partnerships.
- Excellent people management and coaching skills.
- Strong understanding of quality assurance and audit processes.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
- Additional Information
- This is a 6-month temporary contract.
- Rate: £600.00 per day (Umbrella).
- Location: Swindon.
- Pay is provided on a bi-weekly basis.
- Social Work England registration is essential.
- Previous senior leadership experience within Children's Safeguarding Services is essential.
- Experience leading Front Door Services, Child Protection, Court Work, and Children in Need services is essential.
- Local authority experience is essential.
- Opportunity to lead a critical service area at the centre of Children's Services improvement and transformation.
Head of Service, Front Door in Swindon employer: Civic Recruitment Limited
Civic Recruitment Limited is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where strategic leadership in the Special Educational Needs service can truly make a difference in children's lives. With a strong focus on collaboration and professional development, employees are encouraged to grow their skills while contributing to meaningful outcomes in the Bromley community. The supportive culture and commitment to high-quality services make this an attractive opportunity for those looking to lead impactful change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service, Front Door in Swindon
✨Get Involved in Local Community Projects
One of the best ways to land a temporary role in social work is to dive headfirst into local community projects. Volunteer your time or skills at local charities or community centres to not only gain experience but also to connect with professionals in the field. They might just have some insider knowledge on temporary positions that pop up!
✨Engage with Social Work Networks
Join online forums and social media groups specifically for social workers. Platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn have dedicated groups where professionals share temporary job opportunities. Being an active member can help you stay in the loop and even get recommendations from those already in the field.
✨Attend Workshops and Seminars
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences related to social work in your area. These events aren't just great for learning; they're also hotbeds for networking! You never know who might be hiring or can point you towards a temporary position while you're soaking up new skills.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website!
When you spot a role that piques your interest, especially for a temporary position, make sure to apply directly through our website! This not only shows your commitment to Civic Recruitment Limited, but also gives you an edge by putting your application right in front of the hiring team. Let’s get you moving on that path to your next opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service, Front Door in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let's highlight why you're passionate about social work and how your values align with those of Civic Recruitment Limited. Share specific experiences where you made a difference, as this field thrives on genuine motivation and connection.
Demonstrate Relevant Experience:When listing your experience, focus on any internships, volunteer roles, or temporary positions you've had in social work or related fields. Those skills are gold! Think about situations where you helped individuals or communities, and don't forget to mention any relevant certifications, like safeguarding or mental health first aid.
Keep It Concise and Relevant:Remember, for a temporary role, hiring managers want to see how you fit in and can hit the ground running. Keep your CV clear and to the point, showcasing only the experience that really matters for the role at Civic Recruitment Limited. We recommend a two-page limit – make every word count!
Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability:Considering this is a temporary position, it's vital to show you can adapt to new environments quickly. In your application, highlight any past experiences where you had to adjust to different teams or roles smoothly. This shows you understand the nature of temporary work and are ready for the challenge!
How to prepare for a job interview at Civic Recruitment Limited
✨Sharpen Your Empathy Skills
In social work, it's all about understanding and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Make sure to prepare some examples from your experience where you've demonstrated empathy and resilience. Practising active listening techniques can help you articulate your approach during the interview with Civic Recruitment Limited.
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with key social work theories and frameworks, like the ecological systems theory or person-centred approaches. These concepts might pop up during your interview for the temporary Head of Service, Front Door role at Civic Recruitment Limited, so it's good to have a couple of insights ready to share.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, showcasing your flexibility is key. Be prepared to discuss past experiences where you quickly adapted to new environments or changing client needs, which is crucial in the dynamic world of social work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your decision-making skills and ethical judgement. Think about how you would handle specific challenges you might face in the field. Having a clear structure for your answers will show Civic Recruitment Limited that you can think critically and act effectively under pressure.
