At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape children's services, ensuring quality assessments and decision-making.
- Company: Dudley Children’s Services, committed to impactful child-centred practice.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive leadership team.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence service-wide improvements and strategic direction.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful difference in children's lives from the very start.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with substantial leadership experience in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 60913 - 64869 £ per year.
Location: Cable Plaza, Waterfront West, Brierley Hill, Dudley
Salary: £60,913 to £64,869 - salary subject to experience
Reference: DUDLEY/TP/697/4888
Job Details
Ready to lead and shape practice at the front door of children’s services? We’re looking for an experienced, strategic and passionate Service Manager to lead our Assessment Service at Dudley Children’s Services. This is a pivotal leadership role where you will oversee multiple teams at the front door, ensuring consistency, quality of practice, and strong decision‑making for children and families at the earliest point of contact. You will play a key role in setting the direction of the service, driving improvement, and ensuring children receive the right help at the right time. Reporting to the Principal Service Lead, you will work as part of a strong leadership team to support delivery, manage demand and embed high‑quality, child‑centred practice across all assessment teams.
If you are a confident leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and is committed to making a meaningful difference—this could be the role for you.
As Service Manager, you will:
- Provide leadership and oversight to Team Managers across the Assessment Service
- Work closely with the Service Managers and Principal Service Leads in Family Help to manage demand across areas
- Drive consistency of practice, performance, and decision‑making across all teams
- Ensure the delivery of timely, high‑quality assessments that are analytical and outcome‑focused
- Maintain oversight of risk, thresholds and safeguarding decisions at the front door
- Lead on service development and continuous improvement, embedding best practice across teams
- Manage service demand and performance, ensuring resources are used effectively
- Support and develop Team Managers to deliver strong leadership and high standards of practice
- Work closely with partners to ensure a coordinated, multi‑agency approach
- Contribute to strategic planning and service direction alongside the Principal Service Lead
About you
- Is a qualified and highly experienced social worker, with substantial leadership experience in management in children’s services
- Has a strong understanding of front door services, thresholds, and assessment practice
- Brings experience of leading managers and driving service‑wide improvements
- Is confident making complex decisions in high‑pressure environments
- Has a track record of improving performance, quality and outcomes for children
- Is a strong communicator, able to influence, challenge and support at all levels
- Is committed to delivering consistent, high‑quality, child‑centred practice across services
Why join Dudley?
- Lead a critical front‑line service, shaping practice at the earliest stage of a child’s journey
- Drive consistency and excellence across multiple teams
- Work as part of a supportive and ambitious senior leadership team
- Influence service‑wide improvement and strategic direction
- Benefit from hybrid working, with an expectation of 3 in‑person office‑based days per week
This is your opportunity to lead at scale—shaping how Dudley responds to children and families at first contact, driving consistent, high‑quality practice, and ensuring the right decisions are made at the right time. If you’re ready to lead with impact, influence practice at scale, and drive meaningful change—we’d love to hear from you.
Service Manager - Assessment Service in Dudley employer: Community Care Live
Dudley Children’s Services is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead and shape critical front-line services that directly impact the lives of children and families. With a strong emphasis on professional development, a supportive leadership team, and a commitment to high-quality, child-centred practice, employees can thrive in a dynamic environment that values innovation and collaboration. Located in the vibrant Cable Plaza at Waterfront West, Brierley Hill, this role not only provides competitive remuneration but also promotes a healthy work-life balance through hybrid working arrangements.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Assessment Service in Dudley
✨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 Community Care Live.
✨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 Community Care Live!
✨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 Community Care Live, 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 Community Care Live 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 - Assessment Service in Dudley
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 Community Care Live:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Community Care Live! 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 Community Care Live
✨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.
