At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape children's social care services, ensuring effective support for families.
- Company: Ealing Council, dedicated to safeguarding and promoting welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, commitment to diversity, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusion and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while leading impactful social care reforms.
- Qualifications: Social work qualification and significant experience in children's social care required.
The predicted salary is between 66378 - 69984 £ per year.
Ealing Council is strengthening its Family Help system and recruiting a Service Manager to develop a cohesive leadership cohort across our Front Door Family Pathways and Family Help Service. This role will shape children’s social care reform, strengthen early help and safeguarding pathways, and ensure children and families receive timely, appropriate support.
As a Service Manager you will provide visible, relational and accountable leadership across key areas of children’s social care, ensuring high quality practice, strong decision‑making and excellent outcomes for children, young people and families. Roles will be aligned to Family Help Pathways (including integrated response, family help assessments and decision‑making). You will work as part of a collective Service Manager cohort, reporting to a Head of Service and contributing to a supportive, high‑challenge senior management culture.
Key Responsibilities- Lead the day‑to‑day delivery of statutory and non‑statutory children’s social care services, ensuring children are safeguarded and supported effectively.
- Provide clear leadership and oversight to Team Managers, ensuring high‑quality supervision, consistent standards and professional development.
- Make and oversee timely, proportionate and defensible safeguarding decisions, including at points of referral, assessment, escalation, and closure.
- Drive continuous service improvement through audit, performance data, learning and reflective practice.
- Embed relationship‑based, trauma‑informed and strengths‑based approaches, including effective responses to adolescent risk and external familial harm.
- Strengthen multi‑agency working with police, health, education, voluntary and community partners.
- Play an active role in children’s social care reform, strengthening Family Help, early intervention and effective front‑door pathways in line with national expectations.
- Contribute to service planning, workforce development, budget management and inspection readiness.
- Deputise for the Head of Service as required and provide cross‑service leadership cover.
- A recognised social work qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) and registration with Social Work England.
- Significant post‑qualification experience in children’s social care.
- Proven experience as a Team Manager or Service Manager, with responsibility for statutory services.
- A strong track record of leading teams, managing performance and improving practice.
- In‑depth knowledge of children’s legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding frameworks.
- Experience of multi‑agency working and partnership leadership.
- Confidence in leading change, managing risk and making sound professional judgements.
- A clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, staff wellbeing and workforce development.
Ealing Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected and supported. You must have the right to work in the UK. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage. We cannot provide sponsorship for this position.
Closing date for applications: Monday 22 June 2026.
Service Manager (Family Help) employer: Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing)
Ealing Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its employees. As a Service Manager, you will benefit from a strong emphasis on professional development, collaborative leadership, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children's social care reform in a vibrant community. With a commitment to staff wellbeing and continuous service improvement, Ealing Council offers a rewarding career path for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Contact Details:
Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing) Recruitment Team
