At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative services that support children and families to thrive.
- Company: Join Gloucestershire County Council, committed to making a difference.
- Benefits: Flexible working, professional development, and a supportive culture.
- Other info: Opportunity for career progression and to influence strategic service delivery.
- Why this job: Shape the future for children and families while driving impactful change.
- Qualifications: Leadership experience in children's services and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.
Job Location: Shire Hall
Contract Type: Fixed Term Duration: 24 months
Closing Date: 23/08/2026
This post is open to job share.
Help shape the future for children, young people and families. Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for improving outcomes for children and families? We are looking for an exceptional Early Help, Best Start Family Hub Service Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across Early Help, Best Start in Life and Family Hub services on a fixed term basis. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development of innovative, integrated services that support children, young people and families to thrive. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our vision for Best Start in Life Family Hubs, working collaboratively with partners across health, education, early years, social care and the voluntary and community sector.
About the role
Reporting to the Head of Service for Early Help and Targeted Support and the Head of Service Early Years and childcare, you will be responsible for driving the quality, performance and impact of Early Help, Best Start in Life and Family Hub services. You will lead a small multidisciplinary team, champion relationship-based and systemic practice, and ensure services are responsive, effective and focused on improving the lived experience of children and families.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the operational delivery of the Best Start in Life programme and local plan.
- Driving the development and embedding of Best Start Family Hubs as a whole-system, place-based model.
- Providing leadership and line management to multidisciplinary practitioners.
- Maintaining a strong culture of learning, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
- Monitoring performance, outcomes and impact across service areas.
- Building and sustaining effective partnerships across agencies and sectors.
- Contributing to strategic planning, commissioning and service redesign.
- Representing the service at senior partnership boards and governance forums.
- Ensuring effective use of resources and budget management.
- Deputising for the Head of Service when required.
About you
You will be a skilled and forward-thinking leader with a proven track record of delivering improved outcomes for children, young people and families. You will bring:
- Significant leadership experience within children's services, early help, education, health, social care or related fields.
- Experience of leading complex programmes, service transformation or system change.
- Strong understanding of Early Help, Family Hub and Best Start in Life approaches.
- Experience of working across multi-agency partnerships and influencing at a senior level.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, national policy and integrated service delivery models.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building and leadership skills.
- The ability to translate strategic priorities into successful operational delivery.
- Emotional resilience, adaptability and a commitment to supporting staff wellbeing.
- Professional qualification in a relevant field such as social work, education, youth work, health, housing, employment or criminal justice.
- Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification, or willingness to work towards one.
- Qualification in coaching and/or mentoring.
This is an opportunity to make a lasting difference for children, young people and families while joining an ambitious organisation committed to innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
We offer:
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
- A supportive and inclusive leadership culture.
- Professional development and career progression opportunities.
- A commitment to staff wellbeing.
- The chance to influence and shape services at a strategic level.
Interviews are due to take place in person week commencing 7th and 14th September.
Additional Information
- May involve occasional work outside normal office hours.
- Is designated as a politically restricted post under the Local Government and Housing Act.
If you are passionate about leading change, developing partnerships and improving outcomes for children and families, we would love to hear from you. Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire's diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential. It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English. Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.
Service Manager, Early Help and Best Start in Life in Gloucester employer: Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the community. With flexible hybrid working options and opportunities for professional growth, staff are encouraged to develop their skills in a collaborative environment dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people in care.
Contact Details:
Gloucestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager, Early Help and Best Start in Life in Gloucester
✨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 Gloucestershire County Council.
✨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 Gloucestershire County Council!
✨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 Gloucestershire County Council, 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 Gloucestershire County Council 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, Early Help and Best Start in Life in Gloucester
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 Gloucestershire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Gloucestershire County Council! 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 Gloucestershire County Council
✨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.
