Service Manager (Day Service)

Harmeny Education Trust is a charitable organisation providing therapeutic care and education to children who have experienced early years trauma through abuse, neglect and family disruption, referred from all over Scotland. We currently work with children and young people aged 5-18, both on a day and all-year-round residential basis. We currently have an opportunity for a Service Manager to join our outstanding Education Leadership Team on a permanent, full-time basis.

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing effective leadership and operational management of Harmeny’s Day Service provision, including the supervision and leadership of the School Duty Manager and School Day Coordinator throughout the year. They will also lead on allocated strategic developments within the overarching whole community strategy document and the school improvement plan.

The successful candidate will lead on aspects relating to the therapeutic care and developmental needs of children, as outlined in the Harmeny Way. They will take full account of policies and practices informed by Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), while also encouraging the active involvement and support of families and carers.

We are highly committed to the professional development of all our staff, and the successful candidate will access comprehensive training and development opportunities. The hours for this post are 35 hours per week. The role also includes a paid “on call” allowance, which requires the postholder to be on call one weekend in every eight and one Friday in every eight.

The successful candidate will be appointed on the Harmeny salary scale, at a point between 35 and 41 (£52,990 to £60,834 per annum) depending on qualifications and experience. Successful applicants will be required to join Disclosure Scotland’s Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme. A driving licence allowing the use of our vehicles is essential.

Harmeny is a values-led organisation and a good fit with our ethos is as important to us as having relevant experience. Harmeny is situated in a beautiful 35‑acre woodland estate, which includes residential and education accommodation, community garden, orchard, wildlife habitats and children’s play areas. Harmeny is located in Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh, at the foot of the Pentland Hills; we are easily accessible by bus and there is on‑site parking available.

We offer benefits and opportunities that promote wellbeing, work‑life balance and staff development. Benefits include:

• On‑site wellbeing spaces and free massage therapy
• Free gym membership & psychotherapeutic support
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to a wellbeing app and counselling
• Access to discounts on shopping and events
• Access to a comprehensive induction package, and to a range of learning and development opportunities throughout their career with us.

More information on the benefits of working at Harmeny, plus a fuller job description and person specification can be found at www.harmeny.org.uk/jobs. If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please contact Mandy Shiel, Head of Education, on 0131 449 3938. To apply, please complete the application form via our recruitment section at www.harmeny.org.uk/jobs.

Closing date: Monday 6 April 2026

Interview date: Monday 20 April 2026

Key Responsibilities

• Promote a positive ethos across the organisation consistent with Harmeny’s vision, purpose and core values as documented within the Harmeny Way.
• Implement Senior Leadership Team (SLT) & Education Leadership Team [ELT] decisions, consistent with the Harmeny Strategic Plan and School Improvement Plan and regularly report progress to the Head of Education or SLT.
• Adhere to regulatory requirements, such as those of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), including in relation to continuous professional development.
• Share responsibility for the day‑to‑day running and ongoing development of the organisation, as part of the Harmeny School Management Team (HSMT).
• Create and maintain a highly nurturing environment for children, taking responsibility as delegated by the Head of Education or SLT, for managing financial and people resources to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of children attending daily.
• Be responsible for the care and welfare of children and staff, reporting any safeguarding or health and safety issue immediately, in line with relevant Harmeny policies and procedures.
• Support the coordination and development of plans, programmes and policies that meet the individual care, educational and therapeutic needs of children.
• Ensure that all recording systems and procedures are kept up to date, reporting any issues of concern to SLT immediately.
• Alongside other members of HSMT, take a lead role in the Education Quality Assurance system.
• Ensure that regular, effective contact and consultation is maintained with parents, carers and professionals involved with the children.
• Take a lead in developing systemic family work across all Harmeny services and supporting colleagues in such work.
• Ensure that children’s review and hearing reports are produced by the agreed dates, that they are of a professionally acceptable standard and that an appropriate contribution is made by children.
• Chair, and if necessary, minute, regular review meetings for children attending daily.
• Take a lead role with referral, admission and transition processes for children referred for day placements and liaise with all relevant external professionals in that regard.
• Provide positive leadership and direction to staff, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the work with children and their families.
• Ensure that the highest possible standards of professional practice are maintained.
• Take a lead role with staff recruitment and deployment of day service and other relevant staff, ensuring that effective cover arrangements are always in place.
• Ensure effective systems of line management, professional support, supervision, performance review and development of staff for whom you are responsible.
• Arrange regular team meetings with staff and ensure effective systems of communication.
• Contribute to, and lead on, the delivery of learning and development.
• Take a lead role in implementing strategic plans, such as new developments within the organisation as delegated by SLT.
• Be responsible for the maintenance of an ongoing inventory of Harmeny equipment and ensure that the day service are maintained to an excellent standard.
• Attend supervision, training, performance review and other meetings as required.
• Provide daytime, evening and weekend leadership, including involvement in the on‑call rota and sleep‑in duties, as directed by SLT.
• Undertake any other duties delegated by SLT that are commensurate with the post.

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• A practice qualification enabling registration with the SSSC, GTCS, or other equivalent professional body.
• A relevant management qualification or willingness to work towards.
• Management or supervisory experience within a childcare and/or educational setting, preferably within a multidisciplinary environment, with the ability to manage financial and people resources.
• Significant experience of working with and supporting children with complex additional support needs, as well as their families.
• Experience of developing plans, programmes and policies that meet the individual care, educational and therapeutic needs of children.
• Experience of working with external stakeholders, including families, local authorities and social workers.
• Experience of supervising, supporting and developing staff and promoting team working.
• Knowledge of child development, childcare legislation, regulatory requirements and related national policy.
• Knowledge and understanding of children who are looked after and with complex additional support needs, including knowledge of safeguarding and child protection issues.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills and computer literacy.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with a track of record of communicating with, influencing and negotiating with direct reports and third parties such as social workers and regulators.
• Emotional intelligence, the ability to understand the needs of others, and a commitment to reflective practice.
• A full driving licence and the ability to drive fleet vehicles and transport children as required.

Desirable

• Service development and project management skills.
• Experience of developing and delivering training and similar learning and development initiatives.
• Evidence of further training in therapeutic work with children and young people.
• Knowledge and experience of systemic family practice.
• Experience of preparing and delivering reports to a Senior Leadership Team, Board, or equivalent.

Person Characteristics / Competencies

• A commitment to the needs of children who are looked after and accommodated and have complex additional support needs.
• A commitment to children’s rights and the participation of children and their families.
• The ability to communicate, negotiate with, and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• The ability and flexibility to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload within a highly pressurised working environment.
• Emotional intelligence, with an understanding of the needs of others, and a commitment to reflective practice.
• A flexible and proactive approach, with a solutions-focused mindset.
• A commitment to continuous personal and organisational development.
• A commitment to equality of opportunity.
• The ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 35 days’ holiday per year, inclusive of public holidays
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance scheme (three times salary)
• Enhanced pay for maternity, adoption and paternity leave
• Policies and practices that promote health and wellbeing, including massage therapy and access to a wellbeing space