At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape practice in children's services, ensuring quality assessments and decision-making.
- Company: Dudley Children’s Services, committed to innovation and putting children first.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive leadership team.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence strategic direction and work in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on children's lives and drive service-wide improvements.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with substantial leadership experience in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 60913 - 64869 £ per year.
£60,913 to £64,869 - salary subject to experience
Working Hours: 37
Location: Cable Plaza, Waterfront West, Brierley Hill, Dudley
Closing Date: 06/07/2026
Sector: Local Councils
Business Unit: Children's Services
Job Introduction
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.
Key Responsibilities
- 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?
- At Dudley Children’s Services, we are committed to innovation, continuous improvement, and putting children first.
- 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.
So that we can demonstrate Dudley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to improve bias in the recruitment process that could create barriers for candidates. Your personal data will be anonymised when you apply, to ensure that you comply with our anonymisation process, please ensure you have removed your name and date of birth from any attachments prior to uploading them to your application. All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK. Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK. Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross‑match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so. N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications.
Service Manager - Assessment Service in Brierley Hill employer: Hurst Green
Dudley Children’s Services is an exceptional employer dedicated to innovation and continuous improvement, providing a supportive environment for leaders in children's services. As a Service Manager, you will have the opportunity to shape practice at the front door of children's services, drive excellence across multiple teams, and influence strategic direction while benefiting from hybrid working arrangements. Join a passionate leadership team committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in Dudley.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Assessment Service in Brierley Hill
✨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 Hurst Green.
✨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 Hurst Green!
✨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 Hurst Green, 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 Hurst Green 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 Brierley Hill
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 Hurst Green:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Hurst Green! 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 Hurst Green
✨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.
