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- Tasks: Lead and shape the 0-25 Disabilities Service, ensuring high-quality support for children and young people.
- Company: Join Lambeth Children Services, a diverse and ambitious organisation dedicated to social justice.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, up to 35 days leave, hybrid working, and a strong pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's social care and SEND, with strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team in a modern environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 73266 - 78090 £ per year.
Overview
Service Manager (0-25 Disabilities Service)
Salary: PO9: £73,266 pa rising in annual increments to £78,090 pa LW
Contract: Permanent / Full Time / Hybrid
Hybrid Working: 2-3 days a week in office
About Lambeth Children Services
Lambeth is a borough of huge diversity, strength, and possibility. Lambeth is home to approximately 63,000 children aged 0-18, representing nearly 20% of our borough’s population. Our Lambeth partnerships have the highest ambitions for our children and want them to grow up to be happy, safe, and thriving in supportive communities. We have a rich network of good and outstanding schools, a passionate voluntary community sector and an exciting youth and play offer. Children growing up in Lambeth are surrounded by beautiful green spaces and a borough with a rich history, arts, and music scene.
“Lambeth – a borough with social and climate justice at its heart…we will proactively tackle inequalities so that children and young people can have the best start in life and so everyone can feel safe and thrive in a place of opportunity” Lambeth Borough Plan 2023. In Lambeth we put people engaging with our services at the heart of practice, and practice at the heart of all that we do.
Our new Borough Plan has social justice at the centre and a clear vision for improving outcomes for our residents. We launched our 0-25 Disability Service in July 2024 bringing together services supporting children and young people and adult services to deliver better outcomes and promote independence for children, young people, and their families as they prepare and transition to adulthood. Now is the perfect time to join the service as within this role you will have the opportunity to be part of the growth and development, in shaping and influencing the service by promoting excellence, setting high standards and motivating others to do the same.
About the role
As a Service Manager in the 0-25 Disabilities Service, you will provide both operational and strategic leadership. You will be at the forefront of our service ensuring;
- the delivery of a high-quality responsive support,
- a high level of performance to provide a quality service for all our children and young people with complex and severe disabilities,
- and a seamless transitioning and preparation to adulthood.
The primary focus of this role will be the delivery of statutory functions aimed at providing an effective Children’s social care service. You will play a pivotal role in connecting with multi-agency teams to deliver holistic services. You will oversee service performance, safeguarding practice, quality assurance and budget management.
You will be responsible for managing four Team Managers, which includes the Transition Team Manager.
About you
You will need to be an experienced Service Manager with significant leadership in children’s social care and SEND and understand the complexities of delivering services across 0-25 age range. The role requires you to lead with passion and motivate staff to demonstrate best practice. You must have the ability to manage risk and use of multidisciplinary working with partner agencies being essential. You will be an expert in supporting social workers to be the agents of change and to empower and enable them to spend their time doing good quality, meaningful social work, coproduced and tailored around the needs and issues of each family they work with.
You will need exceptional interpersonal skills, strong data analysis skills to be able to identify issues and address them within the service and be able to successfully develop working relationships with partners to achieve effective and excellent multi-agency working.
You will need to provide leadership for a designated service portfolio and will work to ensure the service is effective and of the highest quality. A proved track record of improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people is required.
As a Service Manager you will manage all aspects of the service’s work, and hold responsibility for the quality of this work, ensuring performance indicators are met and taking budgetary responsibility. You are expected to demonstrate and role model responses and decisions in the best interests of children, young people, and families by using ‘role generosity’ when considering service / team / practitioner remits.
Why Lambeth
- Fantastic, modern working environment in the award-winning Lambeth Town Hall and Civic Centre buildings
- Competitive Salaries
- Up to 35 days annual leave, dependent upon continuous service
- 5 Minutes from London Underground and excellent transport links into the centre of London
- Hybrid/Flexible working
- Cycle to Work Scheme (including City Bike Hire scheme)
- Attractive Local Government Pension Scheme
We are a Stonewall diversity champion; a Living Wage Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. Please note: a full list of our accreditations is available on our website.
If you have any queries in relation to this job vacancy, please contact the Assistant Director: Maura Banda, mbanda@lambeth.gov.uk
How to apply
Interested?
Click on the apply button and complete an on-line application, along with uploading your Supporting Statement and CV, explicitly evidencing how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an ‘A’ on the job specification.
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification in the hyperlink below: Job Description and Person Specification
You must upload a Supporting Statement and CV for your application to be considered. Please note we operate an anonymised application process. If you are uploading your CV or a personal statement, please remove your personal details.
Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information about the DBS can be found at
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs
In addition, you will also be required to undertake a Cifas check from the Fraud Prevention organisation. Further information can be found at https://www.cifas.org.uk/
Closing Date: 21st September 2025 at midnight
Lambeth aims for quality services and equal opportunities for all and is committed to safer recruitment
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Service Manager (0-25 Disabilities Service) employer: Lambeth Council
Contact Detail:
Lambeth Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager (0-25 Disabilities Service)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the field, attend relevant events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Understand their mission, especially around social justice and supporting children with disabilities. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on showcasing your leadership skills and ability to manage multi-agency teams effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Lambeth team and making a difference in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager (0-25 Disabilities Service)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure your supporting statement is tailored to the job description. Highlight your experience in children's social care and SEND, and how you can contribute to the 0-25 Disabilities Service. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Service Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership. Use your application to share examples of how you've motivated teams and improved outcomes for children and young people. We love seeing real-life examples that show your impact!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your CV and supporting statement, clarity is key! Keep your language straightforward and avoid jargon. We appreciate applications that are easy to read and get straight to the point, so make every word count!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it helps us keep track of all applicants efficiently. We can't wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lambeth Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a Service Manager in the 0-25 Disabilities Service. Familiarise yourself with Lambeth's Borough Plan and how it aligns with your vision for improving outcomes for children and young people. This will show that you're not just interested in the job, but also in making a real impact.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in children's social care before. Highlight your experience in managing multi-agency collaborations and how you've motivated staff to achieve high standards. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced and how you overcame them.
✨Data is Key
Since strong data analysis skills are crucial for this role, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to identify issues and improve service delivery. Discuss any tools or methods you've employed to track performance indicators and ensure quality assurance.
✨Connect on Values
Lambeth places a strong emphasis on social justice and community engagement. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with these principles. Share your passion for empowering families and ensuring that children with disabilities receive the best possible support as they transition to adulthood.