Group Manager

Overview

36 hours per week, 52.14 weeks per year, Permanent
West Lothian Council is seeking an ambitious and experienced Group Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across our Justice Services. This is a pivotal senior role, offering the opportunity to shape, influence and continuously improve justice social work services that make a real difference to children, young people, adults and communities across West Lothian.

Working closely with the Senior Manager for Children and Justice Services, you will play a key role in the overall leadership, development and delivery of Justice Social Work, ensuring services are effective, evidence-informed, person-centred and aligned with national and local priorities.

You will provide professional leadership and operational management across a range of specialist justice services, including:

• Early Intervention and Assessment (Court)
• Justice Throughcare
• Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
• Community Payback
• Prison-Based Social Work
• Youth Justice and early intervention services
• Programmes Team

You will ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality, outcomes-focused justice social work services, promoting public protection, reducing reoffending and supporting positive change for individuals and families.

You will have responsibility for operational aspects of Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), Managing PMAP Panels under the PREVENT remit and for overseeing the lead officer role for Community Justice working across the Community Justice Partnership. You will represent the service at local and national levels, contributing to relevant organisational, sectoral and national working groups. You will bring vision and ambition to the service, driving innovation and continuous improvement.

You will be an experienced social work manager with a strong track record of leading complex services and multi-disciplinary teams. You will have a deep understanding of public protection and partnership working, alongside the ability to balance strategic leadership with operational oversight.

You Will

• Ensure robust financial management and governance, delivering best value
• Foster strong communication and engagement, enabling meaningful participation from service users, staff, partners and communities
• Lead, support and inspire managers and staff through change and service development
• Demonstrate resilience and professional confidence when working with individuals who have committed violent and sexual offences

Essential Requirements

• BA in Social Work or another recognised and approved social work qualification
• Registered, or eligible for registration, with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• Experience of working within justice or related statutory services
• Willingness and ability to undertake Regulated Work with children and protected adults, with a current PVG covering both groups

Desirable

• Experience in the use of risk assessment tools including LSCMI, RoSH, SARA, SA07 and RM2000
• Strong understanding of national justice priorities, public protection and community justice arrangement

This is an opportunity to lead a highly skilled service at a time of significant challenge and opportunity within justice social work. You will be supported to influence practice, policy and partnerships, while making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and the safety of our communities.

Requirements

We are keen to employ a diverse workforce that reflects the people of Scotland. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly from groups currently under-represented, including people with disabilities, those from minority ethnic communities or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

This position requires registration with the SSSC. The successful candidate will have six months from the date of commencement of this post to become registered with the SSSC. SSSC stipulate you must submit your application within three months of your start date.

This post is considered Regulated Work with Vulnerable Children and/or Protected Adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check prior to a formal offer of employment being made by West Lothian Council.

The fee for a Full PVG Scheme Membership is £59 or Existing Member is £18. The £59 cost (where appropriate) will be deducted from your salary over a 1 or 3-month period by repayment schedule. If your employment concludes before the amount is re-paid in full, the outstanding balance will be deducted from your final salary.

To arrange an informal discussion please contact Pauline Cochrane, Senior Manager via email:

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