Service Manager - Children with Disabilities Team in Northampton

We have a fantastic career opportunity for a Service Manager position to join the Disabled Children Service here at Northamptonshire Children's Trust. You will oversee the Disabled Children’s Service, a statutory service that focuses on the most vulnerable disabled children and young people in Northamptonshire. The team ensures that children and young people with substantial and long‑term disabilities and complex health needs are given every opportunity to meet their full potential, enjoy the best possible quality‑of‑life, and are safeguarded from harm.

Responsibilities:

• Offer leadership to Disabled Children’s Service, developing a service plan for the Portfolio, and leading the production of team plans, in accordance with Council objectives.
• Systematically review progress against these plans to ensure a consistently high standard of service which is in accordance with Council objectives.
• Provide the professional lead in Disabled Children’s Service, responsible for supporting and improving outcomes for children with disabilities and their families.
• Ensure that budgets and other resources are used in accordance with NCT's priorities and financial regulations, and that expenditure is accurately monitored and reported, and does not exceed budget.
• Develop and implement the service plan to meet objectives and attain performance targets.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified Social Worker, with current Social Work England registration, and ideally with a Level 5 NVQ Management qualification, or equivalent relevant experience. You will have the ability to manage a service and ensure development and performance issues are addressed through support and coaching. You will have previous budgetary control experience, ICT skills and the ability to represent the service at a more senior level if required.

At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils. Our workforce is our most valuable asset and is pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed. At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability‑confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.

Benefits:

• SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
• Relocation costs of up to £8,000
• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill‑health protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme – available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year including telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme