At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver child-centred services and improve outcomes for families.
- Company: South Gloucestershire Council, committed to making a real difference in the community.
- Benefits: Generous leave, wellbeing support, staff discounts, and extensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options available; travel required within the authority.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Professional social work qualification and extensive experience in children's safeguarding.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
How you'll make a difference
South Gloucestershires childrens social care service is rated Good by Ofsted, and our senior leaders are central to how we maintain that strong foundation while continuing to improve.
As a Service Manager, you will provide visible, confident and values-led leadership across your service area, creating the conditions for managers and practitioners to deliver consistently strong, child-centred practice.
Using performance insight, quality assurance and partnership working, you will shape services that are responsive, well-coordinated and focused on improving outcomes.
By setting clear direction, supporting managers to lead with confidence and driving a culture of learning and continuous improvement, you will help us strengthen practice and continue progressing as a Good local authority with ambition for every child, young person and family we support.
As a Service Manager within Family Help and Social Care, you will provide strategic direction and senior operational leadership for a key service area, helping ensure children are protected from significant harm, families receive the right support at the right time, and children in care and care leavers experience high-quality, child-centred services.
What you will be doing
This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible senior leadership role where your judgement, influence and commitment to excellent practice will make a real difference.
You will lead a key service area within Family Help and Social Care, supporting Team Managers and staff to deliver safe, effective and child-centred services while helping shape the next stage of improvement across South Gloucestershire.
You will lead through managers, set clear priorities and create the conditions for confident, consistent practice.
Using performance, quality, financial and workforce insight, you will help services respond well to demand, prepare for inspection activity, manage resources effectively and continue improving outcomes for children, young people and families.
- Provide senior leadership across a key Family Help and Social Care service area, setting clear direction and supporting effective service delivery.
- Lead through managers, developing confident practice, workforce capability and a culture of learning and improvement.
- Use performance, quality, finance and workforce information to respond to complex challenges, work with partners and drive continuous improvement.
- What we need from you
- A recognised professional social work qualification, with Social Work England registration.
- Extensive post-qualification experience, including managing social workers and managers within childrens safeguarding, Family Help and Social Care services.
- Strong knowledge of statutory responsibilities, safeguarding, national policy and the legal framework for children and families.
- Proven ability to manage performance, budgets, resources and change, using strong leadership, communication and judgement to drive safe, child-centred improvement.
- You will need to operate with confidence in a complex political, partnership and statutory environment, bringing sound professional judgement, emotional intelligence and clear leadership to decisions that shape services and improve outcomes for children and families.
- What you need to know
- Although this post is advertised as a full-time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced leaders who may be seeking flexible working arrangements.
- Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
- You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area, so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business use or have an alternative suitable means of travel.
- How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different
- As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave
(pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
- We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work.
We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
- We invest in the careers of our people, and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps our people make the greatest long-term difference in their work.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
- We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
Were making a difference, be part of it!
- To view the full job description, please refer to the
- Service Manager
Family Help and Social Care role profile.
Service Manager Family Help and Social Care (Kingswood Hub) - Kingswood employer: South Gloucestershire Council
South Gloucestershire Council is an excellent employer for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will benefit from flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, and a supportive work culture that values collaboration and positive change. Join us in a role where your contributions directly impact the community and foster meaningful growth.
Contact Details:
South Gloucestershire Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager Family Help and Social Care (Kingswood Hub) - Kingswood
✨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 South Gloucestershire Council.
✨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 South Gloucestershire Council!
✨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 South Gloucestershire Council, 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 South Gloucestershire Council 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 Family Help and Social Care (Kingswood Hub) - Kingswood
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 South Gloucestershire Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to South Gloucestershire Council! 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 South Gloucestershire Council
✨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.
