Service Lead MACPT

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Grade K SCP 44 £55,691 SCP 47 £60,036

Hours Per Week: 36 Hours

Base Location: Tameside One, Ashton-under-Lyne

Interview date: 17th July 2026

The Role

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and families? Do you bring compassion, curiosity, collaboration, conversation, and courage to your practice? If so, Tameside is looking for you. Join us at an exciting time for Tameside Children’s Services. We are looking for an experienced, values-driven Service Lead to shape and lead our new Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT). This pivotal post, created as part of the Families First reforms, offers a unique opportunity to be part of the design and development of an innovative service at the forefront of national change.

At the heart of this role is our Heart of Support Practice Approach, underpinned by the 5 C’s: Compassion, Curiosity, Collaboration, Conversation, and Courage. These values are the golden thread that runs through how we work with children, families, and each other. We are committed to safeguarding and championing the welfare of children, young people, and families. Protecting and empowering our communities is at the heart of everything we do, and we expect every member of our team to share that commitment and help us make a meaningful difference.

You will be supported by the Head of Quality, Practice Assurance and Principal Social Worker with a comprehensive induction, ongoing training, and regular supervision to help you reach your full potential.

About You

We are looking for a strong, credible leader who has passion and determination to empower, enable, motivate and develop the workforce. As this is a newly developed role, you will have a unique opportunity to shape and influence the future of the service bringing creativity, energy, and innovation to every aspect of its growth. You will play a crucial role in driving the successful implementation of the MACPT in Tameside, with the passion and determination to make a real, lasting difference in the lives of children and young people.

You are someone who:

• Can confidently support a service through change, including the implementation of the Families First reforms
• Is passionate about delivering high-quality, child-centred practice and improving outcomes for children and young people
• Brings experience in practice development, quality assurance, and workforce development
• Inspires others, builds strong relationships, and positively influences across services
• Is reflective, resilient, and able to adapt to emerging priorities

If you are motivated to shape practice, strengthen culture, and embed learning across Children’s Services, this role offers a genuinely exciting and crucial opportunity to make a lasting and meaningful impact.

About Us

Hear from Jill Colbert OBE, Director of Children’s Services:

“When I first joined the council at the beginning of 2025 I was instantly charmed by the warmth, openness, and energy of my colleagues.”

“The reason why I came to Tameside was because I knew we could do fantastic things for our families here.”

“Whilst we’re currently a children’s service on a significant improvement journey, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together, and this is already making a difference for our children.”

“I know from the feedback from our Commissioner, Ofsted and our Strategic Improvement Partner, that families are seeing and feeling the impact of the thoughtful and compassionate support delivered by our workforce.”

“We know that if we keep children at the centre of our thinking and our actions, we will create meaningful change for them that lasts.”

“We are also growing and investing in our future. We have a range of specialist services for children, giving social workers quick access to expert help that makes complex decisions easier and supports better outcomes. Our Social Work Academy is led by people who bring passion to learning. We are strengthening our progression pathways so that staying in Tameside is rewarded and recognised. We have invested in innovation and improvement so that we can grow services and support for families that we can sustain, from family hubs through to complex safeguarding.”

“Together, we are creating a proud, inclusive, and safe environment where great practice can truly flourish. And I feel incredibly privileged to lead this journey alongside such dedicated colleagues.”

“Be a part of something great, be a part of our improvement journey and join us at Team Tameside.”

Our Heart of Support Practice Approach

At Tameside, we believe in:

• Compassion - understanding the lived experiences of children and families.
• Curiosity - asking questions that lead to deeper insight and better outcomes for children.
• Collaboration - working together across services to deliver joined-up support.
• Conversation - listening and engaging meaningfully with children, families and professionals.
• Courage - leading with courage, making bold and compassionate decisions that put children first.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to Enhanced with Barred List Disclosure Procedures. If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the “About You” or “Supporting Statement” section of your application. This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English. Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship. We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.

For further information about this role please contact Kayleigh Treanor, Head of Quality, Practice Assurance and Principal Social Worker on 0161 342 3398 or kayleigh.treanor@tameside.gov.uk