At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a skilled social work team to support children at risk and drive excellence in practice.
- Company: Join a values-driven organisation committed to children's rights and improving family outcomes.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and a commitment to professional development.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while fostering a collaborative culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in social work leadership and a passion for relationship-based practice.
The predicted salary is between 67457 - 80569 £ per year.
- Description
- Service Manager (Children's Services, North East Practice Team)
North East Locality Office - Salary: £67,457 - £80,569
Hours: 36 per week
Every child deserves to grow up safe, loved and able to reach their full potential.
As Service Manager for North East Practice Team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that children at risk of harm receive the right support at the right time.
This is an opportunity to lead a skilled social work team, drive excellence in practice and shape a team that makes a lasting difference to children, young people and families.
We are looking for an experienced, values-driven leader who is passionate about delivering high-quality, relationship-based social work.
You will foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and learning, while ensuring that children’s voices remain at the heart of everything we do.
Working closely with partners across health, education, police and the third sector, you’ll champion effective safeguarding, promote innovation and ensure services meet the highest standards of practice, governance and performance.
If you are committed to The Promise, children’s rights and improving outcomes for families, we’d love to hear from you.
The Service Manager will
- Provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is at the centre of all decision-making.
- Lead, motivate and support Team Leaders and their staff groups to deliver high-quality, relationship-based social work practice.
- Ensure statutory responsibilities, and local procedures are fulfilled, including child protection, looked after children, permanence and corporate parenting duties.
- Drive continuous improvement through quality assurance, performance management, internal audits, and learning from reviews and inspections.
- Champion a culture of professional curiosity, reflective supervision, trauma-informed practice and continuous professional development.
- Ensure effective workforce planning, recruitment, retention and succession planning, promoting staff wellbeing and high professional standards.
- Develop and maintain effective partnerships with Health, Education, Police Scotland, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), the third sector and other key agencies to improve outcomes for children and families.
- Lead on complex safeguarding issues, providing strategic oversight and professional advice on high-risk and sensitive cases.
- Manage service budgets effectively, ensuring resources are deployed efficiently while delivering best value.
- Ensure robust governance arrangements are in place, including oversight of risk management, complaints, audits, data quality and statutory reporting.
- Analyse performance information and use data to drive service improvement, reduce inequalities and improve outcomes.
- Promote the voices, rights and participation of children, young people and families in service development and decision-making.
- Lead implementation of national policy and legislative developments.
- Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that promotes equality, diversity, human rights and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role and commensurate with the level of responsibility.
This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.
The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check.
Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required.
You will be required to provide this check.
An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.
We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued and able to be their best.
We particularly encourage applications from women for senior roles, as well as people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or neurodivergent people, care experienced people, carers and LGBT+ people across all levels of the organisation, all of whom are currently underrepresented.
All applicants will be considered fairly based on skills and experience.
Disabled and care-experienced applicants who meet the minimum job criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
Find out more about our commitment to equalities https://www. edinburgh. gov. uk/work-us/inclusive-edinburgh/4
As part of our goal to improve organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure we're recruiting the best people.
We’re interested not only in your skills and experience but also in your approach to work.
Therefore, part of our interview process will be an assessment of how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.
- You can find out more on Our Behaviours web page
- Our Behaviours – The City of Edinburgh Council
Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range.
Happy to talk flexible working.
- Follow us on X at @edincounciljobs
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- Service Manager job description
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- Service Manager person specification
Service Manager - North East Locality Office in Edinburgh employer: The City of Edinburgh Council
At Fox Covert Primary School, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values diversity and inclusivity within our team. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our annual salary increases and flexible working arrangements, ensuring a supportive environment for all staff. Join us in delivering high-quality catering services while making a meaningful impact in the lives of our students.
Contact Details:
The City of Edinburgh Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - North East Locality Office in Edinburgh
✨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 The City of Edinburgh 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 The City of Edinburgh 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 The City of Edinburgh 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 The City of Edinburgh 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 - North East Locality Office in Edinburgh
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 The City of Edinburgh Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The City of Edinburgh 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 The City of Edinburgh 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.
