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- Tasks: Lead service improvement in children's services and support a team of practitioners.
- Company: West Midlands Local Authority focused on high-quality children's services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while driving positive change in social care.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's social care and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with a commitment to continuous improvement and workforce development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
18-month fixed-term contract
West Midlands Local Authority
Salary – Competitive (banding available on request)
Hybrid working
Cvs are being reviewed immediately, and interviews will take place on a rolling basis.
Start date: March 2026
Reporting to the Service Improvement Lead, you will play a pivotal role in driving high-quality, consistent, and outstanding practice across Children’s Services within a West Midlands local authority. This role sits within the Centre for Professional Practice (CPP) and will focus on practice development, quality assurance, and workforce improvement.
You will provide operational leadership to a team of 2 Advanced Practitioners, supporting them to deliver service improvement activity that strengthens the quality of practice and ensures children and families receive timely, effective, and safe support. Working collaboratively with frontline teams, managers, leaders, and partners, you will champion best practice and contribute to strategic development across the authority.
Your Role as Service Improvement Team Manager
- Lead on practice development and quality improvement across children’s services, working closely with practitioners and managers.
- Provide leadership and management to 2 Social Work Advanced Practitioners, supporting their professional development and overseeing their contribution to service improvement activity.
- Support the development, review, and implementation of practice guidance, policy and protocols to ensure staff have robust frameworks that enable strong and consistent practice.
- Lead and participate in quality assurance activity including audits, critical reviews, and dip sampling, ensuring learning informs continuous improvement.
- Promote strong internal and external communication, sharing practice developments, learning, and positive achievements across teams and partners.
- Contribute to OFSTED readiness, preparation, and support during inspection activity.
- Support participation and co-production work with children and families, ensuring their voice meaningfully shapes practice and service delivery.
- Provide operational leadership, vision, and direction within the CPP, ensuring the team delivers its operational plan and maintains high and measurable practice standards.
- Promote a positive culture that empowers others, fosters learning, and drives improvements across the children’s workforce.
Your Background and Experience
- Significant frontline experience within children’s social care, ideally with management experience.
- Strong understanding of best practice in safeguarding, assessment, and intervention.
- Experience of leading quality assurance activity and implementing practice improvements.
- Ability to influence practice, coach practitioners, and drive cultural and operational change.
- Demonstrable commitment to workforce development and delivering high-quality outcomes for children and families.
- Experience of contributing to inspection preparation or improvement activity is desirable.
- A recognised social work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
If you’re interested in discussing this opportunity in more detail or know someone who may be suitable, please get in touch or apply today.
(Referral scheme available for successful placements.)
Service Improvement Team Manager employer: Trades Workforce Solutions
Contact Detail:
Trades Workforce Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Improvement Team Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the children's services sector. Attend local events or webinars where you can meet people who might know about job openings or can give you insider tips on the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the West Midlands Local Authority and their approach to service improvement. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples from your past roles where you've successfully led teams or driven improvements. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can manage and inspire others.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Improvement Team Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the Service Improvement Team Manager role. Highlight your frontline experience in children’s social care and any management roles you've held. We want to see how you can lead and improve services!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your application, emphasise your ability to provide operational leadership and support to others. Share examples of how you've coached practitioners or led quality assurance activities. This is your chance to show us how you can drive improvements across the children's workforce.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to your achievements and contributions to service improvement.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen and ready to take the next step in your career with us.
How to prepare for a job interview at Trades Workforce Solutions
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Service Improvement Team Manager role. Brush up on your knowledge of practice development, quality assurance, and workforce improvement. Being able to discuss specific examples from your experience will show that you’re not just familiar with the concepts but have actively applied them.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team of Advanced Practitioners, be prepared to talk about your leadership style. Share examples of how you've supported team members in their professional development and how you've driven service improvements in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to inspire and guide others.
✨Prepare for Quality Assurance Questions
Expect questions around quality assurance activities like audits and critical reviews. Think of specific instances where you’ve led such initiatives and the outcomes they produced. Highlight how you used feedback to inform continuous improvement, as this aligns closely with the expectations of the role.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This position requires strong collaboration with various stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you’ve worked with frontline teams, managers, and external partners in the past. Illustrate your ability to promote best practices and share positive achievements, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
