At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage Family Help and Child Protection services to ensure children's safety and family support.
- Company: Milton Keynes City Council, dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
- Benefits: 28 days annual leave, excellent pension, family-friendly policies, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful difference in children's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with leadership experience in children and families social work.
The predicted salary is between 46000 - 52000 £ per year.
We're seeking an experienced and values-led Service Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across Family Help and Child Protection services at Milton Keynes City Council. This is a pivotal leadership role within our Child First, Family Led approach. You'll drive integrated practice, strong partnership working and high-quality outcomes so that children are safe and families are supported to thrive. You'll oversee the delivery and continuous improvement of Family Help and Protection services, including Family Help teams, Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs) and the Contextual Safeguarding Team. Working closely with safeguarding partners such as Police, Health and Education, you'll ensure effective multi-agency pathways, robust practice standards and a strong learning culture. This is a rewarding role for an experienced social work leader who wants to make a meaningful difference in a growing and ambitious city.
Main Responsibility
- Provide visible leadership and management oversight across Family Help, Multi Agency Child Protection and Contextual Safeguarding services, ensuring safe, effective and timely practice.
- Lead change, co-design and practice development aligned to the Child First, Family Led approach, driving high standards in assessment, planning and direct work.
- Develop and maintain strong partnerships with Police, Health and other agencies, contributing to and chairing multi-agency forums where required.
- Ensure statutory duties and safeguarding guidance are applied effectively, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004.
- Oversee performance management, audit activity, risk management and service improvement, using data and feedback to improve outcomes and reduce demand escalation.
- Line manage Team Managers and oversee resources, including workforce development, recruitment, retention, budgets and inspection readiness.
The Ideal Candidate
- A qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration.
- An experienced leader with significant post-qualifying experience in children and families social work, including substantial management experience and a strong track record of improving practice and outcomes.
- Highly knowledgeable about safeguarding, statutory responsibilities and assessment frameworks.
- Confident in delivering robust supervision and quality assurance, using audit, performance information and feedback to drive improvement.
- Able to manage competing priorities, risk and resources in a complex operational environment.
- A clear and confident communicator who works effectively with colleagues, partners, children and families.
- Someone whose approach reflects our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle
To be successful in this role, you'll need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If we offer you the role, we'll ask you to provide evidence of your driving licence and vehicle insurance, including cover for business use. We're unable to confirm an appointment until these documents are received. As part of the pre-employment checks, should you be offered the role, we'll carry out an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service.
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme - low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us?
Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live. We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference. We're very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it's time for a new role.
Service Manager - Children's Services in Milton Keynes employer: Workcircle
Milton Keynes City Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the community. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we offer generous holiday benefits, a robust pension scheme, and a range of family-friendly policies. Our collaborative work culture fosters professional growth and development, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to thrive while contributing to the safety and support of families in our vibrant city.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Children's Services in Milton Keynes
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who are already working at Milton Keynes City Council. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the Child First, Family Led approach. Show us that you understand the values and how you can contribute to making a difference in children's lives. We love candidates who align with our mission!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven change and improved outcomes in your previous roles. We want to hear about your successes and how you can bring that to our team.
✨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, it shows us you’re serious about joining our dedicated team at Milton Keynes City Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Children's Services in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Values:Make sure to highlight how your values align with ours. We’re all about being dedicated, respectful, and collaborative, so share examples of how you embody these traits in your work.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Service Manager role. We want to see how your experience directly relates to our Child First, Family Led approach.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and gets straight to the heart of your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application reaches us directly and is considered promptly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Workcircle
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of a Service Manager, especially around Family Help and Child Protection services. Brush up on relevant legislation like the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, particularly in managing teams and driving high-quality outcomes. Think about times when you’ve led change or improved practice standards, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with various partners, come prepared to discuss how you’ve built strong partnerships in the past. Share specific examples of successful multi-agency work and how you’ve contributed to forums or collaborative projects.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage competing priorities. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies in complex situations, as this will show your readiness for the challenges of the role.
