Early Help Gateway Team Manager
Salary: Grade PO6, 37 hours per week,
Based primarily in Sir Henry Mithcell House – with district wide partnership work at other locations, Hybrid – 3 days per week based in Sir Henry Mitchell House or other locations as required
Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.
We are fully committed to equal opportunities and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
About the Role
Bradford Children and Families Trust is looking for an exceptional leader to become our next Team Manager for the Early Help Gateway Team within the Integrated Front Door (IFD).
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a skilled and dedicated team while playing a key strategic role in shaping Bradford's wider Early Help offer. The Early Help Gateway is the single point of access to Early Help support, working with families and professionals to identify need, coordinate services and ensure children, young people and families receive the most appropriate support at the earliest opportunity.
As Team Manager, you will provide leadership and oversight of the Gateway's daily operations whilst acting as a key link between the Integrated Front Door and the wider Early Help system. Working closely with senior leaders and partner agencies, you will help influence service development, strengthen pathways and ensure support is accessible, coordinated and responsive to local need.
The role requires a strong understanding of the Early Help landscape and the ability to build effective partnerships across the district. You will work collaboratively with:
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Family Hubs and locality-based Early Help services
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Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector commissioned services
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Education partners, including schools, colleges and alternative provision
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West Yorkshire Police and safeguarding partners
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Health and mental health services
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Children's Social Care and Targeted Early Help teams
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Youth and community services
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Other statutory and community organisations supporting children and families
This is a highly visible leadership position, offering the opportunity to influence both frontline practice and the future development of Early Help services across Bradford.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting time to join Bradford's Integrated Front Door.
Over recent years, the service has undergone significant development and improvement, strengthening partnership working, enhancing decision-making and embedding a culture of learning, collaboration and continuous improvement.
As part of this journey, we have:
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Strengthened multi-agency partnership arrangements across Bradford
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Improved pathways and decision-making processes to ensure families access support more quickly
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Increased our focus on prevention and early intervention
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Enhanced performance management and quality assurance arrangements
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Continued to invest in workforce development, learning and reflective supervision
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Developed innovative approaches to triage, screening and service coordination
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Strengthened connections between Early Help and Children's Social Care, creating more seamless journeys for families
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build on these achievements and contribute to the next phase of development within one of the Trust's most influential services.
About the Team
The Early Help Gateway Team is a dynamic, fast-paced and solution-focused service at the heart of Bradford's Early Help offer.
The team receives contacts from professionals, families and partner agencies, assessing need and connecting children and families to the most appropriate services and interventions. Through effective screening, coordination and partnership working, the team helps ensure support is provided at the earliest opportunity and prevents needs from escalating wherever possible.
The team is committed to:
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Strengths-based and restorative practice
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Keeping children and families at the centre of decision-making
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Delivering timely, proportionate and effective responses
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Working collaboratively with partners across the Bradford district
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Continuously improving outcomes through early intervention and prevention
No two days are the same, making this an ideal opportunity for an experienced manager who enjoys leading in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families through both operational excellence and strategic partnership working.
Our strategic vision and values https://www.bradfordcft.org.uk/about-us/our-vision-and-values/ are upheld across the Trust, fostering a reliable and supportive environment for both staff and the children in our care.
Our approach is rooted in restorative and relational practice, fostering trust, mutual respect, and meaningful relationships with children, families, and professionals.
You’ll also:
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Provide effective leadership, management and oversight of the Early Help Gateway Team, ensuring high-quality practice and timely decision-making.
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Ensure children, young people and families receive appropriate, proportionate and timely support through effective screening, triage and referral processes.
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Deliver regular supervision, coaching and professional development to staff, promoting a culture of learning, accountability and continuous improvement.
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Monitor performance, quality assurance and service outcomes, using data and insight to drive service improvement.
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Lead on complex decision-making and provide management oversight where there are concerns regarding safeguarding, vulnerability or escalating need.
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Act as a key strategic link between the Integrated Front Door and Bradford's wider Early Help system.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with Family Hubs, education providers, health services, police, voluntary and community sector organisations and other key partners.
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Support the development and continuous improvement of pathways between Early Help, Targeted Early Help, Children's Social Care and wider partnership services.
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Identify emerging trends, service gaps and opportunities for improvement, contributing to strategic planning and service development.
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Represent the Integrated Front Door at operational and strategic partnership meetings, forums and working groups.
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Promote strengths-based, restorative and child-centred approaches that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
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Champion partnership working and help develop innovative solutions that strengthen Bradford's Early Help offer.
To be successful in this role you will need:
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A recognised professional qualification relevant to working with children, young people and families (Social Work, Early Help, Youth Work, Education, Health or equivalent professional qualification).
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Significant experience of working within Early Help, Children's Services, Safeguarding or a related field.
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Experience of leading, managing and developing high-performing teams within a multi-agency environment.
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A strong understanding of Early Help, safeguarding, thresholds, risk management and children's statutory services.
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Experience of building effective partnerships across statutory, education, health, police and voluntary sector organisations.
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Knowledge of the national and local policy framework relating to children, young people and families.
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Experience of managing performance, quality assurance and service improvement activities.
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The ability to analyse information, identify trends and use data to inform decision-making and service development.
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Strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage and challenge partners appropriately.
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Experience of leading change and contributing to service transformation and improvement.
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A commitment to strengths-based, restorative and relationship-focused practice.
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The ability to work strategically while maintaining oversight of operational delivery.
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Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
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A passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and families and a commitment to delivering the right support at the right time.
We are looking for someone who is:
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A visible and inspirational leader who can motivate and develop others.
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Collaborative, approachable and committed to partnership working.
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Solution-focused, innovative and able to think creatively.
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Confident in making difficult decisions and providing professional challenge where required.
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Resilient, adaptable and able to lead in a complex and evolving environment.
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Passionate about prevention, early intervention and achieving better outcomes for Bradford's children and families.
You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:
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Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
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Excellent Local Government pension
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Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
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Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
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Professional development and career progression opportunities
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we are a National Living Wage employer
For full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
To arrange an informal discussion, please contact Service Manager Khizer Iqbal, [email protected]
Closing Date: 02.08.2026
Short listing: 03.08.2025
2 stage Interviews process:
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Stage 1 – Partnership Panel – Group exercise observation
Date: 13th August
Venue: Sir Henry Mitchell House (In person)
Time: Will be confirmed upon conclusion of short listing. Candidates are required to be available for a time slot at any given time between 9am and 5pm on the day
This will take place in person and there will be no option to offer an alternative date
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Stage 2 – Formal Interview
Date: 17th August
Venue: Sir Henry Mitchell house (In person)
Time: Will be confirmed upon conclusion and outcome of Partnership panel. Candidates are required to be available for a time slot at any given time between 9am and 5pm on the day
This will take place in person and there will be no option to offer an alternative date
