How you'll make a difference:
Our children’s social care service is rated Good by Ofsted, reflecting the commitment and quality of practice across our teams. As Service Manager for the 0-25 Disabilities Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a multi-disciplinary service supporting children, young people and young adults with SEND and disabilities from birth into adulthood.
You will use performance insight, quality assurance and partnership working to shape services that are responsive, well-coordinated and focused on improving outcomes. By setting clear direction, supporting managers to lead with confidence and driving a culture of learning and continuous improvement, you will help us strengthen practice and continue progressing as a Good local authority with ambition for every child, young person and family we support.
You will lead a diverse team of professionals to ensure services are responsive, inclusive, outcome-focused and built around the needs of children, young people and their families. Through strong partnership working, safeguarding leadership and service improvement, you will help shape support that enables children and young people to achieve the best possible outcomes.
What you will be doing:
You will lead, manage and develop the 0-25 Disabilities Service, ensuring the Council meets its statutory responsibilities while delivering high-quality, value-for-money services that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for service planning, quality assurance, budget oversight, partnership working and strategic improvement activity across services for children and young people with disabilities and SEND.
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Providing strategic and operational leadership for the 0-25 Disabilities Service.
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Leading and developing a multi-disciplinary workforce supporting children, young people and young adults with SEND and disabilities.
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Ensuring safeguarding remains central to service delivery, decision-making and risk management.
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Managing quality, performance and compliance so statutory responsibilities and key measures are consistently achieved.
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Working with education, health, commissioners, voluntary organisations and other partners to deliver coordinated, joined-up support.
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Leading service planning, improvement activity and operational delivery across the service.
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Managing budgets, staffing resources and service performance to ensure value for money and sustainable service delivery.
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Supporting complex case management, risk management and service development activity.
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Contributing to commissioning, market development, transformation activity and future service planning.
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Preparing and presenting reports, recommendations and specialist advice to senior leaders, partners and elected members where required.
What we need from you:
- A recognised professional social work qualification, with Social Work England registration.
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Extensive post-qualification experience, including managing social workers and managers within children’s safeguarding and a thorough understanding of current legislation, regulations, policy and practice relating to children, young people, SEND and disability services.
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Strong knowledge of statutory responsibilities, safeguarding, national policy and the legal framework for children and families.
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Proven ability to manage performance, budgets, resources and change, using strong leadership, communication and judgement to drive safe, child-centred improvement.
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You will need to operate with confidence in a complex political, partnership and statutory environment, bringing sound professional judgement, emotional intelligence and clear leadership to decisions that shape services and improve outcomes for children and families.
What you need to know:
- Although this post is advertised as a full-time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced leaders who may be seeking flexible working arrangements.
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Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
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You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area, so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business use or have an alternative suitable means of travel.
How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different:
- As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
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We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
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We invest in the careers of our people, and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps our people make the greatest long-term difference in their work.
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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
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We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
- We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
We’re making a difference, be part of it!
To view the full job description, please refer to the Service Manager – 0-25 Disabilities Service role profile
