About the Role
Peterborough City Council is looking for an experienced Service Manager to lead our Children in Care Service. This is a key leadership position where you will oversee the delivery of high-quality services for children and young people in care, ensuring they are safe, supported, and given the best opportunities to thrive.You will provide strategic and operational leadership to a team of Team Managers, Social Workers, and Senior Practitioners, driving best practice and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements. This role is ideal for a confident leader who can inspire teams, manage complex cases, and influence positive outcomes for children.
Responsibilities
- Leadership & Management: Provide professional guidance and supervision to managers and practitioners within the Children in Care service.
- Quality Assurance: Monitor performance, audit cases, and ensure care plans meet statutory requirements and reflect the child's voice.
- Strategic Oversight: Contribute to service development, improvement projects, and implementation of best practice standards.
- Multi-Agency Collaboration: Work closely with fostering, adoption, health, education, and other partners to deliver holistic care.
- Reporting: Prepare reports for senior leadership and attend strategic meetings to inform decision-making.
- Current Social Work England registration and a recognised social work qualification.
- Extensive experience in children's social care, particularly with looked-after children.
- Proven ability to lead teams, drive practice improvements, and manage complex cases.
- Strong knowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding frameworks.
- Excellent communication, analytical, and decision-making skills.
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and improving outcomes for children
