Service Manager

We are seeking a Service Manager to manage and develop the Children with Disabilities Team, which provides a service to children in families where there is a child with a severe and permanent disability or a child affected by mental health issues due to the impact of severe autism. The CWD provides a comprehensive social work service from the point of assessment through to work with children and families on a long-term basis. The CWD supports children in need, including those in need of protection by assessing need, creating packages of support, and managing risk.
The council has been on a significant journey of improvement, with an ambition to enable every child and young person to have the best start in life. We are committed to the children of Herefordshire and we need exceptional leaders who are committed to embedding our model of working and understand that good quality social work engagement can make a difference for children, young people, and their families with whom we are working. Herefordshire is committed to providing "the right support for the right child at the right time" this post is key to delivering the first response right for every child.
The Service Manager will work closely with the Head of Service for the Children's Disability Team. We need someone creative, innovative, and motivated to safeguarding vulnerable children. It is an excellent opportunity to build upon good practice and you will effectively performance manage and lead the service.
About You
You will need to be a Manager and have good knowledge within the area of the Disabled Children's Team, with a passion to lead and motivate staff to demonstrate best practice. You will have the ability to manage risk and the use of multidisciplinary working with partner agencies is essential.
We also want you to be a qualified social work practice as well as SWE registered with experience in leading and managing children's social care services (including high risk and high complexity work) that deliver high-quality performance and good outcomes for children & young people.

Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county located in the heart of the Marches on the border with Wales. We are one of the most rural and sparsely populated counties in England with a wealth of unspoilt countryside, distinctive heritage, and lively and attractive market towns.
Our priority in Herefordshire is to keep children safe and give them a great start in life. It's the priority for the council, our partners and for all of us who work with Children & Young People.
How do we do this? By having dynamic, dedicated, passionate and professional staff who work in a culture that focuses on what we can achieve with children, what they can achieve themselves, and the relationship we build with families and partners to enable this. We have invested heavily in training and developing staff in our relational practice approach with our improvement partner Leeds City Council, so it's an exciting time to join Herefordshire - we believe in investing in you so you can be the best you can be!
Herefordshire has a really strong team ethos. Our teams are passionate about the work they do and the positive difference they and the teams they are in make to people's lives. This is all underpinned by the focus and support from their managers and the council as a whole.
We will deliver better support to our most vulnerable children and their families, develop stronger relationships with partners across the region, and beyond.
Come to Herefordshire and join the journey.
The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the "Disability Confident" scheme;


• Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant; and


• Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.


We will deliver better support to our most vulnerable children and their families, develop stronger relationships with partners across the region, and beyond. Therefore, we take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.


• A competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:


• Basic Salary of £54,238 - £60,151


• Market rate supplement £5,000 per year


• Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000


• Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)


• Professional development: protected time and budget to support social workers develop themselves and their careers.


• Generous Annual Leave: 31 days' annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum


• Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working


• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling


• Payment of professional membership fees


• Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.