3 month contract role with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Service Manager (Children, Young People & Families) will provide both strategic and operational leadership for Plymouth’s Targeted Help Service, ensuring high-quality, intervention-focused support for children and families. • The role focuses on preventing escalation into statutory services by delivering effective early help, safeguarding, and family-led interventions aligned with national social work reforms. • The postholder will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive service improvement, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation while promoting positive outcomes for children and young people. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Lead and manage the Targeted Help Service, ensuring effective delivery of early intervention and family support services. • Provide professional leadership and oversight to social workers, family help practitioners, and team managers. • Ensure compliance with statutory frameworks including the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014, and Working Together 2023 guidance. • Drive performance management, quality assurance, and continuous service improvement. • Oversee assessments, planning, and interventions to ensure consistent, high-quality decision-making. • Develop and maintain strong partnerships with internal teams, education, health, and external agencies. • Support seamless transitions between Targeted Help and Child Protection services. • Embed a culture of reflective practice, learning, and workforce development. • Lead organisational change in line with national reforms and local transformation programmes. • Participate in senior management duties, including on-call responsibilities where required. Skills/Experience: • Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration. • Significant experience in children’s social care, particularly early help, safeguarding, and family intervention. • Proven experience in a senior leadership or management role within children’s services. • Strong understanding of UK legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding frameworks. • Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex caseloads. • Demonstrable experience in service improvement, performance management, and quality assurance. • Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership working skills. • Ability to lead through change and implement national reforms at a local level. • Strong communication, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. Additional Information: • Bi-Weekly Payments. • Location: Ballard House, Plymouth (hybrid – 3 days on-site, 2 remote). • Duration: 12-week interim assignment. • Start Date: Target 30 April 2026. • • Rate: £600 Umbrella. • An Enhanced DBS is required.