Job Description

How you'll make a difference:

In this broad and challenging role as a Service Manager, you will make a significant contribution to the council's key priorities: 'Creating the best start in life for our children and young people' and 'Identifying and supporting those most in need and helping people to help themselves'.


What you will be doing:

Localities support children and their families where the child is supported through a child in need or child protection plan. It also has a team that works directly with exploited young people and their families. This team hold care proceeding work before it transfers to the Corporate Parenting Service.



This is a busy service and you will supervise the Team Managers, overseeing the work of each team. As part of the wider Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for setting and maintaining high standards and leading the service through the next phase of our improvement agenda.


What we need from you:

You will receive dedicated hands on advice and support and play a key role in our improvement journey, building on what currently works well and leading the improvement agenda where needed. This is a big role and a lot to do but it's a really exciting opportunity to develop your career and we will make sure you have the support you need.You need to have a clear in-depth understanding of the national issues and legal framework relating to children and young people. Given the nature of the role, you must be a skilled communicator, used to working together with and influencing colleagues and partners at all levels. Working with partners from a range of agencies, you need to be able to deal with confidential and highly sensitive issues. You will know what good looks like and will use performance data and your own expertise to ensure young people and their families are positively impacted by the work of the service. We require you to hold a recognised, relevant professional qualification e.g. DipSW, CQSW, CSS and have a valid Social Work England (SWE) registration.

What you need to know:
You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so must have a full valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business purposes, or have alternative appropriate means of travel. 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 for this post.


Any internal applicant that wishes to apply, but not as a permanent applicant, you may also apply for an acting up or secondment basis. You are encouraged to discuss this with your current manager ahead of application.

Interviews are anticipated to take place week commencing 11th August 2025.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different:
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. 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. 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.


Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life. We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.

We're making a difference, be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: Service Manager - Children's Social Care