You will play a pivotal role in leading and embedding Hertfordshire’s new Family Help offer as part of the national Families First Partnership Programme. Working closely with partner agencies, you will lead the delivery of an integrated whole-family approach that delivers timely support, strengthens family networks and improves outcomes for children, young people and their families. You will champion relationship-based, strengths-led and evidence-informed practice, ensuring that safeguarding remains at the heart of all service delivery alongside early intervention, prevention and effective risk management.

As Service Manager, you will lead the implementation of service improvements and support the continued development of Family Help in line with evolving legislation, national reform and local priorities. You will lead, manage and ensure high performance within the Family Help Service and be accountable for service delivery, performance and resource management. You will use quality assurance, audit findings, performance intelligence and continuous learning to drive excellent practice, create a dynamic culture of learning and improvement and achieve positive outcomes for children and families.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Family Help services, ensuring high-quality, family-centred support and interventions.
• Manage and support three Team Managers, fostering strong leadership, accountability and high-quality practice across Family Help service
• Lead the implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme within the Family Help service, ensuring practice is relational, strengths-based and focused on achieving sustainable change for children and families.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with schools, health services, social care, police, voluntary organisations, and community groups.
• Ensure timely assessment of needs and the delivery of coordinated support plans for children and families.
• Manage change confidently and creatively, balancing risk while supporting teams to embed new ways of working.
• Oversee case management, quality assurance, and performance monitoring to ensure effective and outcome-focused practice.
• Drive continuous improvement through service evaluation, learning, innovation, and implementation of best practice.
• Manage service budgets, resources, workforce development, and operational performance to a high standard.
• Promote strengths-based, restorative, and whole-family approaches that build resilience and support sustainable change.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, local policies, safeguarding responsibilities, and statutory guidance.

About you

Essential:

• Social Work Qualified and registered with Social Work England
• Full UK driving licence and regular access to a vehicle
• Proven leadership and management experience (including managing/leading managers or teams)
• Strong understanding of the Families First Partnership Programme and the role of Family Help within a wider integrated system of support
• Significant experience in children’s services, early help, family support, and safeguarding services.
• Excellent knowledge of child development, safeguarding, early intervention, and family support frameworks.
• Experience of managing complex risk and delivering services focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
• Strong experience of building effective partner relationships, communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Ability to analyse performance data, manage risk, and lead service improvement initiatives.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead and maintain a positive, high-performing team culture.
• Experience of supporting and developing staff, promoting accountability and continuous learning.

Desirable

• Previous experience operating at Service Manager level within Children’s Social Care.
• Experience of supporting the implementation of service-wide change programmes.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 14. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles – Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Rebecca Taylor (rebecca.taylor5@hertfordshire.gov.uk) for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 11th November – Face to Face, Stevenage offices

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.

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