Service Manager Children'S Services

Contract to start ASAP until 26-02-27 with a possible extension.

Full job descriptionService Manager – Children's Services

Cheshire East Council

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Contract: Temporary assignment – 2 November 2026 to 26 February 2027

Lead Effective Services and Help Improve Outcomes for Children and Families

We're recruiting an experienced and motivated Service Manager – Children's Services to support Cheshire East Council. This role combines operational leadership, staff management, quality assurance and service improvement, helping teams deliver effective support for children, young people and their families.

You'll work closely with managers, practitioners and partner organisations, providing clear direction, addressing operational challenges and promoting a consistent, child-centred approach to service delivery.

About the Role

As Service Manager – Children's Services, you'll provide leadership across your allocated service, establishing priorities, supporting staff and maintaining oversight of performance, quality and resources.

You'll help translate service objectives into practical actions, identify emerging pressures and coordinate improvements. The role requires sound professional judgement, strong communication skills and the ability to balance operational demands with longer-term development.

The specific service area, team structure and management responsibilities will be confirmed by the council.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading day-to-day service delivery, coordinating priorities and addressing operational pressures to maintain effective support for children and families.
• Managing and developing allocated staff, setting clear expectations, reviewing performance and encouraging professional development.
• Maintaining effective supervision and management oversight, helping colleagues make well-supported decisions and remain accountable for their work.
• Monitoring service quality and performance, reviewing management information, identifying concerns and progressing improvement actions.
• Maintaining oversight of safeguarding and service risks, ensuring concerns are escalated appropriately and agreed actions are followed through.
• Working collaboratively with partner organisations, strengthening communication and coordinating responses to children's and families' needs.
• Managing allocated budgets and resources within delegated responsibilities, monitoring expenditure and identifying pressures requiring senior management attention.
• Supporting the development and implementation of policies and procedures, helping teams apply clear and consistent working practices.
• Contributing to quality assurance, audits and service reviews, maintaining appropriate evidence and addressing areas identified for improvement.
• Leading change and improvement activities, supporting staff through new processes and monitoring their effectiveness.
• Ensuring the views of children, young people and families inform service improvements, using feedback to identify opportunities for better support.
• Preparing clear management reports and maintaining accurate records, documenting decisions, progress, risks and outstanding actions.

Requirements

We're looking for an experienced, organised and supportive leader who can combine effective people management with a commitment to improving services for children and families.

You'll ideally have:

• Significant experience within children's services, including responsibility for managing teams, coordinating service delivery or leading improvement.
• Experience supervising and developing staff, establishing clear priorities and addressing performance concerns constructively.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding and child-centred practice, with the judgement to recognise risks and escalate complex matters appropriately.
• Experience monitoring service quality and performance, using evidence and feedback to identify concerns and recommend action.
• Experience managing resources and competing priorities, maintaining a clear focus on effective service delivery.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to challenge constructively and explain complex information clearly.
• Experience working collaboratively with partner agencies, resolving issues and progressing shared objectives.
• Confidence leading change, supporting colleagues and following through on agreed improvements.
• Good organisational and IT skills, including preparing management reports and maintaining accurate electronic records.
• A professional approach to confidential and sensitive information, maintaining appropriate boundaries and seeking specialist advice when required.
• Eligibility to work in the UK and the ability to provide employment references and complete the required pre-employment checks.

Why Apply

• Opportunity to contribute to better services for children, young people and families.
• Varied leadership role combining staff management, quality assurance and service improvement.
• Chance to work collaboratively with experienced practitioners, managers and partner organisations.
• Opportunity to apply your management expertise within a local authority setting.

Benefits

• Weekly Pay
• Company Pension
• Ongoing Agency Support

Benefits are subject to confirmation of agency and payroll arrangements and individual eligibility.

Additional Information

Client: Cheshire East Council

Job Title: Service Manager – Children's Services

Location: Cheshire East Council, Delamere Street, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2JZ, United Kingdom

Working Arrangement: Office attendance, travel and any hybrid-working arrangements are to be confirmed.

Start Date: 2 November 2026

End Date: 26 February 2027

Contract Duration: Temporary assignment from 2 November 2026 to 26 February 2027.

Hours: 37 hours per week

Positions Available: 1

Driving Required: Any driving, vehicle access and travel requirements are to be confirmed.

Pay Rate: £35.37 per hour — Umbrella

IR35: Status to be confirmed.

DBS: Required checks and level to be confirmed by the council.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: £35.37 per hour — Umbrella

Application question(s):

• Can you describe your experience managing children's services, including the teams, service areas and responsibilities you have overseen?
• Please give an example of how you improved service quality, addressed a performance concern or supported staff through organisational change.
• Please confirm your current location, your ability to attend the Crewe location and other required sites, and your availability to start on 2 November 2026.

Experience:

• Children's services management, staff leadership and service improvement experience preferred.
• Experience overseeing performance, managing resources and working with partner organisations would be advantageous.

Qualifications:

Please provide details of your relevant professional qualifications, management training and continuing professional development.

Any requirement for a social work qualification, professional registration or a specific management qualification must be confirmed against the council's person specification for this assignment.

Work authorisation:

United Kingdom — right to work required.

Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

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