Best Start Principal Manager

Directorate: Children and Family ServicesSection: Best Start Family HubsGrade: Level 15 (£56,293–£59,780 per annum)Hours: 37 hours per weekContract: Permanent

This advert is open to internal applicants only

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job; it is about making, protecting and improving services for local people, reducing inequalities and improving independence for those who live and work in the city. That is where you come in. We are looking for people of the highest calibre, with the skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset. The skills, knowledge and experience of our employees are essential to delivering our ambitions for the organisation and the city. We want to be an employer people are proud to work for, where staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them excel and deliver the high-quality services our residents need.

Further information on why work for us

Join Our Children and Families Service

We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation. We are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.

The Role

Help give children in Stoke-on-Trent the best start in life. As Best Start Principal Manager, you will lead and develop Family Hub services across two of the city’s four localities, bringing together teams and partners so families can access the right support at the right time.

Reporting to the Head of Family Hubs (Best Start Service), you will combine strategic leadership with effective operational management. You will oversee delivery of the Best Start Family Hubs programme, Healthy Babies Programme and Reducing Parental Conflict programme, alongside local Best Start in Life and Children’s Plan priorities. Your leadership will strengthen early help, promote wellbeing and school readiness, and keep the voices of children and families at the heart of services.

About You

• A degree in an appropriate subject, a relevant professional qualification, or evidence of continuous professional development, together with a management qualification or a willingness to work towards one.
• Substantial experience of strategic and operational leadershipin a complex environment, with robust knowledge of children’s safeguarding.
• Extensive understanding of Early Help, Best Start Family Hubs, Healthy Babies and safeguarding frameworks, and how family experiences affect children’s development and life chances.
• A proven ability to lead change, develop staff through supervision, coaching and mentoring, and build a culture of high support and high challenge.
• Significant experience of multi-agency partnership working, with the confidence to influence, negotiate and hold partners to account.
• Strong skills in using performance information, quality assurance and resources to improve services, alongside sound professional judgement and a commitment to inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop multidisciplinary Family Hub teams across two localities, ensuring effective supervision, management oversight and consistently high standards of practice.
• Deliver national programme requirements and local priorities through clear operational plans, purposeful evidence-based interventions and strong partnership working.
• Oversee safeguarding and risk management, working closely with the Children’s Integrated Front Door and partners to support safe, timely decisions and effective early support.
• Embed robust quality assurance and performance management, using audits, data and feedback to improve delivery and report to senior leaders, strategic boards and external bodies.
• Manage budgets, staffing and resources responsibly, securing value for money and identifying opportunities to share resources and improve access to support.
• Ensure children and families shape service design, delivery and evaluation; represent the service and deputise for the Head of Service when required.

Why Join Us?

• Shape locality services that support families early and improve children’s wellbeing, school readiness and future life chances.
• Bring together skilled teams and partners to build accessible, coordinated support around children and families.
• Use your leadership to influence service development, strengthen practice and turn shared ambitions into meaningful outcomes.

What we offer

• A permanent leadership role with a salary of £56,293–£59,780 per annum.
• 28 days’ annual leave rising to 33 days after five years’ continuous service, plus eight public/bank holidays.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Opportunities for professional development, learning and management development.

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Want to know more?

If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact:
Charlie Weaver, Principal Manager
Charlie.Weaver@stoke.gov.uk

Pre-employment checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK.
• Proof of address.
• Satisfactory references.
• Occupational Health clearance.
• Evidence of relevant professional qualifications or registrations.
• A DBS check at the appropriate level.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and we expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Additional information

Your career matters here. At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we are committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know it is our greatest asset. We are building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed requirement. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves and can succeed together.

If an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy, their application will receive priority. If this happens, you will be advised accordingly.

To Apply

Please create or log in to your account and click ‘apply’. If you have any queries or need an application form in another format, email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call 01782 238189.

• Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?

Best Sta... (.pdf) (194kb)