Service Manager - Children We Care For

Salary: £64,682 to £68,330 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full time - 37 hours per week
Location: Based at County Hall North, Horsham

Are you ready to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people?

If yes, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

We're seeking a dedicated and passionate Service Manager to join our Corporate Parenting Service as a Service Manager to lead our Children We Care for teams covering the north of the county.

As we continue our improvement journey towards delivering an outstanding service for all children in our care, this an exciting opportunity for a driven and compassionate Social Work Manager to truly make a difference. If you share our vision and bring the energy and determination to meet the challenges of high demand and complex needs, we'd love to hear from you.

As a Service Manager, you will provide strong, creative leadership for between 3 and 5 Children We Care For Teams including Children seeking Asylum. You'll be responsible for planning, organising, and managing your teams, offering clear operational oversight and effective support. By delegating effectively to your Team Managers, you'll drive high performance and ensure timely, positive outcomes for children.

You will work closely with the Head of Service to deliver on our service plan and overall vision of excellence. Your role will also include oversight of recruitment, service development, quality assurance, and the casework undertaken by your teams.

While you report to the Head of Service, your ultimate accountability is to the children and young people we support - ensuring they receive the outstanding service they deserve and that their needs and rights are upheld at every stage.

Rewards and Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do. Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including:

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

About you

We're looking for a visible and inspiring leader - someone who sets high standards, drives results, and is fully committed to improving outcomes for children and young people.

You'll be passionate about relationship-based practice, bringing energy, empathy and confidence to your leadership. You'll support and challenge your teams in equal measure, fostering a reflective and creative culture where high performance is the norm and children are always at the centre.

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Strong, visible leadership with the ability to inspire, support, and challenge teams
• A proven track record in managing operational teams within children's social care
• Excellent knowledge of legislation and social work best practices
• Excellent analytical, planning, and organisational skills
• A creative, solution-focused mindset with the ability to manage complex situations
• Exceptional communication skills and experience working with a range of stakeholders, including children, families, and carers
• A solid understanding of local authority budgets and how to deliver services efficiently and effectively
• A recognised Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the relevant professional body
• A recognised post qualifying award in Social Work or demonstrable evidence of continuous professional development at a similar level
• You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

About us

Here at West Sussex County Council, we are ambitious for our children and our workforce. We are committed to improving our services for the children and families in West Sussex we support. You will join us as at a key time on our improvement journey. The work we have started includes establishing a new and experienced senior leadership team, driving forward our 'Children First' improvement plan and implementing the Family Safeguarding Practice Model. You will be trained in motivational interviewing, to support our strengths-based approach to working with families and creating lasting change for children.

We don't underestimate the work that still needs to be undertaken and the challenge ahead, we are confident in our approach and excited about the changes occurring. That's why we need professionals, like you, who really want to be part of the positive change that is happening for children. Be part of an ambitious improvement plan and make a significant difference to children and families in West Sussex. There has never been a more rewarding time to join.

For further information about us and about working in Children's Social Care at West Sussex County Council, please visit Careers in children's social work in West Sussex.

Further information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE05966.

Closing Date: Sunday 5th October 2025

Interviews: Week commencing 13th October.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Pauline Barrett (Head of Service) at For issues or queries regarding your application please contact .

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter. In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to Social Work England registration, an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.