Service Manager - Assessment Service

Ready to lead and shape practice at the front door of children’s services? We’re looking for an experienced, strategic and passionate Service Manager to lead our Assessment Service at Dudley Children’s Services. This is a pivotal leadership role where you will oversee multiple teams at the front door, ensuring consistency, quality of practice, and strong decision‑making for children and families at the earliest point of contact.

• Provide leadership and oversight to Team Managers across the Assessment Service
• Work closely with Service Managers and Principal Service Leads in Family Help to manage demand across areas
• Drive consistency of practice, performance, and decision‑making across all teams
• Ensure the delivery of timely, high‑quality assessments that are analytical and outcome‑focused
• Maintain oversight of risk, thresholds and safeguarding decisions at the front door
• Lead on service development and continuous improvement, embedding best practice across teams
• Manage service demand and performance, ensuring resources are used effectively
• Support and develop Team Managers to deliver strong leadership and high standards of practice
• Work closely with partners to ensure a coordinated, multi‑agency approach
• Contribute to strategic planning and service direction alongside the Principal Service Lead

• Is a qualified and highly experienced social worker, with substantial leadership experience in children’s services
• Has a strong understanding of front door services, thresholds, and assessment practice
• Brings experience of leading managers and driving service‑wide improvements
• Is confident making complex decisions in high‑pressure environments
• Has a track record of improving performance, quality and outcomes for children
• Is a strong communicator, able to influence, challenge and support at all levels
• Is committed to delivering consistent, high‑quality, child‑centred practice across services

• Lead a critical front‑line service, shaping practice at the earliest stage of a child’s journey
• Drive consistency and excellence across multiple teams
• Work as part of a supportive and ambitious senior leadership team
• Influence service‑wide improvement and strategic direction
• Benefit from hybrid working, with an expectation of 3 in‑person office‑based days per week

This is your opportunity to lead at scale—shaping how Dudley responds to children and families at first contact, driving consistent, high‑quality practice, and ensuring the right decisions are made at the right time. If you’re ready to lead with impact, influence practice at scale, and drive meaningful change—we’d love to hear from you.