Service Manager – Family Support & Protection, West

Service Manager - Family Support & Protection, West Essex

Permanent, Full Time

£66,899 to £76,280 per annum

Location:

Harlow

Working Style:
Fixed-base worker

Closing Date: 24th February 2026

We're serious about social work at Essex County Council. It's demanding, it's complex, but it's also hugely fulfilling. Here you'll have time to be the Service Manager you always wanted to be, achieving change for our most vulnerable children and families through direct relationship-based social work practice. You'll work collaboratively with other agencies and partners to ensure that we provide the right response at the right time to every child and family receiving services.

We are looking to build on the well‑earned achievements of our teams, and the families they work with. In this role, you will harness that momentum and lead our teams as we seek to deliver better outcomes for our community. This is an opportunity to shape the direction of children’s social work in Essex. You’ll have an immediate impact on the way our teams think and communicate – but you’ll also have a lasting impact on future generations of Essex residents.

From the small details to the big picture, you will be a guiding force for staff and families alike.

FS&P teams work with families on Child in Need and Child Protection plans to promote sustainable change. FS&P Social Workers are responsible for building positive relationships with families using systemic and strengths‑based social work approaches. The work is varied and involves working within Public Law Outline (PLO) and Court Proceedings, when necessary.

As FS&P Service Manager you will also have responsibility for West Essex Family Centre, Family Time and Support Service and our newly developing Multi‑Disciplinary Team.

• Operational planning and performance review to maintain exceptional service delivery and ensures the political objectives and priorities of the council are met.
• Working collaboratively within and across functions and thinking commercially to support the delivery of best possible outcomes for our customers on a financially sustainable basis.
• Maintaining and nurturing collaborative relationships with other teams in the function and external organisations that support the delivery of annual plans.
• Implementing changes and continually evaluating service to improve the area of work, while maintaining the highest possible levels of service quality are continually delivered.
• Managing complex issues and resources to meet the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes.
• Effective utilisation of digital technologies and innovation across the council and with stakeholders and partners.
• Ensuring equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken.
• Using professional expertise to translate goals and plans into ways of working that comply with relevant legislation and statutory requirements and manages a level of appropriate risk.
• Managing the delivery of exemplar customer interactions to individuals and communities which support the management of strong relationships and a reputation for achieving outcomes and resolving issues.

• A recognised social work qualification (i.e. Diploma, degree or master’s in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent) with current registration Social Work England.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners and stakeholders, demonstrating breadth of thinking across social care, partners, the wider council and the system.
• Significant experience within a social care setting, with a deep understanding of current social care issues and implications for delivery at local level.
• A deep understanding of strengths‑based and relational intervention approaches and a drive to support meaningful change for children.
• Strong leadership and behavioural skills with the ability to focus on results forging a highly performing and motivated team from diverse backgrounds to achieve objectives.
• Experience of successful delivery within a rapidly changing and ambiguous environment while managing conflicting priorities.
• Prov…