Service Manager, Children in Care

Jobs Service Manager, Children in Care

More Information

£60,532 - £63,895 per annum

16/09/2026

Gloucestershire County Council

Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire

Full Time

Service Manager Children in Care - Stability Provision

At Gloucestershire, we are committed to ensuring the very best outcomes for our Children in Care. To achieve this, we need exceptional social work leaders, those who are passionate, driven, and ready to make a real difference. If that sounds like you, this could be an ideal opportunity.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made and the strong foundations we’ve built and as we continue to deliver excellent services to our children, we are looking to appoint an additional Service Manager to lead our stability provision as part of our Children in Care Services. This is a pivotal role, created to provide dedicated leadership and advocacy for children in care, ensuring they have access to the right support and the best opportunities to thrive.

As one of five Service Managers within our Corporate Parenting Service, you will report directly to our Heads of Service and take the lead in shaping and overseeing:

• the development and delivery of effective services for Children in Care and those who care for them.
• lead and develop support systems that promote stability and positive experiences for children during their time in care.
• strategic partnership working across agencies to ensure children’s needs are met and their potential realised.

Our service is underpinned by a set of core principles:

• outcome-focused: We aim high and deliver on our promises
• collaborative: We work closely with children, families, colleagues, and partners
• strengths-based: We build on what’s working and foster strong relationships
• reflective: We challenge ourselves to ask, “so what?” and ensure our actions lead to meaningful change
• invested in people: We create the conditions for excellent social work to flourish

We’re looking for a skilled and knowledgeable leader who can inspire and support their team to deliver high-quality, impactful practice. You’ll play a key role in creating a culture that puts children at the heart of everything we do and drives continuous improvement across the service.

You will:

• lead a number of teams, consisting of managers and practitioners with responsibilities for supporting children in care, developing them to become skilled, effective and motivated individuals who want the best outcomes for children and will work tirelessly to achieve this
• be responsible for leading and developing a new service area which has around 50 staff who will work across the county of Gloucestershire supporting children in care
• be accountable for the rigorous implementation of the children’s services quality assurance framework to monitor and review performance (compliance and quality), taking action to build on strengths and respond to areas for improvement
• support and work within the wider leadership team to develop service plans to measure the effectiveness of the outcomes that are set
• create and transform stability services and take the lead on the stability of our children in care, reunification, family time and SGO support.
• deputise for the Head of Service on occasions

For more details, please contact the Head of Service:
Tammy.whe /

Interviews are due to be held at Shire Hall on 21st September 2026.

We reserve the right to close an advertisement earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a suitable number of applications.

We may be able to offer sponsorship for this role, in line with Home Office guidance and subject to pre-employment checks. Applicants must already hold a valid right to work in the UK that Gloucestershire…