Service Manager – Independent Reviewing Officers and Family Group Conferencing

Great services never stand still. Jon a Children's Social Care Service rated Good by Ofsted and help shape the next phase of improvement for children and families in South Gloucestershire. As Service Manager, you will lead the Independent Reviewing Officers and Family Group Conferencing Service, strengthening care planning, family-led decision-making and statutory oversight for Children in Care and Care Leavers.

Working across Children's Services and the wider safeguarding partnership, you will provide strategic leadership, quality assurance and constructive challenge to support high-quality practice. Using performance, audit and service information, you will help ensure reviews are timely and effective, care plans progress without drift, and children, young people and families achieve the best possible outcomes.

• It will be your responsibility to lead, support and develop Independent Reviewing Officers and Family Group Conferencing Coordinators, promoting high standards of practice and staff wellbeing.
• You will undertake authority-wide monitoring of Children in Care and Care Leaver reviews, ensuring consistent chairing, statutory timescales and effective progression of care plans.
• Using performance, audit and quality data, you will identify concerns, challenge practice and lead policy, training and service improvements.
• Working collaboratively with senior officers, partner agencies and multi‑agency forums, you will build strong professional relationships to influence practice, support improvement and achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and families.

• It is essential that you hold a recognised social work qualification, such as DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, and be registered with Social Work England.
• We are looking for someone with extensive post‑qualification experience managing social workers and managers within Safeguarding and Children in Care services.
• You will have the ability to lead and develop a specialist team, manage strategic change and major projects, and influence decision‑making across complex partnerships.
• We require you to have a good understanding of childcare law, guidance and practice relating to Children in Care and Child Protection, including the IRO Handbook and Working Together.
• Knowledge of family‑led decision‑making, Family Group Conferencing and equality, diversity and inclusion principles will enable you to provide effective service leadership.
• You will demonstrate highly developed communication, negotiation and analytical skills, with the ability to present complex and sensitive information clearly to senior leaders and elected members.

• This is a limited term position, with a current end date of 17th October 2027.
• Exisiting employees wishing to apply on an acting up basis are encouraged to discuss this with your exisitng line manager ahead of application.
• Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
• As you will be travelling throughout the authority and surrounding area, a full driving licence with access to a vehicle or an alternative means of travel is needed.

Interviews will be held on 3rd November 2026.

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive
  generous annual leave
  (pro rata), employee
  wellbeing support
  and you will have access to a range of
  staff discounts,including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our
  diverse team
  of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are…