Service Manager: Children in Care

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Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall Glenfield LE3 8RA

Worker Category: Hybrid Worker

Salary: £63,027 - £69,342 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Working Hours: 37 per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 18th January 2026

Interview Date(s): 26th January 2026

We are looking for someone to be a strategic lead to our committed, passionate and caring Children in Care Service. The service is well established and have a settled and secure work force who bring experience and specialism to this area of work. You will need to bring a strong understanding of the needs of care experienced children and young people and the specific needs of the cohort who became looked after.

We are highly ambitious to continue to improve outcomes for our children and young people and they are at the centre of our decision making and engagement. The Service is dynamic and will flex and respond to the changing needs of our cohort of children and young people. We approach our work through a trauma lens and have a core belief in the importance of relationship-based practice and signs of safety to develop meaningful networks and engage in purposeful practice.

This role requires a visible leader with high expectations, a results-focused approach which is supported by well-developed analytical planning, excellent practice knowledge and strong organisational skills, to ensure that the service is reflective, restorative and has open culture where there is an environment of high support but also high challenge.

You will manage operational teams within a children's social care and need to have a genuine commitment to the provision of high-quality services for our children and young people. Partnership working forms a key part of the role and you will initiate, develop maintain and monitor multi-agency links and relationships, ensuring the voice and needs of care experienced children and young people are central to all development and decisions.

You will be joining a department with shared values and goals and a commitment to make a lasting difference to the lives of care experienced young people. Be part of our journey of excellence and ensuring our children and are provided with the best support and opportunity.

A DBS enhanced check for a regulated activity is required for this post.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.

To apply for this post, you must have:

• Substantial experience of managing children's social care services.
• Significant experience of influencing partners to deliver within the framework of an overall programme, using leadership, influence and negotiation skills.
• Experience of establishing performance management and quality assurance processes.
• Well-developed listening skills with the ability to interpret information, negotiate, and influence decision making. In particular the ability to create an environment where excellent social work practice can flourish.
• Able to use a broad range of resources to research and analyse information and data, provide clear recommendations and decisions, in order to inform service and policy planning.
• Ability to motivate staff and partners to work together effectively for change.
• Risk identification and management.

You must also have an understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities, and the ability to apply this to all situations.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.

We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please…