Service Manager – Children with Disability Service & DSCO

Overview

In this role you lead the Children with Disability teams within Children’s Social Care to deliver safe, effective support for children and families. You will provide strategic and operational oversight, champion best practice, and work with partners to secure positive outcomes. You will drive service development, oversee safeguarding, and lead continuous improvement in a collaborative, cross-agency environment. This is a pivotal management role with a strong focus on outcomes and inclusion.

Pay / Benefits

• Local Authority pension
• 31 days annual leave (increasing after 5 years)
• supportive and collaborative working environment
• training and professional development opportunities
• progression opportunities

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Children with Disability social work teams (Early Help and Social Care) ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and local policies
• Chair the Short Break panel and serve as Social Care lead for Short Break service
• Fulfil responsibilities of the Designated Social Care Officer, maintaining robust safeguarding arrangements
• Manage the Autism Information and Advice Service
• Implement Rotherham’s SEND action plan
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in service delivery
• Support and develop team managers and practitioners through supervision and performance management
• Collaborate with health, education, and voluntary sector partners for integrated support
• Monitor budgets and resources for efficient use
• Contribute to strategic planning and service development across Children’s Social Care
• Provide written reports, briefings and presentations to stakeholders including elected members
• Ensure service compliance with standards and legislative requirements and deliver successful outcomes for children and young people
• Foster a learning and coaching culture and work systemically with agencies to provide a joined-up service for SEND

Key requirements

• Qualified Social Worker with current registration with Social Work England
• Significant experience in children’s social care including work with children with a disability
• Strong leadership and management skills capable of inspiring teams
• Excellent knowledge of legislation, safeguarding, and best practice in children’s services
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Ability to promote a learning and coaching culture
• Ability to add value and optimise available resources

• leadership and motivating teams
• partnership and collaboration
• communication with a wide range of stakeholders
• safeguarding knowledge and practice
• knowledge of SEND and local SEND action plans
• budget monitoring and resource management

…