Service Manager – Children We Care For & Leaving Care
Oxfordshire County Council, Abingdon£48.64 Umbrella
Caritas Recruitment is currently recruiting for an experienced Service Manager to join Oxfordshire County Council, leading the Children We Care For & Leaving Care Service across South Oxfordshire.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced children’s social care professional who can combine strategic oversight with strong operational leadership, driving service improvement and positive outcomes for children in care, care leavers and unaccompanied children and young people.
The Role
As Service Manager, you will:
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across a large and complex Children We Care For and Leaving Care service.
- Lead and support experienced managers and practitioners, promoting consistently high-quality practice and performance.
- Drive service improvement and ensure services operate effectively and in line with statutory requirements.
- Oversee significant budgets and resources, monitoring performance and ensuring effective financial management.
- Work collaboratively with partners across health, education, the voluntary sector and the wider council.
- Contribute to wider Children’s Services priorities and strengthen the council’s approach to corporate parenting.
- Use performance data, quality assurance and insight to inform strategic planning and service development.
- Lead confidently through change, complexity and competing operational demands.
About You
We’re looking for an established senior children’s social care leader with:
- Social Work England registration and a relevant professional qualification.
- Substantial leadership experience within statutory Children’s Social Care.
- Extensive experience across Children We Care For, Leaving Care, Child Protection and Children in Need services.
- Proven experience of leading multiple teams and delivering high performance.
- Strong knowledge of relevant childcare legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding requirements.
- Experience of service improvement, quality assurance, performance and budget management.
- The ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational level.
- Strong partnership-working, communication and leadership skills.
Key Details
Location: Abingdon Children and Families Centre, South OxfordshireRate: £48.64 UmbrellaHours: 37 hours per weekWorking pattern: Hybrid, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the officeContract: 3 monthsStart: ASAPDBS: Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List requiredDriving: Full driving licence and business insurance required due to travel across the county
Interested?
If you’re an experienced Children’s Social Care Service Manager looking for your next interim opportunity, I’d love to hear from you.
Lisa HallinanPrincipal Consultant | Caritas Recruitmentl.hallinan@caritas-recruitment.com07469 676076
Caritas Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.
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