Social Care Service Manager

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX, West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU or Riverside, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ, Suffolk - Hybrid
• Salary: £62,119 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• Hours: 37 hours, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. We're not just a local authority; we're a team of dedicated individuals working together to improve lives across our diverse communities.

As our new Service Manager for Family Time and Edge of Care, you will join the Suffolk Cares Management Team and play a pivotal role in ensuring children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time. This is a countywide role, working across Suffolk, with the flexibility to be based at Riverside, Lowestoft, West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds or Endeavour House, Ipswich.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

A key part of this role will be providing strategic leadership and direct oversight of practice across our Family Time and Edge of Care services.

You will ensure services are developed and delivered effectively, providing safe, positive and child-centred Family Time for children in care, alongside effective support for children and families where there is a risk of a child becoming looked after, or where children may be able to return to their family's care.

You will work confidently within the child protection arena, including pre-proceedings activity and cases progressing into public law proceedings.

You will:

• provide leadership and oversight across Family Time and Edge of Care, ensuring referrals are responded to promptly, safely and in line with the needs of children and their families
• work confidently within child protection, pre-proceedings and public law, escalating concerns appropriately and ensuring robust safeguarding practice
• lead and manage Family Time and Edge of Care teams, supporting the effective delivery and continued development of high-quality services
• strengthen pathways between Family Time, Edge of Care and statutory social care, enabling smooth transitions and continuity of support
• work closely with fieldwork social work teams to support shared principles, priorities and outcomes
• lead on workforce sufficiency and development, ensuring teams have the capacity, skills and support needed to deliver services safely and effectively
• collaborate with Service Managers to develop a safe, coherent and consistent approach to Family Time and Edge of Care across Suffolk
• build effective relationships with colleagues and partners across Children's and Young People's Services and the wider Family Help system
• contribute to the development and cohesion of the Children's Social Care workforce, supporting the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families
• ensure services provide best value within available budgets
• oversee the effective management of buildings and environments where Family Time takes place.

You will need

• a recognised Social Work qualification and registration, or an appropriate equivalent professional qualification

• extensive experience within Family Time, Edge of Care or outreach services, working alongside statutory social care teams

• strong knowledge and practical application of the Children Act 1989; Children Act 2004 and associated regulations and guidance

• a sound understanding of the current issues affecting children in care

• a proven track record of providing leadership, management and professional oversight within children's services

• excellent organisational, leadership and communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a senior and complex service environment.

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to have a driving licence and access to personal transport. If you feel you can meet these travel requirements through other suitable means, please contact the Hiring Manager before applying to discuss.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.  

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. 

The team

This role sits within the Suffolk Cares Management Team, leading Family Time and Edge of Care services and helping to ensure children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time.

Working closely with social care colleagues and partners, you will help create consistent, high-quality and strengths-based practice across Family Time and Edge of Care pathways, contributing to a cohesive and child-centred approach across Suffolk.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Luke Froment, he/him, for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 07889 914142 or emailing Luke.Froment2@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

1. Tell us about a time you created and communicated a clear vision for a service supporting families where children are open to statutory social care services and got others to commit to it. What changed as a result?
2. Describe a time you improved quality and compliance in a service. How did you identify risks and embed sustainable improvements?
3. Tell us about a time you identified emerging risks/pressures in a service (e.g., staffing, placement demand, building issues) and acted early to prevent harm.
4. Give an example of how you built and sustained a strong leadership culture across a service. What did you do personally, and what changed?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without the requested supporting documents, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 17 November 2026

Interview dates: 30 November, 2 December or 3 December 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).