Service Manager (CYPF) - Grade K *MR

Service Manager in Plymouth’s Targeted Help team. £450 day rate (PAYE)

This is a great time to join us in Plymouth where exciting things are happening. We are developing Families First Partnership approaches with our partners to ensure children and families have the help and support they need to help them to be safe, happy and to thrive.

Plymouth City Council is seeking an experienced, motivated, and resilient Service Manager to lead our Targeted Help Service. This is a pivotal leadership role which will continue to be shaped by the national social work reforms; therefore, the successful applicant will need to be able to lead through change and have a strong understanding of the Lead Family Help Professional’s role. Our Targeted Help Teams deliver intensive family support to children and families, preventing problems from escalating further where multiple vulnerabilities are present and family needs are complex. You will be supervising the managers of Family Help Lead Professionals, a role undertaken by alternatively qualified staff and social workers, creating the conditions for them to be able to work creatively - undertaking assessments and utilising family networks to put in place strengths-based plans to empower families to affect sustainable change.

Who We’re Looking For  We welcome applications from qualified and experienced social workers who: 

Are committed to intervention-based, high‐quality practice and safeguarding. 

Value collaboration, honesty, and continuous learning.

Are compassionate, curious, and creative. 

Want to be part of a team that supports each other and puts children, young people and their families first. 

About the Role As Service Manager, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to our Targeted Help service, overseeing the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of decision‑making, plans for children and congruence with the national reforms. You will be working closely with the Service Managers for our Child Protection teams, with a focus on collaboration and seamless transitions for children. You will be responsible for:

Leading and managing a service of alternatively qualified and social work qualified practitioners, delivering high‑quality intervention to children in need and their families with the aim of reducing escalating need into more specialist services.

Providing professional leadership and management oversight of social workers, family help practitioners and team managers.

Ensuring compliance with the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014, and Working Together 2023.

Driving service improvement through robust performance management, QA activity, and workforce development.

Strengthening partnership working to ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.

Embedding a culture of reflective practice, high standards, and continuous learning.

Providing senior management cover and participating in the on‑call rota as required.

You will be at the heart of keeping children and young people safe, using creative family led approaches to help families stay together, and ensuring high-quality protection, care and planning when it is needed.