Location
Romford, London Borough of Havering

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£66,378 - £73,602 per annum (Grade 11)

About the Role
The Service Manager will be the operational lead for the delivery of the statutory Independent Reviewing Officer Service. You will ensure the team undertakes their responsibility to monitor and improve the quality of social work practice in line with current legislation, guidance, and good practice. This role involves ensuring compliance with statutory duties for child protection, Child in Need, and Child in Care reviews.

You will provide strategic oversight, support, and advice to operational services within the Starting Well Department Children’s social care, aligned with national guidance. Leading a robust, child-focused service, you will contribute to keeping children in Havering safe and achieving improved outcomes by promoting high standards of practice in planning and reviewing arrangements for the protection and care of children.

Responsibilities include implementing, delivering, and monitoring practice under the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), providing challenge, embedding practice improvements, and undertaking audits as necessary. You will ensure compliance with management information requirements for national and local performance indicators, track team performance, analyze weekly data, and produce assurance reports for Senior Management as delegated by the Head of Service for Practice or other senior leaders.

This role requires a confident and compassionate leader committed to improving outcomes for children and families, with the ability to influence practice across services and agencies while keeping the voice of the child central to decision-making.

Experience
- Extensive post-qualification experience within statutory children’s services, including continuous professional development.
- Proven experience working strategically and operationally at management level, driving practice improvement and delivering positive outcomes.
- Demonstrable experience managing complex change within large organisations and influencing service provision across partner agencies.
- Experience chairing complex meetings and maintaining independence in escalating practice concerns, including liaison with CAFCASS in line with statutory guidance.

About You
- Confident and compassionate leader demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.
- Highly skilled in building respectful relationships, working systemically, and influencing practice across a range of services and agencies.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate, and support a team of qualified and experienced social workers.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to produce high-quality reports for diverse audiences including senior leaders.
- Ability to provide constructive challenge and professional advice to improve practice standards.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, embedding these principles in all aspects of service delivery.
- Resilient and adaptable, able to work effectively in a changing environment while embracing innovation and continuous improvement.
- Child-centred approach with a relentless focus on safeguarding and improving outcomes.
- Professional integrity and independence in decision-making.
- Ability to work collaboratively while maintaining accountability for statutory responsibilities.
- Commitment to the Council’s iCare values and behaviours.

Qualifications
- Recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.