Location
Romford

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, ensuring responsibilities are met to monitor and improve the quality of social work practice in line with current legislation, guidance, and good practice. You will ensure compliance with statutory duties relating to child protection, Child in Need, and Child in Care reviews. The role provides strategic oversight, support, and advice to operational services within the Starting Well Department Children’s social care, aligned with national guidance.

You will lead a robust, child-focused service that contributes to keeping children in Havering safe and achieves improved outcomes by promoting high standards of practice in planning and reviewing arrangements for the protection and care of children. You will implement, deliver, and monitor practice under the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), providing challenge and embedding practice improvements to ensure positive outcomes, including undertaking audits as necessary.

Additionally, you will ensure compliance with management information requirements for all national and local performance indicators, establish plans to improve performance where required, track team performance, analyse weekly performance data, and produce assurance reports for the Senior Management Team as delegated by the Head of Service for Practice or other senior leaders.

Experience
- Extensive post-qualification experience within statutory children’s services, including evidence of continuous professional development.
- Proven experience working strategically and operationally at management level with a track record of 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
- A 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, capable of producing 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.
- Resilience and adaptability to work effectively in a changing environment, 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 in all aspects of work.

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