Service Manager - Children and Young People with Disabilities and preparing for Adulthood

Please note this role is Countywide with travel required. Can be based at any of Essex County Council's main sites, regular attendance at County Hall in Chelmsford is also required.

Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

The role

This is a newly created post in an innovative and transformational 0-25 Children and Young People with Disabilities (CYPWD) service. The postholder will lead and further develop services that provide a range of targeted support to children and young people with disabilities, and their families, across Essex. The successful candidate will have substantial experience of delivering services for children and young people with disabilities and the passion, imagination and persistence to create innovative services that deliver excellent outcomes.

Service Managers are accountable for performance and delivery of a lead service area. This leader will have extensive social care experience; an understanding of current issues and the ability to ensure the innovative use of resources to improve productivity and quality outcomes. Contributing to the development of policy and strategy, this leader will build strong, credible working relationships with internal and external partners, driving and shaping service improvements.

This is a specialist role within the area of Children and Young People with Disabilities (0-25) and Preparing for Adulthood. The postholder will deliver the objectives of the role within these specialist areas.

• To be the Responsible Officer for two overnight short break residential units, including line managing the two Registered Managers/Hub Managers and ensuring that the two units provide a high standard of care, delivered within budget allocation.
• To manage the Short Breaks Hub, leading the two Registered Managers/Hub Managers in advising social workers about the support needs of young people where short breaks are under consideration.
• To develop both the short break residential units, and the Short Breaks Hub, into a unified service that offers a range of support options for young people and their families.
• To develop other support services and resources within the CYPWD service according to need. This will include line managing a CYPWD Development Officer.

To jointly lead and develop the Preparing for Adulthood service

• The postholder will matrix manage the Preparing for Adulthood Service with colleagues in Education. Specific to this role will be the line management of 4 quadrant-based Senior Preparing for Adulthood Officers, and a SEND Development Officer.

What you will need to join us

• A recognised social work qualification (i.e. Diploma, degree or Master's in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent) with current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners and stakeholders, demonstrating breadth of thinking across social care, partners, the wider council and the system as a whole.
• Significant experience within a social care setting, with a deep understanding of current social care issues and implications for delivery at local level.
• Strong leadership and behavioural skills with the ability to focus on results forging a highly performing and motivated team from diverse backgrounds to achieve objectives.
• Experience of successful delivery within a rapidly changing and ambiguous environment while managing conflicting priorities.
• Proven influencing skills with an ability to pro-actively lead and deliver cultural change to improve quality of service.
• Understanding of Children with Disabilities social work especially in relation to the residential are of children and the provision of respite services and services to support children and young people (up to the age of 25) with additional needs, to achieve their maximum potential for independence in adulthood

If you would like further information regarding this position, please contact Russel Breyer, Director Local Delivery (C&F) on 07585983418 for an informal chat.



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Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding the recruitment process or would like a full role profile, please contact the Resourcing Team on 03330135888.