Essential Qualifications
* Social Work qualification recognised by Social Work England.
* Current registration with Social Work England.
* Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to children’s safeguarding, court work, and leadership.
Essential Experience
* Substantial post-qualification experience within Children’s Social Care at Service Manager level.
* Extensive experience of managing complex child protection, child in need, looked after children, and permanence cases.
* Significant experience of care proceedings and pre-proceedings (Public Law Outline), including direct involvement in legal planning, case progression, court attendance, and permanence planning.
* Extensive experience of providing professional advice, guidance, and challenge to social workers and managers regarding care proceedings and pre-proceedings practice.
* Proven management experience within Children’s Social Care, including supervision, performance management, workforce development, and service improvement.
* Experience of working effectively with Legal Services, Cafcass, the Family Courts, Independent Reviewing Officers, and partner agencies to progress plans for children.
* Experience of leading practice improvements to reduce delay and improve outcomes for children subject to pre-proceedings and care proceedings.
* Experience of preparing reports, briefings, audits, and performance information for senior leaders and strategic partnerships.
Essential Knowledge
* Expert knowledge of children’s social care legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding responsibilities.
* Comprehensive understanding of the Children Act 1989, Public Law Outline (PLO), care proceedings, permanence planning, and relevant family court processes.
* Detailed understanding of best practice in pre-proceedings and care proceedings, including avoiding drift and delay.
* Strong understanding of quality assurance, performance management, and service improvement methodologies within Children’s Services.
* Knowledge of current national developments, policy, and practice guidance affecting court work and permanence planning.
Essential Skills and Abilities
* Highly developed analytical skills with the ability to interrogate, interpret, and present complex data relating to pre-proceedings, care proceedings, legal planning, permanence, and court timeliness.
* Ability to identify trends, risks, and areas of underperformance and implement effective improvement plans.
* Strong leadership and influencing skills with the ability to drive improvement across operational teams.
* Ability to provide professional challenge and oversight to ensure high-quality social work practice and compliance with statutory requirements.
* Excellent written communication skills, including the production of analytical reports, audits, performance dashboards, and briefings for senior leadership.
* Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet statutory and court deadlines.
* Strong partnership-working skills, enabling effective collaboration with legal services, judiciary, Cafcass, and operational managers.
* Competence in the use of case management systems and performance reporting tools to support data-driven decision-making
Salary description
£350.00 - £350.00 per day