Head Of Service, Front Door

\n Overview\n

Head of Service – Front Door (Children's Services) – 6 Month Contract. Location: Swindon. Rate: £600.00 per day (Umbrella). Hours: 37 per Week. Contract: Temporary (6 Months). Pay: Bi-weekly.

Summary\n

This role is a 6-month contract position responsible for leading the Front Door Service within Children's Services. The Head of Service will ensure the delivery of high-quality safeguarding services for children, young people, and families. The role involves providing strategic and operational leadership across various functions, including Children in Need, Child Protection, Pre-Proceedings, and Court Work. The postholder will play a crucial role in driving service improvement, enhancing safeguarding practices, and embedding a culture of restorative, relationship-based social work.

Responsibilities\n

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• Strategic Leadership\n
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  • Lead and manage the Front Door Service.
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  • Provide strategic and operational leadership across safeguarding functions.
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  • Ensure effective and timely interventions for children and families.
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  • Contribute to the Children's Services improvement programme.
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  • Drive sustainable service improvement and practice excellence.
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• Safeguarding & Child Protection\n
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  • Lead Children in Need, Child Protection, Pre-Proceedings, Court Work, and Safeguarding Services.
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  • Ensure child-focused, effective safeguarding practices compliant with statutory requirements.
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  • Promote strong decision-making and effective risk management.
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  • Maintain high standards of practice and professional accountability.
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• Service Improvement\n
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  • Lead service improvement initiatives and transformation programmes.
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  • Use performance data and quality assurance findings to drive change.
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  • Identify development areas and implement improvement plans.
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  • Ensure continuous improvement in service delivery and outcomes.
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• Practice Leadership\n
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  • Champion restorative and relationship-based social work practice.
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  • Promote excellent social work standards across teams.
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  • Support managers and practitioners in delivering high-quality interventions.
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  • Embed Family Safeguarding principles and systemic practice approaches.
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• Performance Management\n
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  • Monitor service performance and statutory compliance.
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  • Ensure performance targets and service objectives are achieved.
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  • Use management information to assess effectiveness and inform decision-making.
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  • Address areas of underperformance and implement corrective actions.
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• Court & Legal Services\n
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  • Oversee court proceedings and pre-proceedings work.
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  • Collaborate effectively with legal services and court representatives.
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  • Ensure robust evidence-based decision-making.
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  • Support managers and staff involved in legal processes.
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• Partnership & Multi-Agency Working\n
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  • Build effective relationships with Police, Health Services, Education Providers, Legal Services, and Safeguarding Partnerships.
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  • Promote effective partnership working across agencies.
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  • Strengthen safeguarding arrangements through collaborative working.
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• Workforce Development\n
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  • Lead, support, and develop managers and practitioners.
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  • Promote a positive, supportive, and accountable culture.
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  • Support workforce planning, learning, and development activities.
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  • Encourage reflective supervision and continuous professional development.
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Requirements\n

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• Qualifications\n
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  • Essential: Degree in Social Work or equivalent recognised qualification; Current Social Work England registration.
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  • Desirable: Leadership or management qualification; Post-qualifying social work awards; Management development or safeguarding leadership training.
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• Knowledge\n
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  • Extensive knowledge of Children Act 1989 and 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Child Protection Procedures, Public Law Outline (PLO), Care Proceedings, Family Court Processes, and safeguarding legislation and guidance.
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  • Understanding of Family Safeguarding and restorative practice models.
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  • Knowledge of performance management and quality assurance frameworks.
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• Experience\n
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  • Essential: Significant senior management experience within Children's Social Care; Experience leading Front Door or Safeguarding Services; Experience overseeing Child Protection, Children in Need, Pre-Proceedings, and Court Work; Experience delivering service improvement and transformation programmes; Experience managing large multidisciplinary teams; Experience working with inspection frameworks and improvement plans; Experience working with courts, legal services, and safeguarding partners.
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  • Desirable: Experience within a local authority improvement journey; Experience implementing Family Safeguarding models; Experience developing leadership and management capability across services.
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• Skills & Competencies\n
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  • Strong strategic leadership skills.
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  • Excellent safeguarding knowledge and decision-making capability.
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  • Outstanding communication and influencing skills.
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  • Ability to lead change and drive improvement.
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  • Strong analytical and performance management skills.
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  • Ability to build effective partnerships.
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  • Excellent people management and coaching skills.
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  • Strong understanding of quality assurance and audit processes.
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  • Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
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Additional Information\n

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• This is a 6-month temporary contract.
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• Rate: £600.00 per day (Umbrella).
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• Location: Swindon.
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• Pay is provided on a bi-weekly basis.
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• Social Work England registration is essential.
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• Previous senior leadership experience within Children's Safeguarding Services is essential.
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• Experience leading Front Door Services, Child Protection, Court Work, and Children in Need services is essential.
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• Local authority experience is essential.
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• Opportunity to lead a critical service area at the centre of Children's Services improvement and transformation.
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