Hertfordshire County Council
CLA / Care Leaver Service Manager
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Job Introduction
Job Title: CLA / Care Leaver Service Manager
Starting Salary: £70,803 progressing to £77,711 (including market enhanced pay) per annum
Hours: 37
Location: Farnham House, Stevenage with countywide travel required
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children's Services
About The Team
Our Children Looked After, Separated Migrant and Care Leaver Service exists to ensure that every young person in our care — and every care leaver we support — has the stability, guidance and opportunities they need to thrive into adulthood. Our purpose is to provide consistent, relationship-based support that helps young people feel safe, valued and empowered as they navigate their journey toward independence.
You will be joining a dedicated and passionate senior management group within a service made up of 14 teams, all working collaboratively to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed support. You will be joining the service at an exciting time as we are reconsidering our service delivery model, prompted by changes in the local needs of our children and young people; a recent staff survey and in preparation for local government reform. As a Corporate Parent Service Manager, you will, initially line managing four Separated Migrant Team Managers and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our service, strengthening our practice, and ensuring we deliver the best possible outcomes for the children and young people we serve.
About The Role
As an experienced manager, you will be a valued member of the management group, supporting the Children Looked After (CLA), Separated Migrant (SMC) and Care Leaver Teams to be the best corporate parent, delivering a high-quality service to Hertfordshire Children Looked After and Care Leavers.
Key responsibilities will see you:
- Work in partnership with a range of internal and external stakeholders to lead and develop practice, identify, and respond to challenges and learn from our strengths. You will have the ability to develop and sustain partnership working and be an effective advocate for the Council.
- Ensure statutory obligations are met through the development and delivery of the service plan. You will drive excellence through the effective monitoring and evaluation of service performance, ensuring a capable, trained, supported, and supervised workforce.
- Support your teams by developing strategies using your understanding of external influences, legislation, and council processes to continually improve the service.
- Lead and develop teams, inspiring best practice, and guiding and supporting your teams to deliver positive outcomes.
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You will also have the joy of working with the children and young people who are members of our Children in Care Council, ensuring that their voices are continuing to influence service delivery.
About You
Essential:
- Qualified & registered Social Worker
- Extensive post qualifying experience in frontline statutory services
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop practice within children’s services, including partnership working with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of statutory responsibilities and legislation relevant to Children Looked After services.
- Proven experience in service planning, performance management, and quality assurance.
- Ability to build, motivate, supervise, and support teams to achieve high standards of practice and outcomes.
- Strategic thinking skills with the ability to respond to challenges, learn from strengths, and drive continual service improvement.
- Effective communication, relationship-building, and advocacy skills at a senior level.
Passionate about achieving outcomes and making a difference, this is a senior management position in a service of likeminded, equally passionate professionals, all working towards the same goal.
Applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is Level 14. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles - Health and social care
To hear more about this opportunity please contact either lucy.bradley@hertfordshire.gov.uk or rebecca.taylor5@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.
Interview Date: w/c 5th October - Face to Face; Stevenage office.
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How To Apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Additional Information
We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.
LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Driving Required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.
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