Torbay Council
Service Manager (Safeguarding) - 37 hours
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Service Manager (Safeguarding) - 37 hours
Application Deadline: 16 August 2026
Department: Children's Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Torbay Council
Reporting To: Head of Service
Compensation: £60,916 - £64,736 / year
Description
Job Description & Person Specification >
Are you an experienced social work leader with a passion for safeguarding children and achieving outstanding outcomes?
Torbay Children's Services is seeking a dynamic and ambitious Service Manager (Safeguarding) to lead one of our safeguarding services within the Decisive Multi Agency Child Protection System.
Reporting directly to the Head of Service, you will provide strategic leadership, performance management and practice oversight across a multi-disciplinary safeguarding service. You will lead and support Team Managers to ensure children who are at risk of harm receive timely, effective and child-centred interventions that improve their lives.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a service committed to high-quality practice, strong partnership working and continuous improvement. You will play a pivotal role in shaping service delivery, driving performance, developing staff and embedding evidence-informed practice across safeguarding services.
We're looking for someone who:
- Is a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- Has substantial experience working with children and families within statutory children's services.
- Has successful management experience within safeguarding services.
- Can confidently lead, support and challenge managers to achieve excellent outcomes.
- Has a strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, Working Together 2023 and child protection practice.
- Is committed to workforce development, reflective supervision and creating a positive learning culture.
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What you'll bring:
- Inspirational leadership and strong decision-making abilities.
- Experience of improving service performance and quality.
- The ability to build effective partnerships across agencies.
- A passion for helping children, young people and families achieve positive outcomes.
If you're ready to take the next step in your leadership career and help shape the future of safeguarding services in Torbay, we'd love to hear from you.
This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.
If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/service-manager-safeguarding/
For an informal chat please contact Colin Schumacher on 01803208640 or colin.schumacher@torbay.gov.uk.
Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 24th August 2026.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Skills
Essential:
- Significant decision-making skills – the ability to analyse information, draw conclusions and effect judgements based on outcomes and risk.
- Proven problem-solving skills – the ability to identify causes, make objective and informed judgements that demonstrates emotional resilience and balance.
- Proven ability to work effectively to ensure delivery of a team or teams within a children’s social care service to deliver outcomes for children and young people.
- Ability to appraise and motivate staff in a way that ensures compliance with policies but also enables individuals to develop. Including the effective use of performance management in enabling staff development and ensure service delivery is achieved.
- Proven skills in delivering key performance requirements linked to statutory delivery for a Children’s social care setting.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
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Knowledge
Essential:
- Thorough understanding of current legislation and DfE guidance and developments in services to children young people and families.
- Thorough understanding of the professional practice relating to safeguarding and working with complex families including the role of the TSCP and Working Together 2023.
- Knowledge and understanding of the full range of activities delivered by the Authority and partners in relation to children, young people and families.
- Ability to demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities.
- Awareness of effective management practices including use of effective supervision and performance management.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential:
- Social Work Degree.
- Current Registration with Social Work England.
- Significant experience working with children and families in the context of current legislation and government initiatives.
- Understanding and experience of performance monitoring and performance management techniques to drive service improvement.
- Experience of managing teams and assuring compliance to policy and procedures.
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