Principal Manager - Children's Social Care

Directorate: Children and Familes
Section: Children Social Care
Grade: Level 15
Hours: 37

This advert is open to both Internal and External applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on why work for us

Join Our Children and Families Service

We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation, and we are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.

We have a wide range of opportunities across Children's Social Care. These roles will play a vital part in supporting children, young people and families across Stoke-on-Trent.

The Role

As a Principal Manager within Children's Social Care, you will provide strong operational and professional leadership to your team.

You will be responsible for leading and developing the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective services that meet the needs of children, young people and their families. You will provide clear management oversight, support staff with complex cases and ensure practice is purposeful, timely and focused on achieving positive outcomes.

You will manage the team's performance, resources and caseloads, promoting a culture of high support and high challenge. You will also ensure that statutory duties, council policies and professional standards are consistently met.

Working closely with the Head of Service, colleagues across Children and Families Services and partner agencies, you will contribute to service improvement, policy development and the delivery of the wider Children's Improvement Plan.

Key Responsibilities

-Lead, manage and motivate the team, providing regular supervision, management oversight, coaching and professional development.
-Manage the allocation and oversight of work, ensuring risks are effectively managed and children and families receive timely and purposeful interventions.
-Monitor and improve team performance through quality assurance, audits, performance data and practice reviews.
-Provide professional advice and support in relation to complex safeguarding, care planning and court proceedings, representing the local authority where required.
-Develop effective partnerships with statutory, voluntary and independent organisations to improve services and outcomes for children and families.
-Manage team resources and delegated budgets effectively, ensuring services are delivered within agreed financial and performance requirements.


What We Are Looking For

We are looking for people who are:

-Passionate about making a positive difference for children, young people and families.
-Committed to relational, restorative and strengths-based practice.
-Confident in working collaboratively with families, colleagues and partner agencies.
-Focused on safeguarding, high-quality practice and continuous improvement.
-Resilient, flexible and able to respond effectively within a busy and demanding service environment.
-Keen to develop their skills and contribute to shaping the future of services across the city.

You Will Have

-A recognised social work qualification, current Social Work England registration and extensive post-qualification experience within children's social care.
-Significant experience of managing social work staff, resources, complex caseloads and competing service demands.
-Strong knowledge of children's legislation, safeguarding procedures, care planning, court work and the Public Law Outline.
-Experience of performance management, quality assurance, auditing and using data to drive continuous improvement.
-Highly developed leadership, coaching and reflective supervision skills, with the ability to support, challenge and develop staff.
-Excellent communication, influencing and partnership-working skills, including experience of chairing complex multi-agency meetings and making sound decisions under pressure.

What we offer:

-A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
-Hybrid and flexible working options
-An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
-Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

If you would like to discuss the role further please email

Jane Stuart FFP Manager - Children & Families
Jane.Stuart@stoke.gov.uk

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

-Right to Work in the UK
-Proof of address
-Satisfactory references
-Occupational Health Clearance
-Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
-DBS check at the appropriate level

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Your career matters here. At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we're committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay anda supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know they're our greatest asset. We're building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.

To Apply

Please create / log into your account and then click 'apply'. If you have any queries or want an application form in another format, please email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call us on 01782 238189.

In order to apply for this vacancy, you must be able to supply the required answers to the following questions:
-Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?