Family Support Practice Manager at Suffolk County Council

Bury St Edmunds, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 Jan, 26

Salary

48163.0

Posted On

13 Oct, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Leadership, Communication, Negotiation, Team Management, Performance Improvement, Family Support, Collaboration, Child-Centered Focus, Transformation Process, Analytical Skills, Motivation, Training Engagement, Resource Management, Quality Assurance, Social Care Liaison, Community Engagement

Industry

Government Administration

Description

Suffolk County Council Address: – West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU [Hybrid working] Salary: £48,163 per annum (pro rata for part time) Hours: 37 - Flexible working options available Contract: Permanent As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we’re driven to make a positive difference to the environment, the communities we serve and the careers of our people. That’s why, when you join us as a Practice Manager, you’ll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career. Reimagine the possibilities. Your role and responsibilities As a Manager in Children and Young People’s Services, you will be at the forefront of managing change, leading high-quality and effective ways of working, and overseeing staff, resources, or projects to achieve the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and their families in Suffolk. You will: Lead teams to drive performance and improve outcomes for local families. Support and lead the team with a strong focus on family-centred service delivery. Build on existing strengths within the teams and lead through a period of transformation in Suffolk’s Children’s Services. Directly line manage two busy teams, including supervision and team meetings. Provide oversight of all aspects of the Family Support task – including casework, bespoke work, broker work, Family Time, and other duties as required. Lead on key service priorities, particularly around Quality and Performance. Liaise with partners as required, with a close working relationship with Social Care. Work with existing teams to develop practice and opportunities for collaborative working. Contribute to county-wide agendas as part of an experienced and supportive group of colleagues and peers. You Will Need Enthusiasm and commitment to the role. Demonstrable communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to lead, inspire, and support teams. Understanding of the improvement journey and transformation process, with the ability to guide teams through challenges. Willingness to engage with learning opportunities, including statutory and role-specific training. Skills to drive change, analyse key areas for performance improvement, and implement remedial actions. A good knowledge of the Family Support agenda is beneficial. Motivation and alignment with shared values to contribute positively to the team and service. You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile. If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. The team The Forest Health Family Support Team delivers a broad range of interventions to support families and holds strong expertise in serving the communities they work within. They are committed to providing high-quality, child- and family-focused support, tailored to the needs of their local communities. The team’s work centres around the Early Help Assessment and Adolescent Early Help Assessment, aiming to improve outcomes for children and young people. Their practice is grounded in the Signs of Safety Plus (SOS+) framework, incorporating trauma-informed and restorative approaches. Collaboration with Social Care colleagues is a key part of their role, including bespoke interventions, Family Time sessions, and duty tasks as required. While the geographical spread of the area presents some challenges, flexible working is supported. However, regular presence in office bases is encouraged to model effective practice and support team cohesion. Empowering Everyone We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report. For more information Please contact Anne Ridley for a conversation. You can reach Anne by emailing Anne.ridley@suffolk.gov.uk or by Teams message. How to apply Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word). Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template. We are looking for someone with a good knowledge of Family Support in Suffolk and the who can build on the existing team's strengths. Can you tell us about how you have driven and improved performance? Working in Family Support brings a number of challenges - can you tell us how you have managed conflicting priorities to ensure you reached a positive outcome. How have you ensured that you keep the child as the focus of the work? We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process. Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process. Closing date: 11.30pm, 19 October 2025 This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

Responsibilities

As a Family Support Practice Manager, you will lead teams to drive performance and improve outcomes for families while managing change within Children and Young People’s Services. You will oversee staff and resources, ensuring high-quality service delivery and collaboration with partners.