Service Manager – Care Leavers & UASC
3-6 month contract
South West England
£500-£550 per day
Hybrid working - 2 days on site per week

CVs are being reviewed immediately and interviews will take place on a rolling basis.

Reporting into the Head of Children’s Services, you will be responsible for the operational leadership of services supporting Care Leavers and Unaccompanied Asylum‑Seeking Children (UASC). You will lead teams delivering pathway planning, accommodation and independence support, emotional wellbeing responses, and safeguarding interventions. This role is central to delivering improved outcomes for young adults transitioning from care, ensuring practice is trauma‑informed, relational and focused on safety, stability and independence.

You will work closely with partners across housing, health, education, immigration and the voluntary sector to strengthen multi‑agency pathways and reduce long‑term dependency on statutory services. You will contribute to strategic planning, service alignment in response to national reform, and inspection readiness across Children’s Social Care.

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Your Role as Service Manager – Care Leavers & UASC

• Provide operational leadership and management for Care Leavers & UASC services
• Ensure statutory responsibilities and best‑practice standards are met consistently
• Oversee pathway planning, accommodation, independence and wellbeing support
• Lead safeguarding responses for young people at risk of harm, exploitation or homelessness
• Strengthen multi‑agency partnerships to deliver effective early support and risk reduction
• Promote trauma‑informed, restorative and relationship‑based practice across teams
• Co‑design service improvements with young people, ensuring their voice shapes delivery
• Support strategic development, inspection readiness and cross‑service leadership
• Deputise for senior leaders when required

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Your Previous Experience

• Recognised social work qualification and Social Work England registration
• Strong leadership experience within adolescent, Care Leaver, UASC or similar services
• Proven ability to lead teams delivering high‑quality, outcome‑focused practice
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and confident risk‑management decision‑making
• Experience of effective multi‑agency partnership working across housing, health, education or immigration services
• Understanding of trauma‑informed, relational and strengths‑based approaches
• Demonstrated ability to improve services, embed new models of practice and deliver change
• A full driving licence and ability to work flexibly across the region

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If you’re interested in discussing this opportunity in more detail, or know someone who may be suitable, please contact Sarah Macrae, [email protected] or 0117 3137110 or apply today.

(A senior‑level referral scheme is available for successful placements.)

Our clients are committed to developing a diverse workforce. Recruitment decisions are based on experience and skills, and reasonable adjustments during the application process are fully supporte