Service Manager - Family Help - INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

Service Manager - Family Help - INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY (Ref: POS012899)

Salary £55,591 - £58,883 Salary Band Over £50,000 Post Type Permanent Hours Per Week Full time

Job and Application Details

Categories Social Work - Children Service
Directorate N/A Published Date 23/04/2026 Closing Date 04/05/2026

We are looking for an experienced Children's Services leader who is ready to be part of our exciting and forward thinking service. In Darlington we pride ourselves on our relational practice framework which runs throughout our service and was highly praised for the culture this has created within our Outstanding Ofsted ILAC's Inspection (Feb 2026).

As a Service Manager you will be responsible for three of our Assessment & Safeguarding Teams and the Children with Disabilities Service. This is an exciting time to join the service as we work towards implementing the Families First Reforms and transform this part of this service into an effective Family Help model and you would be part of creating the vision for this and leading the service through this period of change.

We offer agile working and trust our practitioners to manage their diary with a mixture of face to face and home working in line with service needs. You will be supported by a stable Senior Leadership Team who are committed to continuously improving our service.

Applications for this opportunity are invited from internal applicants who are looking for the next step in their management journey.

The rewards for working with Darlington Borough Council go beyond the salary you will receive. We have numerous additional benefits such as;

• 32 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (with the option to purchase additional annual leave
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with the option to make additional voluntary pension contributions.
• Flexi-Time Scheme
• Flexible Working
• Generous paternity, maternity and adoption leave schemes.
• Staff Equality Forum
• Green Car Lease Scheme
• Access to a wide range of training, learning and development
• Physiotherapy service
• Confidential Counselling Service
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Arriva Employee Travel Club

For a further informal discussion please contact Dawn Raine - Head of Service ( or ).

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure with Children's Barred List Check.