Deputy Service Manager

An exciting opportunity to work alongside the new service manager, maintaining excellent practice, and driving forward improvement and development of the First Assessment Service.

The First Assessment Service has undertaken significant change over the last two years, with recognition of both areas of improved practice and areas requiring further improvement and development in two recent Ofsted visits.

The pace of change and development will continue across the coming years with significant project work relating to Youth Homelessness, Child Exploitation, Child Sexual Abuse Pathways and Threshold. Alongside taking lead responsibility for some of these development areas, the Deputy Service Manager will support the Service Manager with performance management of a large and rapidly developing team comprising of; a "one front door", social work team, MASH and Early Help pod. The service also manages Youth Homelessness and The Drugs and Young People Project.

You will need to be a motivated individual who shares our passion for self-assessment and improvement and will be able to operate confidently at a strategic level, representing the service with authority in multi-agency groups.

You will also need to be passionate about data and how this can be used to understand a service, with a proven track record in auditing, complaint management and team performance management to drive forward improvement plans. You will enjoy the challenge of working in a large and fast paced team with a complex and varied workload.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation.

Reward & benefits:

Join us and you will be working in a supportive environment where you will have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

The role is based at Bridewell Police Station in the City Centre, with opportunities for some home working. There are excellent amenities around the office area. There is no free parking in the vicinity, but the office is easily accessible by public transport.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

Please note that as this role is based at Bridewell Police Station, it can only be offered following Enhanced Police vetting clearance. The police require that this is undertaken on the applicant, and any member of your household over the age of 10 years. For police vetting to be undertaken without discrimination to any applicants, you must have resided in the UK for a continuous period of 3 years minimum; and have a 3 year minimum checkable history, immediately prior to the date of your application.

Please note that this role is also subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Should you have any concerns or questions about the vetting requirement, or wish for any further information or discussion about the role, please e-mail Service Manager Sophie Gowans: sophie.gowans@bristol.gov.uk