Service Manager MASH (Full Time)
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
About this job
We are seeking an exceptional and forward-thinking Service Manager to lead our MASH/ NRPF services within Children’s Care & Support. This is a pivotal leadership role at the gateway of our safeguarding system, ensuring that children, young people and families receive timely, proportionate and effective responses at the first point of contact.
In Barking and Dagenham, we recognise the significant challenges faced by our community, including neglect, domestic abuse, exploitation and increasing complexity of need. We are committed to building strong, resilient and responsive front-door services that protect our most vulnerable children and young people.
As a Service Manager, you will provide visible, creative and ambitious leadership to our MASH and NRPF team ensuring high-quality practice, strong multi-agency collaboration and a relentless focus on improving outcomes. The right candidate will play a key role working with the HOS to lead on change and implement the new structure and front door system as part of Families First Social Work Reform.
Your leadership will help shape the future of our front-door services, ensuring they are responsive, relational and aligned with our wider transformation ambitions. You will be responsible for planning, organising and managing your service areas, providing effective operational oversight and supporting your Team Managers to deliver high-quality, consistent practice.
You will oversee recruitment and service performance, focussing on quality of decision-making across MASH and NRPF. This is a fast-paced environment where you will need the confidence, stamina and professional judgement to make complex decisions under pressure, while ensuring staff are supported and absence is managed effectively.
Special requirements for this post
You must hold a recognised Social Work degree and be registered with Social Work England. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a comprehensive screening process, including an Enhanced Children’s DBS check.
About you
We are looking for a visible, influential and resilient leader with high expectations and a results-focused approach. You will bring:
· Strong operational management experience within children’s social care · Experience leading MASH, NRPF or front-door services · Excellent practice knowledge and analytical skills · The ability to lead reflective, restorative and open cultures · A commitment to high support and high challenge · Confidence in leading multi-agency partnerships and complex safeguarding decision-making · A passion for relationship-based practice and co-production with families
You must be minimum Team Manager level with relevant experience. (Social Workers will not be considered for this role.)
You will be a creative problem-solver who thinks beyond traditional approaches, with the ability to develop innovative solutions that support children and families. You will ensure that the voices, wishes and feelings of children and young people are central to all assessments and plans, and that your teams deliver safe, timely and proportionate interventions.
Your strong interpersonal skills will enable you to work effectively with partners to deliver integrated, value-for-money services. You will have a strong understanding of resource management and budgets, ensuring your teams are accountable, reflective and committed to continuous improvement.
If you share our vision and have the drive, resilience and ambition to lead in a high-demand environment, we would love to hear from you.
About us
We are committed to putting the heart back into social work, supported by our CARES relational practice model, where the child’s lived experience is central to everything we do. We are investing in our workforce, our services and our future — and we want leaders who share our passion for making a difference.
In return, we offer:
· A competitive pay package · Generous pension · Relocation package · Up to 30 days annual leave · Strong commitment to learning, development and wellbeing
Additional Information
If you would like a confidential discussion about this post, please contact socialcarerecruitment@lbbd.gov.uk and we will respond within 48 hours.