Jobs

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join an outstanding, high-achieving Children in Care service at Durham County Council, a service that is rightly proud of the difference it makes to the lives of children and their families every day.
 
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
At the heart of our work is a deep belief that relationships matter most. We are committed to delivering high-quality, relationship-based social work practice that truly understands the lived experience of children in our care. Our social workers are supported to spend meaningful time with children and families, building trust, creating stability, and delivering interventions that lead to lasting change.

As Service Manager, you will lead across a service that is ambitious, reflective, and forward-thinking. You will oversee strong, established teams who are passionate about their role and proud of the support they provide. This is a workforce that cares deeply  about children, about each other, and about getting it right.

You will play a pivotal role in:

• Shaping and driving excellent practice, ensuring it remains child-focused, evidence-informed, and impactful
• Championing children’s voices, making sure their experiences are central to every decision
• Strengthening work with families and networks, recognising their importance in achieving stability and permanence
• Embedding a culture of learning and reflection, where practitioners feel valued, challenged, and supported to grow
• Leading innovation and continuous improvement in a service that is not standing still but looking ahead

This is more than a management role it is an opportunity to influence the direction of an already strong service and take it even further. You will be part of a supportive, experienced leadership team that values collaboration, authenticity, and courage. You will have the space to think strategically, the trust to lead, and the opportunity to make a genuine difference at scale.

It is also a particularly exciting time to join Durham. We are building on our strengths, investing in our workforce, and continuing to evolve our approach to best meet the needs of children in care from placement stability and permanence, to strengthening kinship and family networks, to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

WHAT WILL I NEED?
We are looking for someone who shares our values, passion, and ambition, a leader who:

• Believes in the power of great social work
• Is deeply committed to children and families
• Can inspire, support, and challenge others
• Brings energy, vision, and a relentless focus on improving outcomes

In return, you will join a council that genuinely cares about its children, its communities, and its staff, and where you can feel proud of the work you lead every single day.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. 
If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure. 
 
HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
For an informal conversation about the post please contact Rachael Riley, Strategic Manager at rachael.riley@durham.gov.uk
 
You can also find out more about social work in County Durham on our website, and about our practice model “how we practice in Durham” in our Resource Library

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria. 
 
If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Our commitment to safeguarding
Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought inclusive of a check of the Children’s Barred List and Adults Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity. Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation and will confirm whether an individual is barred from working with children, adults, or both.
 
INTERVIEWS
Interviews are expected to be held in person on 15 June 2026 at Spennymoor Council Offices, DL16 1JQ.
 
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
 
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website
Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

This post is eligible for a recruitment/retention allowance of £2,500 over 12 months (pro-rata for part time workers). Payments are made in equal instalments across a 12-month period alongside your pay. The allowances are subject to tax, National Insurance and pension contributions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
 
HOW TO APPLY 
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted.
Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support to your application and for guidance on completing your application.
 
If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk
 
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.
 
CONNECT WITH US
Follow us on Instagram  
Like us on Facebook 
Visit our website 

#VPRS/161

Company: Durham County Council

Salary: Grade 16 £56,554 - £60,680

Location: Spennymoor, Durham

Sector: Education

Job Role: Teaching Assistant