Court Progression Manager- Qualified Social Care

We are looking for someone who has Service Manager level experience in CP and Court.

Essential Qualifications

• Social Work qualification recognised by Social Work England.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to children’s safeguarding, court work, and leadership.

Essential Experience

• Substantial post-qualification experience within Children’s Social Care at Service Manager level.
• Extensive experience of managing complex child protection, child in need, looked after children, and permanence cases.
• Significant experience of care proceedings and pre-proceedings (Public Law Outline), including direct involvement in legal planning, case progression, court attendance, and permanence planning.
• Extensive experience of providing professional advice, guidance, and challenge to social workers and managers regarding care proceedings and pre-proceedings practice.
• Proven management experience within Children’s Social Care, including supervision, performance management, workforce development, and service improvement.
• Experience of working effectively with Legal Services, Cafcass, the Family Courts, Independent Reviewing Officers, and partner agencies to progress plans for children.
• Experience of leading practice improvements to reduce delay and improve outcomes for children subject to pre-proceedings and care proceedings.
• Experience of preparing reports, briefings, audits, and performance information for senior leaders and strategic partnerships.

Essential Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of children’s social care legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Children Act 1989, Public Law Outline (PLO), care proceedings, permanence planning, and relevant family court processes.
• Detailed understanding of best practice in pre-proceedings and care proceedings, including avoiding drift and delay.
• Strong understanding of quality assurance, performance management, and service improvement methodologies within Children’s Services.
• Knowledge of current national developments, policy, and practice guidance affecting court work and permanence planning.

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Highly developed analytical skills with the ability to interrogate, interpret, and present complex data relating to pre-proceedings, care proceedings, legal planning, permanence, and court timeliness.
• Ability to identify trends, risks, and areas of underperformance and implement effective improvement plans.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills with the ability to drive improvement across operational teams.
• Ability to provide professional challenge and oversight to ensure high-quality social work practice and compliance with statutory requirements.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the production of analytical reports, audits, performance dashboards, and briefings for senior leadership.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet statutory and court deadlines.
• Strong partnership-working skills, enabling effective collaboration with legal services, judiciary, Cafcass, and operational managers.
• Competence in the use of case management systems and performance reporting tools to support data-driven decision-making.