Partnership Manager in Royal Arsenal West, Greater London

Job Summary

Client is seeking an experienced Children’s Partnership Manager to lead and manage its Safeguarding Children Partnership (SCP) and Children and Young People Partnership.

The postholder will be responsible for strengthening multi-agency safeguarding partnerships, developing strategic priorities and ensuring effective collaboration between statutory partners and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families.

The role requires a strong leader with expert knowledge of children's safeguarding legislation, multi-agency safeguarding practices, strategic partnership management and experience managing teams and budgets.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Strategic Management

Provide strategic leadership across the Children’s Services partnership.

Lead and inspire the Children’s Partnership and Safeguarding Partnership teams.

Drive organisational change, innovation and collaborative working.

Oversee strategic planning, project delivery, performance monitoring and risk management.

Ensure effective governance and oversight of partnership boards.

2. Safeguarding Partnership Management

Lead engagement with partners to develop and deliver the partnership business plan.

Establish and review strategic priorities and delivery plans.

Ensure compliance with statutory safeguarding requirements.

Develop robust scrutiny and quality improvement arrangements.

Oversee serious incident notifications, Rapid Reviews and related review processes.

Develop local safeguarding policies, guidance and multi-agency training programmes.

Ensure children's and families' voices are reflected in strategic decision-making.

Manage the Safeguarding Children Partnership budget.

Represent the partnership at local and regional meetings.

Oversee partnership communications and website management.

3. Children & Young People Partnership

Lead the development of refreshed priorities and action plans.

Strengthen engagement with children and young people's participation services.

Ensure children's and families' views influence partnership decisions.

Maintain strategic alignment with other statutory partnership boards.

4. People & Resource Management

Manage and develop the teams supporting the SCP and CYPP.

Directly manage up to 15 staff and indirectly manage up to 10 consultancy/contracting staff.

Oversee team performance, staff development and employee relations.

Manage partnership resources and budgets effectively.

Provide mentoring and development opportunities to junior staff.

Essential Skills & Experience

Expert understanding of legislation relating to child safeguarding.

Excellent knowledge of effective multi-agency safeguarding practices.

Proven experience developing and maintaining strong multi-agency partnerships.

Significant experience in strategic leadership and partnership management.

Experience managing teams, including performance and staff development.

Experience in strategic planning, governance and performance oversight.

Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills.

Experience managing budgets and delivering partnership priorities.

Ability to work effectively with senior executives, statutory partners and independent chairs.