Head of Service - Newtownabbey - Sense

Description

Operational responsibility and accountability for delivering quality, planned and effective Sure Start services across multiple designated Sure Start sites and/or areas across Newtownabbey. Through this brief to work collaboratively with the Sure Start Management Committee including the Chair, staff, partner organisations, other service providers, parents and children to provide services in accordance with guidelines and directions issued by the Department of Education, relevant Area Childcare Partnership, Sure Start Management Committee and Sense Lead and accountable body guidance.

Responsibilities

• Operational lead responsibility for managing all resources necessary to directly manage and direct the management of a multidisciplinary, interagency staff team providing an integrated service for a diverse range of families and children.
• Lead by example with the provision of day‑to‑day management for all relevant staff and ensure that these standards are equally applied by line reports to their teams utilising Abbey Sure Start policies and procedures.
• Manage relationships and participation of partner organisations providing services within the Sure Start programme, using various channels of communication within Abbey Sure Start, partner agencies and other external agencies.
• Review, develop and implement plans across the services that are the responsibility of the post, including production of three yearly plans and annual business plans, ensuring that these plans are consistent with Abbey Sure Start policies, procedures.
• Ensure the provision of a co‑ordinated comprehensive needs assessment so that the Sure Start Programme can appropriately support all local families within the designated area.
• Overall responsibility for leading and concluding outcomes of an evaluation of the services work. Create a culture of actively promote evaluation, audit and research within the services managed.
• Ensure that robust data collection and monitoring systems are in place and manage an effective implementation plan to ensure that all partners are able to fulfil the monitoring requirements.
• Manage a delegated budget, ensuring financial targets are met and to identify service re‑profiling or financial change in accordance with agreed procedures.
• Chair service planning meetings and undertake home or site visits, conference meetings etc and to attend meetings with external agencies, commissioning bodies, representing Abbey Sure Start, demonstrating professionalism and our core values.
• Ensure both personal application of Abbey Sure Start and professional practice standards and to develop this approach to the team, especially to ensure that the management team to equally apply these standards to their line reports.
• Responsible for ensuring that effective and safe case management processes are in place and applied utilising Abbey Sure Start policies and procedures and the involvement of a senior or specialist support.
• Responsible for ensuring that management information from case managed or supported sources are collected in the appropriate database, to seek to extract information and to produce timely and qualitative reports.

Skills and Qualifications

• A degree in Social Work, Health Related Subjects, Education, Early Years, Community Development or another relevant Discipline Or A degree plus a postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline.
• A minimum of 2 years' experience in a management role.
• Proven ability of planning and leading initiatives effectively.
• Experience of working in partnership across a range of partners.
• An understanding of Staff / Human Resources Issues / Policies.
• Knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles of Sure Start.
• Good organisational skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Strong level of IT Skills with the ability to use Microsoft Office packages.
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Ability to lead a team.
• Access to a form of transport which will permit them to meet the requirements of the post in full.
• Degree or equivalent level qualification in the fields of social work, child health, education related to early years, family support work.
• Registration with relevant professional body
• Ability to manage varied workload demands and to set deadlines.
• Ability to demonstrate good communication skills, both written and oral, at a
• Variety of levels, and in a variety of informal and formal settings including service users and partner agencies.
• Analytical skills, including the ability to interpret information (including statistical information) from a wide variety of sources and to use this information in planning, monitoring, evaluating and developing services.
• Experience and track record (at least 2 years) in developing/manging services for young children in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
• Experience of working successfully within a multi‑agency setting.
• Experience of managing staff.
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance relating to children, early years services and safeguarding.
• Knowledge of child development and behaviour
• Knowledge of child neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse
• Familiarity with direct work techniques and family support and early years Issue and practices.
• Knowledge of current local government strategies, programmes and initiatives impacting on communities and individuals affected by social exclusion, particularly disadvantaged children and their families.

Further Information

For further information and the full job description please email

Job Ref: ST 12883 | Salary £43,000 - £53,000 FTE | Location: Newtownabbey, 440 Shore Road | Contract: Permanent | Weekly hours: 37.5 | Opening date: 19/01/2026 | Closing date: 09/02/2026 | Worktime: 8.30am to 16.30pm, Mon‑Fri