The Role
Do you see yourself supporting vital services for children and young people?
Can you use your leadership and organisational skills to drive high-quality support functions?
Does the idea of joining a dynamic, people-focused service excite you?
If yes, we have the perfect role for you!
Our Children’s Specialist Services team at Talfourd Place and the Dulwich Office is looking for a Central Support Manager to join us and make a real difference to the lives of Southwark’s children and families
About the Role:
This post will be managing teams across two sites — Talfourd Place in Peckham and the Dulwich office — working flexibly across the locations to ensure staff are fully supported in their work.
As Central Support Manager, you will play a key role in supporting staff across Children’s Specialist Services. This includes services for Children Looked After, such as Family Time, the Care and Care Leaver Drop-In Hub, and a range of meetings and events held throughout the year.
The services at the Dulwich office are designed to support customer service staff delivering services for Children in the Youth Justice Service. This is where a multi-agency team works together to reduce youth crime and reoffending. The service provides support and intervention for young people aged 10–18 who have committed offences, been arrested, or are at risk of offending.
Bringing your unique skills to manage staff at multiple sites, you will develop and coordinate central support functions, ensuring effective support for social work services serving Southwark residents. Your responsibilities will include delivering business processes, providing front-line customer service, completing statutory tasks, and adapting to changes in legislation and service delivery.
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract.
About You:
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Experienced in managing or leading business support functions in a social care or public service setting
- A confident team leader with excellent communication and organisational skills
- Skilled in customer service, administrative systems, and continuous service improvement
- Adaptable, responsive, and committed to supporting children’s services and outcomes
About the Team:
At Talfourd Place and Dulwich, we provide crucial services for Children Looked After and those in the Youth Justice Service. You’ll be joining a collaborative, inclusive team that is dedicated to delivering excellent outcomes and continually improving how we work. We offer ongoing development opportunities, a supportive leadership culture, and the chance to make a meaningful contribution every day.
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.
Contact Information:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Su Colfer at Su.Colfer@southwark.gov.uk.
Additional Information:
- This is a 12 month fixed term contract.
- This post requires a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) DBS check at Enhanced level
Benefits and more information:
In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.
Recruitment timetable
Advert close date: 11:59pm on 21st May 2025
Interview and Assessment date/s: w/c 2nd June 2025
The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
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