Service Manager

Job Title: Service Manager
Starting Salary: £63,471 progressing to £71,045 per annum, + 5% operational enhancement*
Hours: 37
Location: Watford
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Adult Care Services

* please note the operational enhancement is a non-contractual payment subject to a 3 yearly review

About the team

We have a unique opportunity for a Service Manager within the South and West Hertfordshire Integrated Discharge Service. Within this post, the holder also acts as one of three deputy heads within the system wide Transfer of Care Hub (ToCH). This service overall includes six teams of various sizes overseeing various acute and community hospitals and post hospital review functions, providing support to citizens from 18 years of age. The service operates 7 days per week, the postholder is expected to contribute to weekend cover on a 1:8 rota basis.

As Service Manager, you will lead and manage adult social care services across our main acute trust, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care aligned with Hertfordshire County Council’s Connected Lives principles. You will oversee operational performance, statutory compliance, and continuous improvement, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and innovation. Within your role as deputy head of ToCH, you will provide mutual support to your counterpart’s from CLCH and WHTHT and work in tangent to coherently maintain the current excellent discharge performance for Hertfordshire residents.

About the role

This is a senior leadership position with both operational and strategic responsibilities. You will:

• Provide professional leadership and oversight of operational managers, ensuring consistency and excellence in practice and performance.
• Drive service development, workforce planning, and training in collaboration with Learning and Development teams.
• Champion Equity, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and co-production in all aspects of service delivery.
• Offer expert guidance on complex safeguarding and case management, ensuring statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 are met.
• Maintain and develop strong relations with ToCH partners from within the NHS while working towards expanding the design to include wider partners from NHS and Housing agencies.
• Manage within budgets, manage improvement targets, and take lead oversight on complaints investigations and learning reviews within your area of responsibility.

Contribute to policy development and embed operational pathways that reflect legislative and best practice changes.

About you

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced professional with a passion for adult social care, matched with an evidential track record and a commitment to making a positive impact. You will have:

• Extensive experience in managing social care services, preferably within adult social care.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• A thorough understanding of statutory responsibilities and best practice in social care.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with stakeholders, including individuals, families, staff, and partners

Essential:

• Registered professional Social Worker, Nurse or Occupational Therapist
• Experience supervising managers and leading diverse teams.
• Performance management, supervision, recruitment, and workforce development
• Understanding of statutory responsibilities, safeguarding, Care Act duties, and CQC requirements
• Full UK Driving Licence

Desirable

• Risk management and ensuring all services are safe, responsive, and effective.
• Ability to evaluate service quality through audits, inspections, and performance reviews.
• Managing service budgets, monitoring expenditure, and ensuring efficient use of resources.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to take a high performing team and continuously evolve service improvements for people across all adult ages.
• Collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Professional development and training opportunities.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 14. Please locate the job profile here:

Job profiles - Health and social care

For an informal discussion, contact Florence Makumire (01438 845884) or Daryl Knight (01438 844437)

Interview Date: 26.11.2026 - in person

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), creating a unique opportunity to help shape the future of local services. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.