Service Manager – Children's Payment Assurance & Non-Placement Brokerage

Posted 20th Feb, 2024
Location
Lambeth
Salary/rate
£69,258 – £73,818
Hours
Full-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
10th Mar, 2024
About the role

About Lambeth Children Services:
Lambeth is a borough of huge diversity, strength, and possibility. Lambeth is home to approximately 63,000 children aged 0-18, representing nearly 20% of our borough’s population. Our Lambeth partnerships have the highest ambitions for our children and want them to grow up to be happy, safe and thriving in supportive communities. We have a rich network of good and outstanding schools, a passionate voluntary community sector and an exciting youth and play offer. Children growing up in Lambeth are surrounded by beautiful green spaces and a borough with a rich history, arts, and music scene.

Despite this, our children also face challenges and adversity. There are several health and wellbeing indicators that are higher in Lambeth than other boroughs, including children in need due to parent disability, first time entrants to youth justice system, and children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. We have significant demand for mental health and emotional wellbeing provision and have critical challenges regarding placement sufficiency for our Children Looked After. Lambeth is the fifth most densely populated borough in the UK with sharp contrasts between wealth and poverty. It is estimated that 27% of our children and young people are living in poverty, rising to 43% when housing costs are factored in; we know Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges for many families in Lambeth and created a new set of problems for others.

About you

You will provide both operational strategic leadership to Payment Assurance and Non-Placement Brokerage Teams.  A key aspect of the role is to ensure that our service providers are paid on time and accurately. You will also oversee Non-Placement Brokerage arrangements for children looked after aged 0-18 as well as families with children with Disabilities and Special Needs.

You must have an in-depth understanding and extensive experience in Financial Application Platforms such us Oracle and Mosaic Financials. You will be required to ensure that budgets and other resources are used in accordance with Lambeth priorities and financial regulations, and that expenditure is accurately monitored and within budget. 

About Lambeth

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment. The Civic Centre is just a short walk from the main underground and train station.  

Lambeth – a borough with social and climate justice at its heart. By harnessing the power and pride of our people and partnerships, we will proactively tackle inequalities so that children and young people can have the best start in life and so everyone can feel safe and thrive in a place of opportunity.”

Lambeth 2030 (Borough Plan)

In Lambeth, we offer our social workers:

  • Fantastic, modern working environment in the award-winning Lambeth Town Hall and Civic Centre buildings
  • Competitive Salary, often including a generous market supplement (depending on the role)
  • Up to 35 days annual leave, dependent upon continuous service
  • 5 Minutes from London Underground and excellent transport links into the centre of London
  • Hybrid/Flexible working
  • Cycle to Work Scheme (including City Bike Hire scheme)
  • Attractive Local Government Pension Scheme
  • A permanent senior leadership team in QA
  • Manageable caseloads that enable connection with families