Improvement Lead Family Hubs, Families First & Early Help
Initial 3–6 Month Contract
£500 per day umbrella
Full time hybrid working
South West
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Improvement Lead to support a period of rapid and significant change across our client’s Families First, Early Help, and Family Hubs services. Although titled as an Improvement Lead, this role functions very much as a Service Manager, acting as the bridge between operational delivery and strategic reform.
This is a pivotal opportunity to help shape and embed the Best Start, Family Hubs, and wider Families First reforms, ensuring the council’s services are aligned with transformation requirements and delivering excellent outcomes for children and families.
About your role as Improvement Lead Family Hubs, Families First & Early Help:
- You will play a key role in driving change across the service, providing both the strategic oversight and hands‑on operational guidance required during this critical reform window.
- This role requires someone comfortable operating between strategic thinking and day‑to‑day delivery—able to challenge, influence, and motivate in equal measure.
- Providing clear direction and leadership to Families First operational teams, ensuring staff fully understand the reforms and what they mean for practice, processes, and service delivery.
- Working closely with the Service Improvement Partner to embed change, holding Team Managers to account while supporting them to succeed.
- Leading staff through consultation, transformation, and implementation with confidence and clarity.
- Interpreting national reforms, early Pathfinder findings, and strategic objectives, and translating them into practical, operational delivery plans.
- Producing and contributing to transformation and service design reports, particularly ahead of key deadlines and supporting the service to meet reform requirements in the summer of 2026.
- Ensuring a joined‑up approach across Early Help, Families First, Child Protection, and the wider children’s services system.
Your experience as Improvement Lead Family Hubs, Families First & Early Help:
- Extensive knowledge of Early Help, including SEND support and Children With Disabilities (CWD) pathways.
- Previous success leading improvement, transformation or service management roles in children’s services.
- Strong Strategic Understanding – Excellent grasp of national reforms including Best Start, Family Hubs, Early Help reforms.
- Robust understanding of the impact of reforms on service models and frontline delivery and the ability to convert strategic aims into clear operational plans.
- Experience delivering transformation at pace within complex children’s services environments.
- Ability to drive clarity around objectives, outcomes, timescales, and service expectations.
- Excellent People and Leadership Skills –Skilled at giving strong, honest messages while building trust and collaboration.
If you’re interested in discussing this opportunity in more detail or know someone who this may be of interest to, please contact Leah Overend or Lucy Connick on 0117 3137110 or apply today.
(We offer a senior referral scheme upon successful placement of your recommendation so please do get in contact)
Recruiting decisions are based on experience and skills. Any reasonable adjustments will be fully supported during the application and hiring process.
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