About Us

Programme Manager – Children’s Services 
£55,399 - £69,947 per annum
Fixed Term - 12 months
Full Time (36 hours)
Wandsworth, London  
Ofsted Rating: ‘Good’

Are you an experienced Programme Manager ready to lead transformative change in Children’s Social Care?

In this role, you will work closely with the Head of Policy, Project and Improvement and wider Programme Team to deliver on the Children’s Social Care reforms. You will be agile in adapting to the needs of the programme ensuring that robust plans are in place and the programme is delivered to meet the national statutory guidance. 

You will have oversight of the maintenance, co-ordination and monitoring of the delivery plan, establishing governance frameworks, systems and processes, undertaking risk management activity for the programme and ensuring the delivery team and workstream leads are organised and remain within budgets and programme timescales. 

About the role 

Programme Management: You will be accountable for the day-to-day programme management to manage the design and implementation of reforms in Wandsworth.

Strategic Approach: You will collaboratively design programme and project strategy, governance, methodology, evaluation and plans in a way that generates buy in and collective ownership to ensure the project has the very best chance of being successful.

Collaboration: You will lead, coach and coordinate multi-disciplinary and sometimes multi-partner workstreams – coordinating tasks, monitoring progress, and ensuring the project team is working effectively.

Monitoring and Evaluation: You will lead the monitoring of the progress of the programme, leading the resolution of programme issues, identifying any scope for improvement to current programme or any problems or constraints as determined by legislation, national and local policy, and initiatives, in order to develop programme proposals and business cases which support agreed and changing objectives.

Stakeholder Management: You will lead and coordinate on stakeholder engagement internally and externally with our partners, incl. Health services, Police, Members, parents, schools, young people, DfE etc.  You will drive the delivery team and workstream leads are organised and remain within budgets and programme timescales.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Significant experience of working within children and families or education or similar services.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of policy developments in Children’s and related services, including the wider context in which local government operates.
• Knowledge and understanding of external inspection frameworks which impact upon Children’s Services with experience of managing or supporting inspections.
• A track record of working as part of cross-functional project teams, and ability to manage the delivery of cross-functional project teams via matrix management.
• Experience and understanding of complex governance and including leading and supporting successful strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrable resilience and flexibility of approach and the ability to manage uncertainty and ambiguity for themselves and others.

If you meet the above criteria and would like the opportunity to make a lasting impact in Wandsworth, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

For an informal discussion about the role, email Katie Thornton, Head of Policy, Project and Improvement at Katie.Thornton@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk 

Closing Date: 4 July 2025 
Shortlisting Date: week commencing 7 July 2025
Interview Date: 11 July 2025 

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.  

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils