Job Introduction
Early Help Gateway Operational Manager
Salary: PO4, SCP 35-38, £46,142 - £49,282, Permanent, 37 hours per week, Based in Bradford at Sir Henry Mitchell House, Hybrid working arrangements – As per service need work from other BCFT locations will be required
Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.
We are fully committed to equal opportunities and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Operational Manager to support the effective day-to-day delivery of the Early Help Gateway Service.
This is a key operational role responsible for overseeing daily service activity, supervising staff, managing workflow, and ensuring children, young people and families receive a timely, high-quality response. Working alongside the Team Manager, the Operational Manager will provide practice leadership and operational oversight across the Gateway, ensuring referrals, requests for support and contacts are managed efficiently and consistently.
The successful candidate will play a central role in supporting practitioners, promoting high standards of practice, overseeing performance, and ensuring the service remains responsive to demand while delivering positive outcomes for children and families.
This role is ideal for an experienced practitioner or first-line manager looking to take the next step in operational leadership within an Early Help environment.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Management
- Support the Team Manager in the day-to-day running of the Early Help Gateway Service.
- Provide operational oversight of workflow, referrals, allocations, and service demand.
- Monitor daily activity to ensure contacts and referrals are processed within agreed timescales.
- Coordinate service delivery and respond to emerging operational pressures.
- Act as a first point of escalation for operational and practice issues.
- Deputise for the Team Manager when required.
Staff Supervision and Support
- Provide regular supervision, case discussions, and support to Gateway practitioners and support staff.
- Offer guidance and advice on early help thresholds, practice issues, and decision-making.
- Support staff development through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
- Assist with induction, training, and the development of new staff.
- Promote staff wellbeing and foster a positive, supportive working environment.
Practice Oversight and Quality Assurance
- Monitor the quality and consistency of practice within the Gateway.
- Undertake regular audits and quality assurance activity to ensure high standards are maintained.
- Provide constructive feedback to practitioners to support continuous improvement.
- Ensure assessments, decisions, records, and plans are accurate, timely, and outcome-focused.
- Promote reflective practice and learning across the team.
Performance and Service Improvement
- Monitor performance against service targets and key performance indicators.
- Support the Team Manager in identifying trends, pressures, and opportunities for improvement.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of operational improvements.
- Assist in compiling service performance information and operational reports.
- Ensure compliance with relevant policies, procedures, and statutory guidance.
Partnership Working
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners.
- Support collaborative approaches to identifying and meeting the needs of children and families.
- Provide advice and guidance to professionals regarding Early Help processes and pathways.
- Represent the Gateway at operational meetings and multi-agency forums as required.
Safeguarding
- Promote and support effective safeguarding practice across the service.
- Ensure decisions are child-centred and informed by risk and need.
- Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately and support practitioners in decision-making.
- Maintain a strong focus on achieving positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.
About You
You will be a confident and experienced practitioner with strong operational and supervisory skills, capable of providing support and direction within a busy front-line service.
Essential Criteria
- Significant experience working within Early Help, Children's Services, Family Support, Safeguarding, or a related field.
- Experience of supervising, mentoring, or leading practitioners within a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Sound understanding of Early Help, safeguarding, thresholds, and child-centred practice.
- Experience managing competing priorities and working in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to monitor performance and promote high standards of practice.
- Excellent communication and partnership-working skills.
- Successful candidates will need an NVQ 4 (prior to 2011) or Diploma 5 in Health & Social Care, (Children & Young People) or a Level 5 Management qualification or an equivalent service-related degree qualification.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working within a referral, screening, gateway, or multi-agency setting.
- Experience undertaking quality assurance and audit activity.
- Leadership or management training/qualification.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in supporting the delivery of a busy and impactful Early Help Gateway Service. You will help shape high-quality practice, support staff development, and ensure families receive the right help at the right time.
If you are passionate about improving outcomes for children and families and have the skills to lead operational practice in a fast-paced environment, we would welcome your application.
You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:
- Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
- Excellent Local Government pension
- Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
- Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
- Professional development and career progression opportunities
- we are a National Living Wage employer
For full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
Recruitment Process
Closing Date: 30 August 2026
Initial Shortlisting: 31 August 2026
Candidates who are successfully shortlisted at the initial stage will be contacted and provided with further information regarding the next steps of the recruitment process, including assessment and interview arrangements.
Further recruitment activity is expected to take place during the week commencing 7 September 2026. Candidates are therefore encouraged to make themselves available during this period where possible.
We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, only those progressing beyond the initial shortlisting stage will be contacted.
For an informal conversation please reach out to Amanda.Bradley@Bradfordcft.org.uk
