Dave - Interim Service Manager

I enjoy working for GCC

I will have worked at Gloucestershire County Council for 18 years in December. I have a sense of belonging and being part of the organisation and have enjoyed being part of the GCC improvement journey and the progress we have made following the Ofsted inspection in 2017 up to the present and the recent Ofsted focussed visit for Care Leavers.

I would be happy to recommend GCC, it's a great place to work

It’s an authority that knows itself well (Children’s Services), is supportive and has opportunities for career development and a growing culture of support and openness to achieve this. There is increasingly a settled experienced workforce and less reliance on agency workers. 

I have been part of developing and nurturing our workers through the career structure. I was seconded in 2009 to the social work degree so can bring my own experience of how I was supported into social work on the job. I appreciated the backing and support from my managers to transfer teams, to assist my learning and try new challenges. 

Great support and opportunity to develop

I started as ASYE/NQSW in 2012 (prior to that I was family support assessor in the Disabled Childrens Team). I was then experienced social worker, Deputy Team Manager, Team Manager (all in assessment team) up to 2019 then TM in MASH, TM Stroud Permanence Team for nearly 3 years and have now been a Service Manager for 3 years in the IRO team and now in the Leaving Care Service.

I have been part of and completed leadership training courses and completed Systemic Training so the training offer remains good quality and supportive of professional development. It’s important we now have a model of practice we work consistently to, but also to develop improved relational ways of working with our children, young people and families.

Caseloads in our service are generally stable and within agreed limits and we are a service that is growing and developing after the transformation in May 2024 including a PA training programme and recruitment to all posts within our teams. 

A great place to live and work

Gloucestershire is a very varied county with rural, small town and then urban centres and offices, so a good mix. I live and work in Gloucestershire and I wouldn’t want to leave as I love living here. It's great for walking, plenty of beautiful countryside, good towns and well positioned for Bristol, Bath and Wales.

I have worked in some strong and supportive teams and offices on the whole are well resourced. IT was a huge challenge but much improved recently. 

Great work life balance

Agile working has given me the opportunity to find a good balance between home and office working, it’s well supported by my managers, and I have all the right kit to easily work at home. 

 The difference we make is clear to see

All of my social work and leadership roles have been able to support and directly link and evidence safeguarding, permanence or best outcomes into adulthood for children and young people/care leavers in our area. Every week I am able to see positives and the difference this is making through observation, supervision, audits alongside passionate and skilled group of workers.

Last reviewed: 07/05/2025