Team Manager - Family Help and Protection

3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

Job Purpose

To provide leadership, management and professional oversight within the Family Help and Protection Service, ensuring vulnerable children, young people and families receive high-quality safeguarding, intervention and support services.

The postholder will lead a multidisciplinary team of Social Workers, Senior Practitioners, ASYEs, Trainee Social Workers and Family Help Practitioners, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met and positive outcomes for children are achieved. The role includes oversight of safeguarding, child protection, care planning, pre-proceedings and court work, whilst supporting workforce development and maintaining high standards of practice.

A key focus of this role will be supporting and developing a large cohort of ASYEs, promoting learning, reflective practice and professional development within the team.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Lead, manage and support a team of Social Workers, Senior Practitioners, ASYEs, Trainee Social Workers and Family Help Practitioners.
  
• Provide regular supervision, coaching and professional support to staff.
  
• Promote a positive learning culture and support workforce development.
  
• Support newly qualified social workers through their ASYE programme.
  
• Manage performance, attendance, capability and professional development processes.
  
• Lead recruitment, induction and retention activities within the team.
  

Safeguarding & Case Management

• Provide management oversight of complex safeguarding cases.
  
• Oversee assessments, interventions and care planning activities.
  
• Ensure statutory timescales and performance standards are met.
  
• Support decision-making relating to children in need, child protection and court proceedings.
  
• Review and authorise key assessments, reports and plans.
  
• Ensure Family Help and Child Protection plans are robust, outcome-focused and child-centred.
  
• Provide oversight of pre-proceedings and court work.
  

Quality Assurance & Performance

• Monitor practice quality through audits, case reviews and quality assurance activities.
  
• Ensure compliance with Children's Services policies, procedures and legislation.
  
• Drive continuous improvement in service delivery and practice standards.
  
• Analyse performance information and implement improvement actions where required.
  
• Ensure accurate recording and case management across the team.
  

Multi-Agency Working

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with partner agencies.
  
• Lead multi-agency planning and safeguarding arrangements.
  
• Work collaboratively with health, education, police, legal services and other partners.
  
• Promote effective information sharing and coordinated support for children and families.
  

Resource & Financial Management

• Manage delegated budgets and resources effectively.
  
• Ensure value for money and effective deployment of staffing resources.
  
• Monitor workloads and allocate cases appropriately across the team.
  

Statutory & Professional Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with:
  
  • Children Act 1989 & 2004
    
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children
    
  • Child Protection Procedures
    
  • Relevant safeguarding legislation and guidance
    
• Support the delivery of positive outcomes for children, young people and families.
  
• Promote a culture of safeguarding, accountability and professional excellence.
  

Requirements

Essential

• Qualified Social Worker.
  
• Social Work England Registration.
  
• Significant experience within Children's Social Care.
  
• Previous Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager or Senior Practitioner experience.
  
• Extensive experience in:
  
  • Child Protection
    
  • Family Help
    
  • Safeguarding
    
  • Children in Need
    
  • Court Work
    
  • Pre-Proceedings
    
  • Care Planning
    
• Experience supervising and supporting Social Workers and ASYEs.
  
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
  
• Experience of performance management and quality assurance.
  
• Ability to make complex decisions relating to risk and safeguarding.
  
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
  
• Experience of multi-agency working and partnership development.
  
• Strong organisational and workload management skills.
  

Desirable

• Experience managing Family Help and Protection teams.
  
• Experience supporting large ASYE cohorts.
  
• Management qualification.
  
• Practice Educator qualification.
  
• Experience leading service improvements and workforce development initiatives.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Silver Court, Brownhills (Hybrid Working – 3 Days Office / 2 Days Home Working)
  
• Hours Per Week: 37 Hours
  
• Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments