Assistant Team Manager

Hampshire County Council; Lower Swanwick; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking an Assistant Team Manager for its Children's Adoption Team. This role involves supervising staff, fostering strong relationships with children and families, and working closely with Family Help Teams to ensure good practice in adoption. Ideal candidates will be registered with Social Work England, possess exceptional communication skills, and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in outcomes for children. The authority offers a supportive environment with flexible working options and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Competitive salary

Investment in professional development

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills with an emphasis on relationship building.
• Ability to support and motivate colleagues in child-centered approaches.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff to maintain excellent practice within the team.
• Work in collaboration with Family Help Teams.
• Ensure children are supported throughout the adoption process.

Skills

Exceptional communication skills

Experience in developing others

Ability to engage with children and families

Creativity and flexibility

Understanding of Child Protection legislation

Education

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

Overview

We are looking for an Assistant Team Manager to join our Children's Adoption Team (Hampshire) in our dynamic and innovative Regional Adoption Agency. As a Children's Adoption Social Worker within Hampshire County Council, you will be practicing in one of just a few local authorities in the country rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

You will also have the added benefits of being under the management umbrella of Adopt South and as such you will be working in close collaboration with the Regional Adoption Agency to find permanency for children within adoption.

You will be working closely with Family Help Teams across Hampshire County Council to Parallel Planning prior to Placement Orders being granted.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

You will have flexibility to work across a large county and although the main office base is in Totton, you will have access to all HCC buildings and home working for increased flexibility.

Our Social Workers are an asset to us, and we encourage our workforce to be creative and autonomous, while enabling them to work flexibly. We are committed to providing regular, reflective and effective supervision to support you, while ensuring you also have the working conditions you need for good practice to flourish.

This role will support and supervise staff within the team to help maintain the excellent practice within the team.

Registered with Social Work England, you will be highly skilled at building meaningful relationships with children and families to engage them in life story work and ensuring children moving on to adoption are supported throughout.

You will need to be creative, flexible and forward thinking in your approach, whilst constantly striving for continuous improvement to provide the best outcomes for children.

You'll have exceptional communication skills, with the ability to relate to all different kinds of people.

You will have some experience of developing others and supporting peers and colleagues to be child centered, strength based and trauma informed in their practice.

You will be able to ensure staff feel motivated and involved.

A good understanding of Child Protection legislation is important to the role, as is the motivation to grow through personal and professional development.

Above all, you will be determined to make a difference for both the service and the children and families we support.

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.

Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance. We invest in you through our internal development programmes and training and offer a competitive salary and benefits package.