Assistant Team Manager

Dorset Council; Weymouth; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Flexible and hybrid working

Job summary

Dorset Council is seeking an Assistant Team Manager to lead Family Help teams across Chesil or East and Purbeck. The role emphasizes safeguarding, reflective supervision, and driving continuous improvement within a restorative Thrive approach.

You will supervise practitioners, oversee risk management with the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team, and support professional development while travelling as required. Hybrid working arrangements are available.

Qualifications

• Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
• Have completed your ASYE (if qualified after 2012).
• Have experience of supervising, mentoring or managing practitioners.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, Child in Need and Child Protection practice.
• Be confident providing professional oversight, guidance and decision-making support.
• Be committed to strengths-based and restorative approaches.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, relationship-building and partnership-working skills.
• Be passionate about developing others and driving continuous practice improvement.
• Be able to fulfil travel requirements and have a driver's license and vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide social work oversight and leadership across Family Help.
• Work with Multi-Agency Child Protection Team to identify and manage risk.
• Support practitioners undertaking Section 47 enquiries and Child Protection planning.
• Line manage, supervise and develop Family Workers, Social Workers and Student Social Workers.
• Deliver reflective supervision and promote best practice and service improvement.
• Lead on practice development, training and coaching across teams.
• Chair meetings and collaborate with partner agencies to achieve best outcomes for children and families.
• Join a high-performing, supportive service with restorative Thrive approach.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Communication

Partnership working

Safeguarding

Driver's license

Education

Social Work qualification

ASYE completed

Job description

About the role

We are seeking passionate and experienced or aspiring Assistant Team Managers to join us in either our Chesil or our East and Purbeck Family Help localities. Our innovative Family Help model brings together the professionals supporting the child, ensuring families tell their story once and build strong, consistent relationships with practitioners. We are committed to supporting children to remain safely within their families wherever possible through strengths-based, restorative practice. As an Assistant Team Manager, you will:

• Provide social work oversight and leadership across Family Help.
• Work closely with our Multi-Agency Child Protection Team to ensure effective identification and management of risk.
• Support practitioners undertaking Section 47 enquiries and Child Protection planning.
• Line manage, supervise and develop Family Workers, Social Workers and Student Social Workers.
• Deliver reflective supervision, promote excellent practice and support service improvement.
• Lead on practice development, training and coaching across teams.
• Chair meetings and work collaboratively with partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
• You'll join a high-performing, supportive and reflective service that combines high support with high challenge, underpinned by our restorative Thrive approach. We're looking for an ambitious and motivated leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families.

You will:

• Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
• Have completed your ASYE (if qualified after 2012).
• Have experience of supervising, mentoring or managing practitioners.
• Have a strong understanding of safeguarding, Child in Need and Child Protection practice.
• Be confident providing professional oversight, guidance and decision-making support.
• Be committed to strengths-based and restorative approaches.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, relationship‑building and partnership‑working skills.
• Be passionate about developing others and driving continuous practice improvement.
• Be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post and have a driver's license and vehicle

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process.

Competitive salary and generous annual leave

• Competitive salary and generous annual leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Ofsted Outstanding working environment
• High-quality supervision and supportive leadership
• Dedicated leadership development pathway and genuine career progression opportunities
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements where appropriate

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The amount payable will be £2000 (pro-rata for part time positions) after 24 months of employment.

A generous relocation package is payable, of which up to £8,000 (of HMRC eligible elements) are free of tax.

We can offer you help to move whether you are looking to buy or rent, depending on your circumstances.

• an initial advance of up to £2,500 payable when you start
• help towards fees associated with buying/selling (up to £6,500)
• an option to receive help towards your rent or mortgage in the first two years