Assistant Team Manager - Children's Services (South Oxfordshire)

Oxfordshire County Council; England; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK seeks a qualified Social Worker to line manage Children's Practitioners & Social Workers. The role includes supporting safeguarding policies, supervising Newly Qualified Social Workers, and improving care practice. Ideal candidates should have considerable experience in child protection planning and relevant legislative knowledge. This position aims to deliver better outcomes for children and families in Oxfordshire.

Qualifications

• Experience working directly in safeguarding social work.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and legislation related to children.
• Ability to support and assess Newly Qualified Social Workers.

Responsibilities

• Line manage Children’s Practitioners & Social Workers.
• Support county safeguarding and child protection policies.
• Allocate and ensure timely progression of new referrals.

Skills

Knowledge of safeguarding policies

Experience in child protection

Motivational Interviewing

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

About the role

You will line manage Children’s Practitioners & Social Workers while deputising for the Team Manager when required. You will supervise Newly Qualified Social Workers, supporting and assessing them to meet the requirements of the council's Assessed & Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme. Additionally, you will manage the team’s duty and assessment function.

A significant part of your role will focus on supporting county safeguarding and child protection policies and ensuring adherence. You will play a lead role in improving practice, including the quality of assessments and care planning within the team, leading team meetings and workshops, and updating staff on practice developments and research findings.

You will be responsible for the allocation and timely progression of new referrals into the team via the duty system, under the direction of the Team Manager.

About you

As a qualified Social Worker, you will possess knowledge of services relevant to children, young people, families, carers, and groups, and how to access relevant services. Knowledge of the Family Safeguarding Model and Motivational Interviewing will be beneficial in ensuring the timely progression of work with families within the FSP model, ensuring direct reports work in accordance with the model modules and attend group case supervision as required.

You should have considerable direct experience of safeguarding social work, including child protection planning and legal casework, with knowledge of relevant laws, legislation, guidance, policies, and procedures related to children and families’ social work.

About us

We are committed to shaping children’s social care for the future. Our colleagues help transform the lives of Oxfordshire residents daily.

In our Children, Education, & Families directorate, we aim to deliver lasting change by helping children, young people, and families of Oxfordshire thrive. We value relationship-building, empowerment, and strengths-based approaches, reflected in our restorative, relational practice.

Rated as “good” by Ofsted, we are ambitious to improve further. As a financially stable local authority, we invest in Children, Education, and Families to ensure resources are available to make a real difference, including through our transformational Family Solutions Plus (FSP) model.