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

Oxfordshire County Council; South Oxfordshire; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in South Oxfordshire is seeking a qualified Social Worker to line manage a team of Children's Practitioners and Social Workers, focusing on safeguarding and supporting the Assessed & Supported Year in Employment programme. This role involves supervising newly qualified social workers, allocating referrals, and improving practice standards within the team, alongside ensuring adherence to child protection policies and legislation. The position offers generous leave and flexible working options.

Benefits

Annual leave starting at 30 days

Relocation allowance up to £8,000

Welcome and loyalty bonus of £3,500

Family friendly policies

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Possess knowledge of services relevant to children, young people, and families.
• Direct experience in safeguarding social work including child protection planning.
• Understanding of relevant law and legislation related to social work.

Responsibilities

• Line manage Children's Practitioners & Social Workers.
• Supervise Newly Qualified Social Workers and manage duty function.
• Focus on supporting county safeguarding and child protection policies.

Skills

Knowledge of services relevant to children and families

Direct experience of safeguarding social work

Knowledge of Family Safeguarding Model

Effective communication and team leadership

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

About the role

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

Large part of your role will focus on supporting county safeguarding and child protection policies and ensuring that they are adhered to. You will play a lead role in improving practice, including the quality of assessments and care planning within the team, leading team meeting discussions 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 knowledge of how to access relevant services. Your working knowledge of the Family Safeguarding Model and Motivational Interviewing will be beneficial in ensuring timely progression of work with families within the FSS 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, including knowledge of relevant law, legislation, guidance, policy and procedures in relation to children and families' social work.

About us

Together, we're shaping children's social care for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of Oxfordshire residents.

In our Children, Education, & Families directorate, we're committed to delivering lasting change, by helping the children, young people, and families of Oxfordshire to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach.

We've been consistently rated as good by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we are ambitious and want to do even better! We're committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with - including successful operation of our transformational model Family Support and Safeguarding (FSS).

Our Rewards & Benefits

• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
• Relocation allowance of up to £8,000 for qualifying candidates.
• A welcome and loyalty bonus of £3,500.
• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, employer's contribution of up to 19.9%
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x 7.
• Range of family friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

How to apply

To apply, you will need to complete an online application form. This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the requirements of the job role and selection criteria, as specified in the job description. You should also attach a cover letter and CV to your application form.

If you experience any difficulties whilst completing the application form, please contact the Recruitment Team using the Recruitment Application Enquiry Form on the Home Page.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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