CLA / Care Leaver Team Manager

Hertfordshire County Council; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council is seeking a Corporate Parent Team Manager to lead either a CLA Team or Care Leaver Team in Stevenage/Apsley with countywide travel. You will shape service delivery, support care leavers and children in care, and drive outcomes for young people.

Essential experience includes qualified and registered social work, post-qualifying practice, and strong leadership with partnership skills. DBS and driving licence are required; UK right to work is needed.

Qualifications

• Qualified & registered Social Worker with current UK registration.
• Post-qualifying experience in frontline statutory services.
• Ability to lead and develop practice within children’s services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team, inspiring best practice and guiding them to deliver positive outcomes.
• Work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to develop practice and respond to challenges.
• Ensure statutory obligations are met and monitor team performance for excellence.
• Develop strategies using understanding of external influences, legislation, and council processes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Team development

Advocacy

Education

Qualified & registered Social Worker

Social Work degree

Job description

Job Introduction Job Title: CLA / Care Leaver Team Starting Salary: £55,582 + £8,842 market enhanced payment progressing to £61,460 + £8,891 market enhanced payment per annum Hours:37 Location: Stevenage or Apsley with countywide travel required Contract Type: Permanent Directorate:Childrens Services

About The Team

Our Children Looked After, Separated Migrant and Care Leaver Service exists to ensure that every young person in our care — and every care leaver we support — has the stability, guidance and opportunities they need to thrive into adulthood. Our purpose is to provide consistent, relationship‑based support that helps young people feel safe, valued and empowered as they navigate their journey toward independence.

You will be joining a dedicated and passionate management group within a service made up of 14 teams, all working collaboratively to deliver high‑quality, trauma‑informed support. You will be joining the service at an exciting time as we are reconsidering our service delivery model, prompted by changes in the local needs of our children and young people; a recent staff survey and in preparation for local government reform. As a Corporate Parent Team Manager, you will, initially line manging a CLA Team supporting children in care up to the age of 18 or a Care Leaving Team supporting young people in early adulthood aged 18-25. You will also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our service, strengthening our practice, and ensuring we deliver the best possible outcomes for the children and young people we serve.

About The Role

You will be a valued member of the management group, leading either a Children Looked After (CLA) Team or Care Leaver Team to be the best corporate parent, delivering a high-quality service to Hertfordshire Children Looked After and Care Leavers.

Key responsibilities will see you:

• Lead and develop a team, inspiring best practice, and guiding and supporting them to deliver positive outcomes.
• Work in partnership with a range of internal and external stake holders to lead and develop practice, identify, and respond to challenges and learn from our strengths. You will have the ability to develop and sustain partnership working and be an effective advocate for the Council.
• Ensure statutory obligations are met, driving excellence through the effective monitoring and evaluation of team performance, ensuring a capable, trained, supported, and supervised workforce
• Support your team by developing strategies using your understanding of external influences, legislation, and council processes to continually improve the service.

You will also have the joy of working with the children and young people who are members of our Children in Care Council, ensuring that their voices are continuing to influence service delivery.

About You

Essential:

• Qualified & registered Social Worker
• Extensive post qualifying experience in frontline statutory services
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop practice within children’s services, including partnership working with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of statutory responsibilities and legislation relevant to Children Looked After and Care Leaving services.
• Ability to build, motivate, supervise, and support a team to achieve high standards of practice and outcomes.
• Strategic thinking skills with the ability to respond to challenges, learn from strengths, and drive continual service improvement.
• Effective communication, relationship‑building, and advocacy skills at a management level.
• Full UK driving licence and regular access to vehicle.

Passionate about achieving outcomes and making a difference, this is a management position in a service of likeminded, equally passionate professionals, all working towards the same goal.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 13. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles - Health and social care

Interview Date

9th November - Face to Face; Stevenage office

Benefits of working for us

Additional Information

We are changing

Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), creating a unique opportunity to help shape the future of local services. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident

We are proud to be aDisability Confident employerand guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving Required

You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.