Family Help Team Manager

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Social Work England registration fee

Flexible and hybrid working

TOIL provided

Free parking

Excellent transport links

34–37 days annual leave

Job summary

London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking an experienced Family Help Team Manager to lead one of our South East locality teams. You will empower social workers and key workers, strengthen relationships with children and families, and drive high-quality, trauma-informed practice.

You will oversee assessments, plans and interventions, support workforce development, and build partnerships with schools, health services and police.

Qualifications

• A recognised Social Work qualification (BA, MA or equivalent).
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Significant experience within statutory children's social care services.
• Experience supervising, supporting or developing practitioners and promoting excellent social work practice.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, child development and relevant practice frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership, oversight and management to a team of social workers and key workers.
• Create a positive team culture where staff feel supported, valued and empowered to achieve excellent outcomes.
• Drive high-quality, relationship-based practice through effective supervision, coaching and professional development.
• Ensure children receive timely and effective interventions that improve safety, wellbeing and long-term resilience.
• Maintain oversight of assessments, plans and interventions, ensuring they are child-focused and outcome-driven.
• Lead on decision-making and risk management within statutory safeguarding processes.
• Promote strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches across all aspects of practice.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools, health services, police, adult services and voluntary sector organisations.
• Support service development, innovation and continuous improvement within the Family Help model.
• Contribute to workforce development, recruitment, retention and succession planning across the service.
• Support our ambition of becoming a fully trauma-informed service.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Supervision

Stakeholder engagement

Trauma-informed practice

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

About the role

If you are an inspiring leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families, developing excellent social work practice and supporting staff to thrive, Hillingdon is the place for you.

Following our recent Outstanding Ofsted judgement, we continue to invest in our workforce and create the conditions for strong, effective leadership. We know that exceptional services are built on supportive management, stable teams and a culture where children remain at the centre of everything we do.

As a Team Manager within our innovative Family Help Service, you will play a key role in leading practice, developing staff and driving positive change for children and families across Hillingdon.

That's why we offer:

• Ambitious, dynamic and welcoming teams where you will be supported in your practice and your professional growth
• Salary up to £67,016 per year (including £4,250 retention payment) ( Salary placement will be determined based on qualifications, skills and experience)
• £4,250 Retention Payment
• Social Work England registration fee paid
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• TOIL provided
• Excellent transport links, just minutes from the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines and M40 motorway
• Free parking
• Outstanding Ofsted and Children's Services recognition
• Manageable team structures and caseloads
• Stable and experienced permanent senior leadership team
• Visible, approachable and supportive senior managers
• Regular clinical supervision, reflective supervision and management support
• High-quality leadership and management development opportunities
• A relationship-based, strengths-led and trauma-informed practice model
• Modern locality-based teams and working environments
• Opportunity to help shape and influence service development
• Up to 34 days annual leave, rising to 37 days with long service, plus bank holidays

About Our Family Help Service

Hillingdon's Family Help Service is at the forefront of the national Families First Partnership Programme, bringing together early help, targeted support and statutory intervention to provide seamless support for children and families.

Working within our locality-based teams, you'll support children from Child in Need through to Child Protection, developing strong relationships with families and partners within your local community.

Our approach is simple: Build relationships. Create change. Improve outcomes.

Our locality-based model enables professionals to build strong partnerships within communities, delivering timely and effective support that improves outcomes and reduces the need for escalation.

The Role

As a Family Help Team Manager you will:

• Provide effective leadership, oversight and management to a team of social workers and key workers.
• Create a positive team culture where staff feel supported, valued and empowered to achieve excellent outcomes.
• Drive high-quality, relationship-based practice through effective supervision, coaching and professional development.
• Ensure children receive timely and effective interventions that improve safety, wellbeing and long-term resilience.
• Maintain oversight of assessments, plans and interventions, ensuring they are child-focused and outcome-driven.
• Lead on decision-making and risk management within statutory safeguarding processes.
• Promote strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches across all aspects of practice.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools, health services, police, adult services and voluntary sector organisations.
• Support service development, innovation and continuous improvement within the Family Help model.
• Contribute to workforce development, recruitment, retention and succession planning across the service.
• Support our ambition of becoming a fully trauma-informed service.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader (or senior SocialWorker / Deputy manager looking to step up into leadership) to lead one of our Family Help Teams in the South East Locality. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping services that make a real difference to children and families. who is passionate about delivering outstanding services for children and families.

About You

You will have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification (BA, MA or equivalent).
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Significant experience within statutory children's social care services.
• Experience of supervising, supporting or developing practitioners and promoting excellent social work practice.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, child development and relevant practice frameworks.
• The ability to make sound decisions in complex situations and manage risk effectively.
• Excellent communication, leadership and partnership-working skills.
• A commitment to strengths-based, relationship-focused and trauma-informed practice.

Most importantly, you will be a leader who inspires confidence, promotes a learning culture and believes that positive relationships can transform children's lives.

Why Hillingdon?

At Hillingdon, we are proud of what we've achieved:

• Outstanding Ofsted judgement
• Innovative Family Help model shaping the future of children's service
• Experienced and stable permanent leadership team
• Strong culture of support and collaboration
• Commitment to staff wellbeing and professional development
• Manageable workloads and high-quality supervisionAn ambitious vision for children and families

Our managers tell us that what makes Hillingdon different is the combination of supportive leadership, empowered teams and the opportunity to make a genuine difference every day.

Make Your Next Career Move Count

If you are looking for an Outstanding local authority where your leadership will be valued, your development supported and your impact recognised, we would love to hear from you.

Join Hillingdon's Family Help Service and help lead the transformation of children's lives, families and communities across