Family Help Team Manager
Hillingdon Council
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Hillingdon Council's Outstanding Family Help Service is seeking an experienced Team Manager to lead one of our Family Help Teams in the South East Locality. You will oversee social workers and key workers, foster a positive team culture and drive high-quality, relationship‑based practice.
You will hold a recognised social work qualification, SW England registration and substantial experience in statutory children’s services, with strong leadership, safeguarding expertise and a commitment to
Qualifications
- 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.
- Ability to make sound decisions in complex situations and manage risk effectively.
- Excellent communication, leadership and partnership-working skills.
- Commitment to strengths-based, relationship-focused and trauma-informed practice.
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
Education
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
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 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.
As a Team Manager, you will lead a team of skilled alternatively qualified and social work qualified practitioners supporting children and families across Targeted Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection. You will ensure high-quality practice, strong multi-agency collaboration and a relentless focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children.
- 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.
We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader(or senior Social Worker / 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.
- 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.
- 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 supervision
- An 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.
We encourage you to consider this unique opportunity. Interviews are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 9 September 2026.
About us
We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:
- Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
- 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
- Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
- Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
- Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
- Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
- Perkbox Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Perkbox Benefits.
- Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
- Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
- Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.
At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.
The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.
Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.
Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:
- Enhanced DBS Check
- Qualifications Check
- Professional Registration Check
- 5 years of Referencing
Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised. It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
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