Manager, Social Worker

Herefordshire Council; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is looking for a dedicated Children's Social Work Manager to lead a Safeguarding & Support team. In this role, you will oversee child protection efforts and lead social work practitioners to enhance outcomes for children and families. Strong leadership, expertise in child in need cases, and a commitment to safeguarding are essential. Competitive salary with benefits such as a welcome payment and flexible working options are offered. Join us in making a difference in the community.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Welcome payment £10,000

Relocation support up to £10,000

Generous annual leave

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England.
• Experience in leading safeguarding or complex child protection work.
• Strong planning and decision-making abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a Safeguarding & Support team.
• Embed restorative, relationship-based practice.
• Ensure effective risk management and timely intervention.
• Collaborate with senior managers and partners.

Skills

Leadership in safeguarding

Child protection expertise

Strong analytical skills

Effective communication

Education

Recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW)

Job description

Overview

Join us on our Restorative Journey of Improvement and help us achieve the very best outcomes for children and families in Herefordshire. We are looking for a passionate, qualified, and experienced Children's Social Work Manager to lead one of our six Safeguarding & Support teams. You will bring expertise across child in need and child protection work, PLO and pre-proceedings, care proceedings, and adoption. You will lead a team of social workers and family support workers, supported by a Managing Practitioner as part of our new locality structure. We are seeking a leader committed to high-quality supervision, clear case direction, and a relentless focus on improving outcomes for children. You will help embed strong, relationship-based, restorative practice across the service and contribute to a supportive, forward-thinking team dedicated to making a real difference for children and families in Herefordshire.

Herefordshire is on a journey, and you could be part of our next chapter. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve the lives of children and young people across our communities. This role will be based within the Safeguarding & Support service, which comprises six teams across three locality offices: South Locality (Ross-on-Wye), North Locality (Leominster) and Central Locality (Hereford).

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a Safeguarding & Support team, providing high-quality supervision, clear case direction, and strong practices standards.
• Provide expertise in child in need and child protection work, Proceedings and pre-proceedings (PLO), care proceedings, and adoption.
• Embed restorative, relationship-based practice and work collaboratively with families and multi-agency partners to achieve the best outcomes for children.
• Ensure effective risk management, timely intervention, and robust safety planning with evidence-based practice.
• Foster a supportive, fast-paced team environment that contributes to continuous improvement and staff development.
• Collaborate with senior managers and partners; available for guidance and support on navigating complex cases.

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England and hold a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW).
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• Experience leading safeguarding or complex child protection work and management of teams is preferred.
• Strong analysis, planning, and decision-making skills with the ability to articulate risks and safety plans clearly.

Locality and Team Structures

Our Safeguarding and Support service is made up of six teams, working from three locality offices: South Locality (Ross-on-Wye), North Locality (Leominster), and Central Locality (Hereford). Each team comprises a Team Manager, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, and a team of Family Support Workers.

Support and Benefits

• Competitive salary: HC11 £51,356–£55,915 (plus market supplement of £5,000 per year).
• Welcome payment £10,000 for experienced social workers joining our children’s teams.
• Relocation support up to £10,000.
• LGPS pension; professional development funding and time.
• Career progression opportunities and generous annual leave (31 days plus bank holidays, with option to purchase up to 10 additional days).
• Flexible working options including flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours, and occasional home working.
• Employee Assistance Programme and support services; payment of professional membership fees.
• Access to a range of retail, leisure, health benefits, and discounts.

Ethics and safeguarding: All appointments are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced checks and relevant pre-employment checks. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are an equal opportunity employer, including the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant pledges.