Short Breaks Manager

Reading Borough Council; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Flexible working

Life Assurance - 3x salary

On-site nursery Kennet Day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join the CYPD Team as Short Break Child in Need Manager. This role blends direct practice, leadership and specialist MCA expertise to improve outcomes for children and families affected by disability.

You will supervise Short Break Practitioners and ASYE Social Workers, manage a small caseload, mentor colleagues, and collaborate with partners to enhance services and pathways while maintaining child-centred practice across Reading.

Qualifications

• Recognised Social Work qualification.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Minimum three years plus post-qualification social work experience.
• Experience working with children, young people and families.
• Experience undertaking Mental Capacity Assessments.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support Short Break Child in Need Practitioners and ASYE Social Workers.
• Hold a small caseload of complex children and family cases.
• Undertake and quality assure Mental Capacity Assessments (MCA).
• Provide guidance, mentoring and specialist support to social workers undertaking MCA work.
• Lead on legal case discussions relating to young people aged 16+ where restrictions and High Court applications may be required.
• Represent the service at Continuing Healthcare Panels and multi-agency meetings.
• Support transition planning for young people moving into adult services.
• Work closely with partners to develop and improve short break services and pathways.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Relationship-building

Decision-making

Mentoring

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Working arrangements: Hybrid, 3 days a week in the office.

Reading Borough Council is looking for an experienced and passionate Social Worker to join our Children and Young People with Disabilities (CYPD) Team as a Short Break Child in Need Manager.

This is an exciting opportunity to combine direct practice, leadership and specialist expertise to improve outcomes for children and young people with disabilities and their families. Working within our supportive and ambitious service, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality social work practice, managing short break services and supporting colleagues across the wider organisation.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

As the Short Break Child in Need Manager, you will:

• Manage and support Short Break Child in Need Practitioners and ASYE Social Workers.
• Hold a small caseload of complex children and family cases.
• Undertake and quality assure Mental Capacity Assessments (MCA).
• Provide guidance, mentoring and specialist support to social workers undertaking MCA work.
• Lead on legal case discussions relating to young people aged 16+ where restrictions and High Court applications may be required.
• Represent the service at Continuing Healthcare Panels and multi-agency meetings.
• Support transition planning for young people moving into adult services.
• Work closely with partners to develop and improve short break services and pathways.
• Promote high-quality, child-centred practice and positive outcomes for children and young people with disabilities.

About you

We're looking for a skilled and motivated Social Worker who can demonstrate:

• A recognised Social Work qualification.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• At least three years' post-qualified social work experience.
• Experience working with children, young people and families.
• Experience undertaking Mental Capacity Assessments.
• Strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to manage complex situations, assess risk and make sound decisions.
• Commitment to reflective practice, continuous improvement and the development of others

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Closing Date: 26/08/2026 Interview Date: TBC Interview Process: TBC