Social Work Team Manager – Duty & Assessment

Neway International Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading social care provider is seeking a Team Manager to join Barnet Council within Family Services. The successful candidate will provide leadership to the Duty & Assessment Team, ensuring high-quality assessments and safeguarding decisions. This role requires a qualified Social Worker with at least 3 years of experience at the team manager level, along with a strong background in assessment work. The position involves office attendance for approximately two days a week and a full-time commitment during duty weeks.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience at Team Manager level required.
• Strong background in Duty & Assessment or similar frontline services.
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding and statutory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and management to the Duty & Assessment Team.
• Oversee complex cases and ensure compliance with statutory duties.
• Support staff development and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Social Work Excellence

Decision Making

Analytical Skills

Quality Assurance

Education

Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration

Job description

Neway International are seeking a Team Manager – Duty & Assessment Social Care Qualified, to join our client Barnet Council within Family Services.

Location

2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, NW9 4EW

Hours

36 per week

Work Pattern

Approx. 2 days per week in the office.
Every 4th week is a full duty week and requires office attendance every day.

Interviews

Will be held in person.

About the Client

Barnet Council’s Family Services directorate is committed to delivering high‑quality, child‑centred social work that promotes safety, stability, and positive outcomes for children and families. The Duty & Assessment Team is the frontline of safeguarding, responding to new referrals, undertaking assessments, and ensuring timely, effective decision‑making.

The Role

The Team Manager will lead and support a busy Duty & Assessment Team, ensuring high‑quality practice, robust decision‑making, and effective oversight of safeguarding activity. This role requires a confident, experienced manager with a strong background in assessment work and the ability to lead practitioners through fast‑paced, complex situations.

You will provide reflective supervision, quality assurance, and operational leadership, ensuring statutory requirements are met and children’s needs remain central to all planning and intervention.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strong leadership and management to the Duty & Assessment Team, ensuring high‑quality, timely assessments and safeguarding decisions.
• Offer reflective supervision, guidance, and support to social workers and practitioners.
• Oversee complex cases, ensuring risk is identified, managed, and escalated appropriately.
• Ensure compliance with statutory duties, local policies, and best practice standards.
• Lead duty weeks every 4th week, ensuring effective triage, allocation, and oversight of referrals.
• Quality‑assure assessments, reports, and case recordings.
• Support staff development, performance management, and continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively with multi‑agency partners to promote effective safeguarding.
• Attend management meetings, strategy discussions, and relevant panels as required.
• Uphold Barnet Council’s values and commitment to child‑centred practice.

Candidate Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience at Team Manager level (essential).
• Strong background in Duty & Assessment or similar frontline assessment services (essential).
• Proven ability to lead, supervise, and support social work staff.
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment, and statutory frameworks.
• Confident decision‑maker with strong analytical and quality‑assurance skills.
• Ability to work in the office approx. 2 days per week and full‑time during duty weeks.