Team Manager

Service Care Solutions; Chatham; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority is seeking a Team Manager for their 0-17 Disability Service in Chatham. The role involves leading a team of Social Workers, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and enhancing outcomes for disabled children and young people. Candidates must be qualified Social Workers with considerable experience in safeguarding and disability services. This permanent, full-time position offers a competitive salary and additional financial benefits like market premia and retention payments.

Benefits

Market premia

Retention payment

Supportive work culture

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in safeguarding, disability services, or children’s social care.
• Strong leadership and reflective practice skills.
• Commitment to high-quality outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of experienced Social Workers.
• Ensure high-quality assessments and interventions.
• Supervise Newly Qualified Social Workers and students.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Reflective Practice

Partnership Building

Education

Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration

Job description

Job Description

Team Manager – 0–17 Disability Service Medway Council – Children & Adults Directorate

Salary: £51,131–£55,607 per annum

Plus:

• Market premia: £7,000 per annum (paid in 12 monthly instalments)
• Retention payment: £3,000 per annum (paid each April after 1 year in post)

Grade: SW4

Job Family: PSW0251

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Make a difference to the lives of disabled children and young people in Medway. Medway Council is seeking an ambitious, motivated, and reflective Team Manager to join our 0–17 Disability Service. This is a rewarding leadership role where you will directly influence high‑quality social work practice, support experienced practitioners, and ensure disabled children and young adults receive the services, protection, and opportunities they deserve.

As part of our Children & Adults Directorate, you will be central to delivering Medway’s vision for Children’s Social Care—ensuring that all disabled children and young people are safeguarded, supported, and enabled to reach their full potential.

Leadership & Management

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of experienced Social Workers.
• Deliver high‑quality, reflective professional supervision and robust performance development plans.
• Use performance data to monitor practice quality, drive improvement, and ensure compliance with statutory standards.
• Support safer recruitment and staff retention across Children’s Social Care.
• Contribute to the management and monitoring of the team’s staffing budget.

Service Delivery & Quality

• Ensure assessments, statutory visits, reviews, and interventions are completed to a high standard and within statutory timescales.
• Allocate cases within required timescales and ensure plans for children and families are focused, outcome‑driven, and regularly reviewed.
• Promote and model effective partnership working with internal teams, schools, health services, voluntary agencies, and other partners.
• Keep up to date with legislation, research, policy, and national developments in disability and safeguarding practice.

Professional Development & Support

• Support, supervise, and assess Newly Qualified Social Workers in their ASYE and students on placement.
• Offer reflective guidance, coaching, and professional challenge that strengthens social work practice.
• Deputise for the Group Manager when required and provide cover for other Team Managers.

Corporate Responsibilities

• Promote work‑life balance and flexible working to support a healthy, motivated workforce.
• Champion Fair Access, Diversity & Inclusion across all aspects of practice and leadership.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation and local policies.
• Uphold the Council’s responsibilities under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
• Undertake additional duties, where appropriate, aligned with the needs of the service.

What We’re Looking For

• Is a qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• Has substantial experience in safeguarding, disability services, or children’s social care.
• Demonstrates strong leadership, reflective practice, and excellent communication skills.
• Can build effective partnerships and foster a strengths‑based, child‑centred culture.
• Is committed to continuous improvement, professional development, and high‑quality outcomes.

Why Join Medway?

• Strong vision for improving outcomes for disabled children and families.
• Supportive culture with a focus on reflective supervision and professional growth.
• Excellent benefits including market premia and annual retention payments.
• Opportunities to progress within a developing and ambitious Children’s Services directorate.

Apply Today. If you are passionate about leading social work practice and improving the lives of disabled children, young people, and their families, we would love to hear from you.

Take the next step in your leadership journey with Medway Council.