Team Manager - Children in Care

Barnsley Council; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a passionate leader to manage a team of social workers focused on improving the lives of children in care. The successful candidate will oversee planning, budgets, and staff development while ensuring the best outcomes for families. Benefits include competitive pay, flexible working, and comprehensive development opportunities.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme

Flexible working hours

Career development opportunities

Support for health and wellbeing

Qualifications

• Significant experience in driving planning and outcomes in social work.
• Working knowledge of policies and legislation related to social work.
• Experience in performance frameworks and partnership working.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of social workers and provide supervision.
• Drive decisions and plans for children to achieve positive outcomes.
• Oversee budgets and performance management.

Skills

Leadership

Working with children and families

Performance management

Supervising social workers

Evidence-based interventions

Education

Recognised social work qualification

Job description

The successful candidate will be required to speak English to an appropriate standard. This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker. Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

• Great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme.
• Flexible working to support work/life balance and adjustable hours.
• Career development opportunities with training and development.
• Thriving borough with plenty of opportunities for impact.
• Collaborative work with residents, partners, businesses and organisations to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post

We are looking for an individual with strong leadership skills to lead and motivate a team of children in care social workers and who has a passion for improving the lives of children in the care system. The post holder will be solution focused and have significant experience of working with children in care, foster carers, residential providers, 16+ provisions and multi-disciplinary partner agencies including Health and Education. You will always question “would this be good enough for my child.” You will be responsible for a small team of social workers, offering regular reflective supervision and driving timely decisions and plans for children that will achieve positive and sustainable outcomes for their future. Other key responsibilities include overseeing budgets, performance management, chairing strategy & placement stability meetings. Children and their families are at the centre of all that we do, and our practice is underpinned by a strength based and relational model.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of social workers.
• Provide regular reflective supervision and staff support.
• Drive timely decisions and plans for children to achieve positive outcomes.
• Oversee budgets, performance management and chair strategy & placement stability meetings.
• Support social workers in developing relationships and applying evidence-based interventions.

Key Qualifications

• Recognised social work qualification.
• Significant experience of working with children and families and of driving planning and outcomes, with a creative approach to intervention.
• Working knowledge of the policies, legislation and procedures that underpin social work practice, including children in care processes.
• Experience supervising social workers, supporting and mentoring.
• Experience working within performance frameworks.
• Experience working in partnership to improve outcomes for children.

Benefits and Remuneration

• A highly competitive salary.
• High quality regular supervision and support, and a nurturing management team that encourages learning and development.
• Flexible working.
• Commitment to continuous professional development with a strong training offer for staff at all levels.
• Good IT support and equipment.
• Commitment to health and wellbeing and access to dedicated assistance programme.

Interview Process and Application

Interviews will take place on 4 December. Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form. Job Profile: Vacancy Exposure Profile: Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your application form how you meet the required criteria.

We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities. We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.

EEO Statement

At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances