Team Manager - Children in Care Team

Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in London is seeking a Team Manager for their Children in Care service. You will lead a team of social workers, ensuring high-quality support for children in care and overseeing vital processes. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in social work with children, leadership capabilities, and a commitment to improving outcomes. This role offers opportunities for development within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Manageable caseloads

Supportive leadership

Qualifications

• Strong experience working with children in care and understanding of permanency planning.
• Track record of supervising and supporting staff, managing performance.
• Passion for improving outcomes for children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Lead a dedicated team of social workers in supporting children in care.
• Oversee court progression work and promote placement stability.
• Develop care plans that reflect children's needs and aspirations.

Skills

Experience with children in care

Supervision and support skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Education

Qualified social worker (registered with Social Work England)

Job description

The Role:

As Team Manager in the Children in Care service, you will lead a dedicated team of social workers who support children who are looked after by the local authority. You will play a critical role in ensuring that all children in our care receive consistent, high-quality support and that permanency planning, court progression, and care planning are delivered with a sense of urgency and purpose.

You will:

• Provide visible, values-led leadership that upholds and champions Merton's Values and Corporate Parenting Principles, ensuring that every child in care is treated as if they were our own.
• Oversee and drive court progression work, ensuring that care proceedings and permanency plans are progressed in a timely and child-centred manner.
• Offer strong management oversight and reflective supervision to your team, helping to develop confident, creative, and accountable practitioners.
• Ensure that all children in care have robust and regularly updated care plans which reflect their needs, aspirations, and identity.
• Promote placement stability, emotional wellbeing, and long-term planning (permanence), working with carers, IROs, and partner agencies to secure the best possible outcomes and life stories for our children
• Use data and performance information to monitor progress, identify areas for improvement, and support continuous service development.
• Represent the service in permanency tracking meetings, court planning forums, and multi-agency reviews.

What We're Looking For:

We are seeking a qualified social worker (registered with Social Work England) with:

• Strong experience working with children in care and a clear understanding of permanency planning, court processes, and statutory responsibilities.
• A track record of supervising and supporting staff, managing performance, and promoting a culture of learning.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organisational skills.
• A passion for improving outcomes for children and young people and for leading with integrity, curiosity, and compassion.

Why Join Merton?

Social workers love working in Merton because:

• We put children first - their voices shape our decisions.
• We build strong relationships - with families, carers, and each other.
• We invest in our staff - with excellent learning and development opportunities, manageable caseloads, and visible, supportive leadership.
• We embrace diversity - and thrive on inclusion and mutual respect.

We have implemented a blended practice model that combines the best of Signs of Safety, systemic practice, and relationship-based social work. Our workforce is stable, supported, and ambitious - and we want you to be part of it.