Team Manager (Childrens Social Work)

CORNWALL COUNCIL; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England is seeking a dedicated Team Manager to lead their specialist children's social work service. This position offers the chance to make a significant difference in the lives of children at risk of family breakdown. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in statutory social work and demonstrate effective managerial skills. The role includes competitive salary, relocation package, and a robust support and wellbeing framework for staff.

Benefits

Competitive starting salary

Generous relocation package

Welcome bonus for new Social Workers

Annual market supplement for advanced practitioners

26 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• Registered Social Worker with Social Work England.
• Documented evidence of leadership in improving child welfare.
• Substantial experience with children and families.

Responsibilities

• Manage a multi-agency adolescent service focused on family breakdown prevention.
• Supervise and develop social workers and practitioners.
• Implement child-first and trauma-informed principles.

Skills

Experience in statutory social work

Effective management

Evidence-based practice

Education

Masters level or equivalent in child and family social work

Job description

Make a difference – Children’s Social Work in Cornwall

“Senior leaders and politicians are relentless in their drive to continue to improve the lives of Cornwall’s children and families”.

Staff’s care, commitment and child focussed approach shine through when they talk about their work. This positive working environment helps to foster a culture in which an enthusiasm and commitment to do the best for children is found at all levels in the organisation.”

Ofsted, July 2024

The Service & Team:

Team Managers make a real difference to the lives of children in Cornwall. We believe that the children of Cornwall deserve the very best. We put their needs at the heart of everything we do, and we are looking for people who share our determination to improve their lives and make a brighter future. If you believe in humane, relationship-based social work with children and families we offer the opportunity to develop your management and leadership career in an innovative and ambitious children’s service in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. We have a range of exciting opportunities leading and managing our high performing social work and multi-disciplinary children’s social care teams. Across our teams we have a range of skilled professionals including Family Workers, Targeted Youth Worker, Psychologists and Functional Family Therapists working alongside our social work staff.

As part of our commitment to outstanding practice, we have put in place a comprehensive core curriculum and career and qualification pathway for our Team Managers to develop their knowledge and skills to deliver the most effective social work and multi-disciplinary interventions with children and families. If you are committed to continuing professional development, can demonstrate strong leadership skills, learning in your practice and in improved outcomes for the children you help and protect, we will provide you with the career options and remuneration that match your expertise.

Cornwall is one of the best places in the country to live, work and bring up a family. We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff and we recognise that they need a good work/life balance as well as supportive leadership and support in the workplace. Cornwall’s location and landscape offers unique opportunities for a healthier, happier way of life.

The Role:

We are looking for a Team Manager for the Gweres Tus Yowynk (GTY - Helping Young People) Service. The postholder will play a key role in the management and delivery of our multi-agency specialist adolescent service that works positively with those children at risk of family breakdown and / or offending. GTY is a county wide service which includes Social Workers, Targeted Youth Workers, Youth Justice Service Officers and Functional Family Therapists. The teams provide intense support, when families are approaching crisis and at risk of breakdown. We also work with children who offend or are at risk of offending, implementing child first and trauma informed principles to ensure children are appropriate supported and where appropriate, diverted from the formal criminal justice system.

This is an exciting time join a high performing, innovative service and be part of an established management team committed to improving outcomes for adolescents.

What you’ll need to succeed:

We have opportunities for experienced social work managers with a track record of effective management, and also experienced social workers looking to take the first step into a Team Manager role.

• You will need to be a Registered Social Worker with Social Work England, with substantial experience in statutory social work with children and families. You will be able to evidence how you have applied your learning to your practice and have a track record of practice that improves the lives of children.
• You will have evidence of post qualifying learning in child and family social work to demonstrate your specialism as a Child and Family Social Worker, preferably at Masters level or equivalent.
• You will have significant experience of evidence-based practice with children and families and the expertise and approach to effectively supervise and manage social workers and other social care practitioners.
• You will be working alongside Advanced Practitioners within your teams supporting practice, learning and development of our Social Workers and social care professionals.

Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert.

What you’ll get in return:

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. Find out more about working and volunteering for us.

In recognition of the vital contribution you make, we offer an attractive package of benefits including:

• A competitive starting salary.
• A generous relocation package
• Welcome bonus of £4000 for qualified Social Workers who are new to social work in Cornwall and have completed their ASYE
• Annual market supplement of £3000 for advanced practitioners
• An individualised induction to meet your specific needs and learning
• An outstanding core curriculum to support your ongoing development with a high-quality programme of evidence-based learning and development to enhance skills and practice.
• An outstanding career and qualification pathway, which will support your progression.
• Regular, high-quality case and reflective supervision
• Supportive management and leadership
• Support to access temporary accommodation if moving from outside of Cornwall
• Access to a Cornwall Council lease car
• 26days paid annual leave per year (rising with length of service), plus bank holidays
• Flexible working opportunities, including homeworking
• A license to access Community Care Inform and Research in Practice.
• Payment of your Social Work England registration fees.

Additional Information:

Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

The post is a permanent position and is based in the mid of the county with St Austell as the primary office base. Own transport essential.

The full role profile is attached here

We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview.

For an informal discussion contact Kate Wilson, Service Manager – [e-mail]: 07483 340 825.

Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process.

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact [e-mail] if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.