Team Manager CLA 16+ UASC AND LEAVING CARE

Borough of Lewisham; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Greater London is seeking a dedicated Team Manager to lead its Children's Looked After and Leaving Care team. You will guide a group of skilled social workers in delivering effective support to children and young people, ensuring a collaborative approach to care. The role requires a strong understanding of social work legislation and a commitment to ensuring positive outcomes for vulnerable children and young adults. Experience leading diverse teams in a challenging environment is essential.

Benefits

Supportive work environment

Regular supervision and training opportunities

Manageable caseloads

Qualifications

• Strong background in safeguarding and statutory social work.
• Expertise in supporting unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers.
• Experience in supervision and line management of staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team delivering support to Children Looked After.
• Ensure effective care and support for Care Experienced young adults.
• Manage direct work and activities with children and their carers.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Support for unaccompanied minors

Leadership skills

Trauma-informed approach

Commitment to child outcomes

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities! We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Its an exciting time to join us – Lewisham is a wave 2 Pathfinder authority and is leading the way on national reforms to social work practice through the Families First for Children programme.

Introduction

Lewisham is seeking a dynamic and dedicated Team Manager to lead one of our CLA (16) UASC and Leaving Care teams. This post offers the opportunity to shape and develop a team at the centre of delivering essential support to Children Looked after Care Leavers and Care experienced young adults.

The team is based within the Corporate Parenting Service and works closely with other CLA Teams, Independent Reviewing Officers, specialist services and external agencies to provide an accountable statutory social work service to children, young people and their families/carers and a statutory leaving care service to our Care Experienced young adults, including assessment, intervention, case/pathway planning and review appropriate to the work of the team and overall service.

You will oversee a team of Social Workers and Personal Advisors delivering direct support in collaboration with key agencies to address needs and prepare young people for independence. The team assesses and supports Children Looked After, including unaccompanied asylum‑seeking children and those preparing to leave care or have left care.

Role

As a team manager you will be a key member of our leadership team and contribute to the development of the service. You will adopt a curious and holistic approach to supporting children and young people to keep them safe and well.

You will manage a team of practitioners who are responsible for undertaking direct work and other activities with children, their Carers and young people. The team is made up of specialist social workers and personal advisors working in collaboration with a dedicated Leaving Care Nurse, Career Coaches and a Mentoring service; all co‑located at our Leaving Care Hub.

As a team manager in the CLA (16) UASC and Leaving Care Service your expertise will play an important part in supporting the statutory social work teams and young person advisors to undertake appropriate interventions and work that enables us to deliver against our Corporate Parenting and other strategies.

About You

We are looking for someone who has knowledge and experience of working with Children Looked After Unaccompanied Asylum‑Seeking Children, Care Leavers and Care Experienced young people and who feels confident in leading a team and contributing to the wider Children and Young People agenda. You will have an in‑depth knowledge of all aspects of practice related to these areas and be able to support others to be curious about the complex issues faced by Lewisham’s children and young people.

You will understand the benefits of providing regular reflective supervision practice that is evidence‑based, partnership‑working and clear decision‑making in Lewisham and embed these as a core part of your management of your team.

Experience and Skills

• A strong background in safeguarding and statutory social work including knowledge of current childcare legislation and practice.
• Expertise in supporting unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers.
• Experience in supervision and line management of staff, including proven leadership skills and experience in supervising diverse teams.
• Confidence in taking a curious and trauma‑informed approach to work with children and young people.
• Commitment to promoting best outcomes for children and young people.

What’s in it for you

• Families supported to stay together wherever safe.
• Families understand why the council is involved.
• Children report their social worker has made a difference to their lives.
• Children in care know they are cared for and will not be abandoned.
• Young people who have been in care feel confident about their future.
• Access to a whole‑system approach that uses the Signs of Safety practice model.
• Staff enjoy manageable caseloads, regular supervision, team meetings and a wide range of training including the social work model of practice.
• Senior leaders focus on hearing children’s voices to improve services.
• Opportunities to drive workforce stability, high‑quality support and partnership work.

Why choose Lewisham

Lewisham offers a supportive and inclusive environment. Social workers benefit from working in small teams with caseloads of 15–20 children on average. The Signs of Safety, family‑led practice framework, encourages relationship‑based work and strengths identification. A positive learning culture promotes reflection and relationship‑based practice, with opportunities for case mapping, group supervision and continuous improvement.

What we are looking for

• Value communication and feedback.
• Inspire, motivate, manage and lead teams.
• Commit to developing skills and expertise for excellent service delivery.
• Be professionally curious, thinking slowly and calmly in a balanced way.
• Work inclusively and collaboratively recognising others’ strengths.
• Take responsibility and contribute positively by focusing on solutions.
• Be transparent, appreciative and open to enquiry, reflection and learning.

Location

The job is based at 43 45 Bromley Road, Catford SE6. Two local train stations are 7–10 minutes on foot, and the train journey from London Bridge is approximately 15 minutes. Numerous bus routes stop close to the office.

Your application

The recruitment process is anonymous and we do not accept CVs. Please read the applicant handbook and ensure your supporting statement covers how you meet each specification criterion.

Special conditions

• The post holder must have a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
• Eligibility for a DBS check (Basic/Enhanced).

Salary

£60,633 to £62,742 per annum (SCP 45–47). All appointments will be offered at the minimum point on the scale for the grade of the role; a higher salary may be considered if current pay is matched (up to the scale maximum).

Creating an Inclusive Lewisham

A core value of Lewisham Council is to draw on the diversity of our communities to create a more inclusive Lewisham. We believe freedom from discrimination and equality of opportunity are fundamental rights and that each person should be valued regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender re‑assignment, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity or age. Social inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do as a council.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all abilities. If you require reasonable adjustments in the application or interview process, please contact the lead contact. We support the access‑to‑work scheme and have a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, to guide residents in applying for jobs.

Lewisham Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.