Team Manager - MACPT

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

Job summary

A local government authority in London seeks an experienced Team Manager for their newly established Multi Agency Child Protection Teams. This role offers a chance to shape social work practice to ensure children's safety and well-being in the community. Candidates must have strong leadership skills, thorough knowledge of safeguarding processes, and previous supervisory experience. The position offers a salary range of £60,633 – £62,742 per year and promotes a hybrid work environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local Government Pension scheme

Flexible working

Staff discounts

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading and managing a team.
• Thorough knowledge of child protection legislation.
• Proven supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee decision-making and practice quality.
• Support operational practice in the team.
• Develop relationships with partner agencies.

Skills

Operational safeguarding practice

Team management

Budget management

Communication

Leadership

Education

Degree in Social Work or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

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.

Introduction

We are seeking an experienced team manager to lead one of the newly established Multi Agency Child Protection Teams.

What's the role?

This role will play a key part in the shaping and development of this team and is an exciting opportunity to influence social work practice on a local and national level. The successful candidate will be able to work effectively across the multi‑agency partnership to assist the Group Manager to develop the team.

The successful candidate will have experience of supervising staff and a thorough knowledge of child protection and PLO/court processes and accompanying legislation.

Responsibilities

• Chair or attend all strategy discussions
• Co‑work all S47 enquiries with Family Help
• Co‑work all child protection cases with Family Help
• Chair child protection conferences
• Provide QA, consultation & advice across all stages of child protection work
• Co‑work all Public Law Outline cases
• Co‑work early stages of care proceedings

The Role

The Team Manager supports the Group Manager and has responsibility for directly supervising the members within the team, overseeing and ensuring the quality of decision making and practice of the workers. This is a crucial role which requires strong leadership and a proactive approach to create a positive team culture within a multi‑agency staff group.

The role will require you to work closely with other teams in children’s social care, developing and maintaining relationships with staff and our partner agencies.

About You

• Operational safeguarding practice
• Team management
• Managing complex frontline operational safeguarding practice
• Managing a budget

The person applying must have a thorough technical knowledge of the requirements of Working Together 2023, the Pan London Child Protection Procedures and other relevant safeguarding statutory guidance. A track record of practice improvement and an in depth understanding of the Signs of Safety practice framework are essential. You will have significant experience of leading and managing a team.

You will lead your team to promote and deliver the objective that all children and young people in Lewisham are safe and reach their full potential.

As the team manager you will support operational practice within the team and contribute to strategic oversight for the service. You will have 5‑7 direct reports, as well as overseeing multi‑agency colleagues (who will retain line management responsibilities within their own agencies). You will be responsible for monitoring practice against KPIs and for practice improvement in your team using Signs of Safety as our practice framework.

You will need to be a skilled and reflective practitioner and leader with a clear vision of what good practice with children and families looks like. You will be able to use and analyse performance data effectively to support our work with children and families and have a good understanding of different methods of quality assurance. You will supervise team members and support them in their professional development.

You will need to be a registered social worker and have recent proven supervisory experience and be able to demonstrate your experience, skill, and ability to think strategically and embed the strategic objectives into operational practice, leading by example, supporting people to deliver agile services that meet the needs of our children.

A child‑focused approach is essential, ensuring that the views of Lewisham children are central to developing and delivering services.

Our Vision – What Good Children’s Social Work Looks Like in Lewisham

• Families are respected and supported to stay together whenever there is safety.
• Families will tell us they understand why we are involved.
• Children will tell us their social worker has made a difference to their lives.
• Children who are in our care know we care and we will not give up on them.
• Young people who have been in our care feel confident about their future.

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 that 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 and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or age. Social inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do as a Council in our roles as an employer, a provider of services and a community leader.

What's in it for you?

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

• Value the importance of communication and seeking feedback
• Can inspire and motivate those they work with, manage and lead
• Are committed to developing their skills and expertise to deliver an excellent service
• Are professionally curious and value thinking slowly and calmly in a balanced way
• Work inclusively, collaboratively with others recognising their strengths
• Take responsibility and make a positive contribution by focusing on solutions
• Are transparent, appreciative in enquiry, reflect and learn

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• To apply for this post, you must have a degree in social work or equivalent qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
• The job is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don't accept CVs.

Applicant handbook – please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about the role and recruitment process, please email [e-mail] with your contact details and we will call you to discuss the role in more detail.

Further information

Lewisham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Salary

£60,633 – £62,742 per annum (TM/ SCP 45‑47)

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply.

The council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email [e-mail] and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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