Team Manager - Pathways (Leaving Care Service)

Middlesbrough Council; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Middlesbrough Children's Services is seeking a Team Manager for the Pathways Team (Leaving Care Service). You will lead Personal Advisers and practitioners working with care-experienced young people aged 16 to 25, helping them transition to independence with quality support.

You'll collaborate with partners to deliver education, employment and training opportunities while driving service improvement and corporate parenting ambitions across the council.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with degree, diploma, or equivalent.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Experience with looked-after children or leaving care services.
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop others.
• Skilled in assessment, planning, risk management and outcomes-focused interventions.
• Committed to participation, independence and aspiration for young people.
• Strong partnerships and influence for positive change.
• Management or supervisory experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, management oversight and professional support to the Pathways Team.
• Ensure high-quality pathway planning and transition arrangements for young people.
• Promote ambitious plans to help young people achieve goals and aspirations.
• Support practitioners to build trusting relationships with young people.
• Support access to education, employment, training and other opportunities.
• Oversee housing, health, wellbeing, finances and independent living skills support.
• Drive quality assurance and promote excellent practice.
• Monitor performance and statutory responsibilities for care leavers.
• Collaborate with housing, education, health, adult services and partners.
• Ensure voices of care-experienced young people influence service development.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Partnerships

Assessment & planning

Risk management

Communication

Change management

Education

Social Work qualification

Degree / Diploma

Job description

Team Manager - Pathways (Leaving Care Service)

Middlesbrough Children's Services

Lead with Purpose. Champion Ambition. Change Futures.

Every care experienced young person deserves someone who believes in them, champions their ambitions and helps them navigate the journey to adulthood with confidence.

At Middlesbrough Children's Services, we are looking for an exceptional Team Manager to lead our Pathways Team (Leaving Care Service) and help shape brighter futures for our care experienced young people.

This is more than a management role. It is an opportunity to lead a dedicated team that supports young people as they move towards independence, helping them achieve stability, develop resilience and realise their aspirations.

As part of our ambitious improvement journey, we are transforming services for children and young people across Middlesbrough. We are determined to be an outstanding Corporate Parent and ensure every care experienced young person receives the support, opportunities and encouragement they need to thrive.

We are looking for an inspiring leader who shares that ambition and is passionate about improving outcomes for care experienced young people.

Why Choose Middlesbrough?

This is an exciting time to join Middlesbrough Children's Services.

We are investing in our workforce, strengthening our leadership teams and creating a culture where practice excellence, innovation and high aspirations for young people are at the heart of everything we do.

When you join us, you'll benefit from:

• A 15% Retention Payment.
• Stable and experienced senior leadership teams.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Free parking across selected Middlesbrough car parks.
• Excellent wellbeing and employee support services.
• Car salary sacrifice scheme.
• Outstanding training and leadership development opportunities.
• Strong professional support networks.
• Opportunities to influence service development and strategic planning.
• A culture built on collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.

The Role

As Team Manager for the Pathways Team, you will lead and support Personal Advisers and practitioners working with care experienced young people aged 16 to 25.

You will play a vital role in ensuring young people receive high-quality support as they prepare for adulthood and move towards greater independence.

This is an opportunity to lead a service that genuinely changes lives.

You will work closely with young people, staff, partner agencies and senior leaders to ensure care experienced young people receive the support, advocacy and opportunities they deserve.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing leadership, management oversight and professional support to the Pathways Team.
• Ensuring high-quality pathway planning and transition arrangements for young people.
• Promoting ambitious plans that support young people to achieve their goals and aspirations.
• Supporting practitioners to build strong, trusting and meaningful relationships with young people.
• Ensuring young people are supported into education, employment, training and other opportunities.
• Overseeing support relating to accommodation, health, emotional wellbeing, finances and independent living skills.
• Driving quality assurance activities and promoting excellent practice.
• Monitoring performance and ensuring statutory responsibilities towards care leavers are met.
• Working collaboratively with housing, education, health, adult services and community partners.
• Ensuring the voices of care experienced young people influence service development and decision-making.
• Supporting young people to develop the skills, confidence and resilience needed for adulthood.
• Contributing to Middlesbrough's Corporate Parenting ambitions and wider improvement programme.

This role requires a leader who can inspire others while maintaining an unwavering focus on the needs, aspirations and outcomes of young people.

Corporate Parenting Beyond Age 18

At Middlesbrough, we believe being a Corporate Parent does not stop when a young person becomes an adult.

Our Pathways Team is committed to ensuring care experienced young people receive the same encouragement, support and opportunities that any good parent would provide.

We want our young people to:

• Live in safe and suitable accommodation.
• Access education, employment and training opportunities.
• Enjoy positive emotional and physical wellbeing.
• Develop independence and life skills.
• Build supportive and lasting relationships.
• Realise their ambitions and achieve their full potential.

As Team Manager, you will play a key role in helping make these ambitions a reality.

Shape Practice. Develop People. Lead Improvement.

We know that strong leadership creates strong services.

As Team Manager, you will help create an environment where practitioners feel supported, valued and empowered to deliver outstanding practice.

You will be responsible for:

• Delivering high-quality reflective supervision.
• Supporting professional development and career progression.
• Promoting innovation and relationship-based practice.
• Creating a positive and supportive team culture.
• Supporting staff to manage complex situations confidently.
• Driving continuous service improvement.
• Celebrating success and recognising excellence.

We are looking for someone who is visible, approachable and passionate about helping both young people and staff achieve their potential.

Support That Helps You Thrive

We recognise that leadership can be demanding, which is why we invest heavily in supporting our managers.

You will benefit from:

• Regular management supervision.
• Support from experienced Service Managers and senior leaders.
• Leadership coaching and development opportunities.
• Peer support from a collaborative management network.
• Opportunities to contribute to strategic developments across Corporate Parenting Services.
• A culture that encourages innovation, reflection and learning.

You'll be joining a leadership team that is ambitious, supportive and committed to making Middlesbrough the very best place for care experienced young people to grow and succeed.

Essential Requirements

To be successful in this role, you will be:

• A qualified Social Worker holding a Degree, Diploma or equivalent Social Work qualification.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Experienced in working with children in care, care experienced young people and/or leaving care services.
• An effective leader who can motivate, inspire and develop others.
• Skilled in assessment, planning, risk management and outcome-focused interventions.
• Passionate about improving outcomes for care experienced young people.
• Committed to promoting participation, independence and aspiration.
• Able to develop strong partnerships and influence positive change.

Management or supervisory experience would be advantageous, although applications from experienced Senior Practitioners seeking their first management role are welcomed.

Join Us on Our Journey

Middlesbrough Children's Services is committed to being an exceptional Corporate Parent and ensuring every care experienced young person has the opportunity to thrive.

If you are a passionate and ambitious leader who believes in the potential of young people and wants to shape a service that changes lives, we would love to hear from you.

Lead with ambition. Inspire independence. Champion care experienced young people. Help shape brighter futures.