Social Care Team Manager - Children's

2 Month Contract With A Local Authority

To provide leadership, management and professional oversight within Children and Young People's Services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, child-centred services that achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and families.

The postholder will lead a Family Help team, managing staff, resources, budgets and performance whilst ensuring safeguarding responsibilities are effectively discharged. The role will drive service improvement, support workforce development and promote effective multi-agency working to improve outcomes for children and families across Suffolk.

As a key leader within Children's Services, the Team Manager will create a positive learning culture, champion high standards of practice and ensure the service operates in line with statutory requirements, local procedures and Suffolk's Signs of Safety and Wellbeing approach.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, manage and develop a Family Help team within Children's Services.
  
• Provide professional supervision, support and performance management to staff.
  
• Create a positive learning culture that promotes high-quality practice and continuous improvement.
  
• Motivate, coach and mentor staff to achieve individual and team objectives.
  
• Manage workforce planning, recruitment, retention and staff development.
  
• Lead change initiatives and support staff through service developments and transformation.
  
• Ensure effective appraisal, supervision and performance review arrangements are in place.
  

Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Manage safeguarding concerns and ensure appropriate action is taken to protect children and young people.
  
• Provide oversight of complex cases and decision-making processes.
  
• Ensure risks are identified, assessed and managed appropriately.
  
• Promote a culture of safe and informed decision-making.
  
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation, guidance and local procedures.
  

Service Delivery & Quality Assurance

• Lead the delivery of high-quality Family Help services.
  
• Monitor service performance against local and national standards.
  
• Drive continuous service improvement and innovation.
  
• Manage quality assurance activities including audits, reviews and performance monitoring.
  
• Ensure timely and effective case allocation, management and progression.
  
• Support safe and effective transitions between services and teams.
  

Children, Families & Community Engagement

• Promote the participation of children, young people and families in service planning and decision-making.
  
• Ensure feedback from families is used to improve service delivery.
  
• Manage complaints, representations and service concerns appropriately.
  
• Champion strengths-based and relationship-based practice approaches.
  

Multi-Agency Working

• Build and maintain effective relationships with partner agencies and stakeholders.
  
• Work collaboratively with education, health, police and voluntary sector organisations.
  
• Challenge and support partners to improve outcomes for children and families.
  
• Promote integrated service delivery and effective partnership working.
  

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage budgets, staffing resources and operational expenditure effectively.
  
• Ensure services operate within financial and governance frameworks.
  
• Promote best value and efficient resource utilisation.
  
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities for service efficiencies.
  

Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to service planning and strategic development within Children's Services.
  
• Translate organisational priorities into effective operational practice.
  
• Support the implementation of Suffolk County Council strategies and improvement programmes.
  
• Contribute to policy development and service modernisation initiatives.
  

Requirements

Essential

• Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration, or equivalent Level 6 professional qualification with relevant management experience.
  
• Significant management experience within Children's Services.
  
• Experience leading and developing teams within safeguarding or family support services.
  
• Strong knowledge of:
  
  • Children's legislation and statutory guidance
    
  • Safeguarding frameworks
    
  • Child Protection processes
    
  • Risk assessment and case management
    
  • Children's Services performance requirements
    
• Experience managing complex safeguarding situations.
  
• Experience supervising and supporting professional staff.
  
• Strong understanding of quality assurance and performance management.
  
• Experience managing budgets, resources and service performance.
  
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
  
• Ability to analyse complex information and make informed decisions.
  
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
  
• Experience of multi-agency partnership working.
  

Desirable

• Management qualification.
  
• Experience leading change and transformation programmes.
  
• Knowledge of Signs of Safety and Wellbeing approaches.
  
• Experience with evidence-based intervention models.
  
• Understanding of political environments and local government structures.
  
• Experience within Family Help or Early Help services.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Hybrid Working (Ipswich, Lowestoft, Leiston, Haverhill or Felixstowe)
  
• Hours Per Week: 37 Hours
  
• Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments