The role
Are you passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children in Southwark?
We are seeking highly talented and ambitious registered Team Managers to join us on our journey to providing an outstanding service to our children and young people.
Does the sound of leading a team of dedicated professionals who share your passion for achieving positive outcomes for children, young people and families appeal to you?
If yes, we have the perfect role for you!
Come and join us at Southwark and be a part of a team dedicated to making a lasting, positive impact on the lives of children, young people and their families.
We are currently looking to recruit both a part-time and a full-time Team Manager for our fantastic 0-15 Care Service team. In this vital role, you will play a key part in ensuring that we provide high quality social care services to our children and young people in Southwark.
The Care Service works in partnership with our Fostering Service, Leaving Care Service and other key agencies and aims to ensure our children and young people grow up having receive safe and consistent in homes where children can thrive and reach their full potential.
About Us:
At Southwark Council, we take immense pride in our 0-15 Care Service team. You will be joining an ambitious service dedicated to ensuring that every child and young persons under our care achieves permanency in a timely manner.
Our team works tirelessly with children and young people primarily subject to Care Orders, providing them with the support, guidance and stability they need to thrive.
Our most recent Ofsted inspection was graded as ‘good’ in all areas. The children and young people in our care said we are a “special council and are like a family to them”.
About the Team
You will be joining an ambitious service with strong leadership and clear lines of support. Our Care Service consists of three teams, each comprising six social workers. We also have a dedicated therapeutic Life Story Worker who delivers bespoke training for staff and Foster Carers, ensuring that our children's narratives are preserved and celebrated.
Alongside our social workers, we have a dedicated clinical team that works hand in hand to embed systematic practice, ensuring that our approach is holistic and tailored to each child's unique needs. Additionally, our virtual education team co-locates with us, offering invaluable support to our children, social workers, schools and carers.
The Role
The successful candidate will manage a team of social workers, including Newly Qualified Social Workers, providing leadership, management and professional guidance. You will build an environment that promotes excellent practice, empowering your team to deliver outstanding services to the children, young people and families under our care.
The post holder will mentor and coach social workers, ensuring they receive the support and guidance necessary to navigate complex cases effectively. We lead and operate in a high-support, high-challenge environment – where our vision, standards, and expectations are clearly defined – driven by a resolute focus on positive outcomes. To support you in your role, we offer:
- Regular supervision with your line manager, providing opportunities for reflection and learning.
- Group supervision to reflect on case dilemmas with the team and clinical practitioner support.
- Access to in-house and bespoke training opportunities.
- Regular service development days.
About you:
We are looking for enthusiastic, passionate and motivated social work qualified leaders who can adopt a strength-based, person-centred approach to their work while balancing challenging demands and continuously growing and developing in their practice.
You will be an experienced supervisor, capable of quality assuring assessments, managing risk astutely, driving permanency solutions and demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding issues. You will also lead and oversee effective performance management.
Contact Details:
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Karen Speid via email at Karen.Speid@southwark.gov.uk
Additional Information:
Current registration with Social Work England and a recognised social work qualification is essential.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required at enhanced level and you will also need eligibility to work in the UK.
Pay and Reward:
In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive:
- A competitive base salary (pro rata for part time staff)
- Strong supportive senior management team
- Regular one to one supervision
- Professional development & training opportunities
- Clear career development pathways
- Agile and flexible working arrangements
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Season ticket and cycle loans
- Annual Leave starting at 28 days per year, increasing to 33 (pro rata for part time staff)
- Wellbeing programme
- HSF Health plan and eye care scheme
- EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support
- Social clubs and staff groups
Recruitment Timetable
- Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 19th May 2024
- Shortlisting date: week commencing 20th May 2024
- Interview date/s: week commencing 27th May 2024
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
Attachments
