Team Manager - Care Service (Children in Care 0-16)

Team Manager - Care Service (Children in Care 0-16)

Do you see yourself leading a high-performing team that puts children's experiences, relationships and long-term outcomes at the centre of everything it does? Southwark's Care 0-16 Service is looking for a passionate and dedicated Team Manager to join their amazing team on a six-month fixed-term basis and help make a difference today.

As Team Manager, you will provide strong, visible leadership to a team of social workers and senior social workers supporting children in care aged 0-16. Working closely with partner agencies, carers and families, you will ensure plans progress without delay and that children's voices remain central to decision-making. This is a part-time role, working three days per week.

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing high-quality care planning, permanence planning and safeguarding activity
• Providing effective management oversight, reflective supervision and professional challenge to practitioners
• Supporting practitioners to deliver relationship-based interventions that achieve positive outcomes for children and families
• Ensuring children receive safe, stable and nurturing care experiences
• Working in partnership with agencies, carers and families to ensure plans progress without delay

About you

Southwark is seeking an experienced children's social care leader who is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children in care. The successful candidate will bring significant statutory experience alongside a genuine commitment to anti-racist, anti-oppressive and relationship-based practice.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England
• Have significant experience within statutory children's social care, including children in care services
• Have experience of leading, supervising and developing social work practitioners
• Possess strong knowledge of care planning, permanence, safeguarding and statutory responsibilities
• Be able to provide clear, analytical management oversight and make evidence-informed decisions
• Demonstrate a commitment to anti-racist, anti-oppressive and relationship-based practice
• Have excellent communication, partnership working and leadership skills

Southwark is an organisation passionate about its people and committed to tackling racial inequality through its Southwark Stands Together initiative. Applications are particularly welcomed from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level. As part of their commitment to inclusion, Southwark offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, those currently or previously in care, and people who consider themselves disabled or have a long-term health condition, provided minimum requirements are met. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

About Southwark

We are thelargestlocal authoritysocial landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark's residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark's communities and the council's staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

At Southwark Children's Services, we pride ourselves on doing our vital job differently. Our systemic, holistic, family-centred approach sits at the core of our values. And our endlessly supportive, collective, culture underpins everything we do to protect vulnerable children across our borough.

Southwark is a great place to grow and develop as a social worker. We continue to provide fantastic career progression opportunities. Supported by great partnerships and resources we are always growing and developing what we do through innovation, investment in our workforce and, most importantly, listening to children and families, and those that work with them.

Our offer to staff includes:

• competitive remuneration packages
• the opportunity to work in a vibrant borough in the heart of London with excellent access to Central London and easy transport links to the South East
• a multi-cultural and diverse working environment, which provides excellent opportunities for enhancing your skills
• modern digital plan with technology to support flexible working arrangements
• professional development and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities through an established and extensive learning and development plan and opportunities.
• opportunities to train as a Practice Educator and develop experience with student
• clinical practitioners attached to every team to support you as an individual and your work with children and families.
• culture of innovation and a 'can do' approach to problem solving in Social Care
• stable, supportive leadership; Southwark has a lower ratio of workers to managers than most local authorities
• small teams with supportive managers and manageable caseload
• travel season ticket loans, cycle scheme, essential user care parking permits and local government pension
• family friendly, flexible and agile working, from home or on-site
• wellbeing programme, HSF Health plan and eye care scheme, EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support, and access to subsidised HSF health plan
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