Job description
Permanent, Part Time 30 hours per week working Monday to Thursday.
You must be a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England to apply for this post.
The First Assessment Services is looking for a Team Manager with experience in the delivery of statutory children's services, to join the existing management group at the Front Door of Bristol Children's Services.
This is an exciting time to join the team as we embed changes, to enhance our delivery of services to children and families.
The First Assessment Service are imminently moving to City Hall, and is responsible for making rapid, informed and safe decisions on all referrals requesting support or safeguarding intervention for vulnerable children, young people and their families.
The First Response Team value office presence from line managers, and there is an expectation that this post is primarily office based with only occasional home working.
The team currently consists of five team managers who share responsibility across the service but who lead on a specific area. This vacancy is a recently created position and reflects recent investment in the service. This role will be based within the Front Door but is likely to become a split role over time dependant on service need. You will therefore need to be confident supporting all aspects of the First Assessment Service work service, including triaging contacts and strategies.
As a “Front door” Team Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the intake of new contacts, referrals and initial decisions, as well as the management of the MASH. You will be required to regularly chair multi-agency Strategy Discussions and provide management oversight and direction on s.47 investigations and statutory social work assessments (s.17).
The team managers work collaboratively and supportively together along with the Deputy Team Managers and a small team of advanced social workers who make up the management group.
We recognise the value of working alongside colleagues to support development and promote positive working relationships. We are therefore seeking a manager who shares this ethos and can work from our office based in Bridewell Police Station. Some occasional home working will be an option dependant on service need and demand.
You will be an experienced Social Worker or Team Manager, with excellent management, decision making and multi-agency working skills and with a commitment to supporting children and their families to access the right level of support, at the right time in their lives.
You will have confidence and skills in recognising and acting on immediate risk to children and in recognising and understanding the needs of children in need of help and support.
You will have a high level of knowledge and experience in applying legislation, guidance and policy to complex situations and will hold and manage risk in line with this.
The front door team manager role requires a keen interest in understanding performance, data, targets, throughput and systems.
You will be confident in managing team performance and will be passionate about understanding and improving complex systems, processes, and performance to improve outcomes for children and young people.
You will lead, manage, support, and supervise Social Workers, Deputy Team Managers, Early Help Coordinators, Advisors and Business support within the First Assessment Service. You will be responsible for the performance of your team(s), and will have the skill, experience and expertise to drive forward excellent practice. The successful applicant will be able to deliver excellence in rapid decision making, triage, multi-agency working and short term assessment.
You will be joining a stable service with long term, permanent staff, low vacancy rates, and good staff morale.
You will support service development, with your capacity to develop systems, and processes with multi-agency partners.
The role is based at City hall in the centre of the city. There are excellent amenities around the office area. There is no free parking in the vicinity, but the office is easily accessible by public transport.
Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.
Why Bristol City Council?
At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation.
Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.