Job Details:
Job Reference: HCC621645
Salary Range: £47,430 - £52,735 pro-rata, per annum, plus Market Supplement of £1,600 pro-rata, per annum
Work Location: Glen House, Swanwick
Hours per week: 37 (part time hours from 30hours will be considered)
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 27th July 2025
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Team Manager to join our Adoption Support team at Hampshire County Council.
Are you looking for a challenging and diverse role working as part of a friendly and supportive team, with an opportunity to make a real difference?
The Role:
This role is with Adopt South, the partnership Regional Adoption Agency for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton local authorities, with the lead authority Hampshire County Council as the employer.
We are looking for a Team Manager to join our dynamic and innovative Regional Adoption Agency to help us make a positive difference to adoptive families, adoptees and birth relatives across our region.
This exciting opportunity requires a minimum commitment of 30 hours per week, where you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of adoption support. You’ll co-lead the Adoption Support Team and take full leadership of the Adopted Adults Team, helping to define and drive the direction of both services.
In the Adoption Support Team, you’ll contribute to the design and delivery of services that support adoptive families, children, and young people. This includes assessing needs and facilitating access to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. You will be collaborating with our Training Team and MDT to shape workshops, webinars, and therapeutic parenting offers.
As the manager of the Adopted Adults Team, you will be overseeing both Social Workers and Child and Family Support Workers who are supporting adoptees to access their adoption records and accessing intermediary services. You will need to have an understanding of post and pre-commencement legislation and be open to developing and driving forward national recommendations and improving services for adult adoptees.
We are looking for someone with strong post-qualifying social work experience, ideally with management skills and a solid understanding of child protection legislation. Your empathy, communication skills, and commitment to improving outcomes will be key to making a meaningful impact.
What you’ll do:
1. Leadership & Staff Management: Oversee staff recruitment, performance, and development, including managing annual leave, sickness, and career progression. Provide reflective supervision, case oversight, and auditing to ensure high-quality practice.
2. Casework Oversight & Compliance: Manage and prioritise complex caseloads, staff allocations, and triage processes, ensuring all work complies with statutory regulations and Hampshire County Council Safeguarding policies.
3. Collaboration & Service Development: Work closely with key partners and regional colleagues to support service delivery. Contribute to service analysis, data monitoring, and continuous improvement at both local and national levels.
4. Decision-Making & Flexibility: Authorise assessments, manage complaints and concerns, and ensure child-centred decision-making. Support flexible service delivery, including evening and weekend work as needed.
What we’re looking for:
5. Social Work degree with a minimum of 3 years post-qualifying experience and current registration with Social Work England.
6. Experience in social care management, including leading teams through change, and strong knowledge of adoption services and relevant legislation.
7. Excellent report writing, negotiation, and communication skills, with a proactive approach and commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and families.
8. Ability to engage empathetically with parents and carers, collaborate effectively with multi-agency teams, and remain resilient and independent under pressure.
Why join us?
We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace, where talent is truly recognised and developed. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of and where you are empowered to be your best and believe in creating a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.
If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!
To find out more about what we can offer you in return, please see our benefits package.
Additional Information:
Adopt South Team Manager Candidate Pack
Vetting Requirements:
This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such please note, we will take up references prior to interview.
Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:
Carol Beddow, Service Manager on carol.beddow@hants.gov.uk
Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.
We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.