Job title: Team Manager
Salary: PO6 £51,356 – £54,495
Hours: 37 hours
Contract: Full time. Permanent
Location: Leeds
Overview
We’re looking for a committed and motivated Team Manager to join the Independent Safeguarding Unit (ISU) and play a vital role in supporting some of the city’s most vulnerable children and young people. The role is to lead, motivate and direct a team of professional social workers to deliver high standard social work, placing the child at the centre and ensuring statutory duties are met.
About the Role
As a Team Manager you will be the key contact and advisor on safeguarding at a local level, working alongside other health and social care partners, elected members, families, and agency colleagues.
Responsibilities
* Direct, manage and motivate a team of IROs and FROs, including caseload management and statutory compliance.
* Assist in developing and promoting services and practice improvements to mitigate risk and improve outcomes for children.
* Act as an exemplar of social care legal and guidance requirements, policies and practice standards.
* Ensure formal processes for child and family courts, fostering and adoption panel processes are managed appropriately.
* Provide leadership on safeguarding and apply Children Act 1989 & 2004, Working Together 2023 and subsequent updates.
* Promote an anti‑racist and anti‑discriminatory approach within the team culture.
* Serve as key contact for local professionals, families, elected members and agencies on child protection law.
* Lead liaison with Police, health and education colleagues in risk management.
* Provide reflective supervision and appraisal to staff, maintaining records.
* Support newly qualified social workers through mentoring.
* Manage resources and finance within available budgets.
* Instigate and manage quality assurance activity including case file audits.
* Maintain high‑quality case recording and information technology use.
* Manage complaints effectively and according to statutory guidance.
* Resolve complex and challenging situations using restorative practice principles.
* Analyse team performance, prepare reports and improve performance.
* Handle recruitment, probation, attendance and disciplinary matters.
* Undertake quality assurance on reports to formal panels.
* Improve Children’s Services through innovative partnership development.
* Develop and produce annual team and area plans aligned with service improvement plans.
* Contribute to integrated management teams and departmental working groups.
* Promote partnership working and integrated practice for service delivery.
* Negotiate with professional groups and agencies.
* Undertake investigations under disciplinary procedures as needed.
* Remain flexible and adaptable to change to support other services.
* Participate in appraisal, training and development activities.
* Continuously improve own practice through observation and evaluation.
* Collaborate with colleagues and seek help when necessary.
* Attend relevant meetings, training days and events.
* Comply with Leeds City Council policies on child protection, equality, diversity, health & safety, confidentiality and data protection, and reporting concerns.
* Actively promote equality and challenge discrimination and abuse.
* Maintain Social Work England registration and CPD.
* Adhere to council flexibility protocol.
* Perform any other duties in line with the post evaluation outcome.
Qualifications
The post requires an appropriate professional qualification (DipSW, Degree, CQSW or equivalent) and registration with Social Work England upon commencement.
Experience
* Experience working with children looked after.
* Knowledge of relevant legislation (e.g., IRO handbook, Care Planning, Placement Regulations, Fostering procedures).
* Experience providing supervision to staff and/or students.
* Experience challenging poor practice, developing collaborative approaches and managing multi‑agency work.
* Post‑qualification social work experience.
Skills and Behaviours
* Leadership, reflective practice and evidence‑based decision making.
* Clear communication, budget and risk management.
* Change management, statistical analysis and report preparation.
* Negotiation, team motivation, mentoring.
* IT proficiency, including Microsoft Office.
* Commitment to continuous professional development and CPD.
* Understanding and applying Council values, behaviours, and codes of conduct.
* Ability to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Adherence to health, safety and welfare policies.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Statement
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures, including women, carers, veterans, LGBT+, ethnic minorities, disabled and care‑experienced people. Equality, diversity and inclusion are core to our practice.
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