We are the difference for Children in Care
TEAM MANAGER FOR CHILDREN IN CARE
£57,755 - £65,222 PA PLUS Market Supplement of £2,000 per annum.
Southampton City Council, Pathways Through Care Team, is a service passionate and striving to achieve the best outcomes for our children we care for. We work closely with partner agencies, building strong relationships between practitioners and their families, enabling systemic and reflective work with our children.
The children in care service consists of an entire cohort of permanent staff, and within this service, a unique opportunity has arisen to create a third team. This has been in recognition of the current teams' increasing workforce and the desire to provide excellent management oversight and support to our staff.
This post will offer strong developmental opportunities for experienced and/or aspirational managers who thrive on helping staff and children to be the best they can be. They will be part of an established permanent management team who work collectively and in unison with one another.
This will be an opportunity to support social workers in building meaningful and influential relationships with the children we care for. Our service offers strong and resilient practitioners alongside supportive and flexible management, enabling you to make decisions, drive plans, and change lives for our children, reminding you of the real reasons you came into social work.
In June 2023, Ofsted reported: "The experiences and progress of children in care are good. Improvements to the quality of support provided to children in care have accelerated recently. Workforce recruitment strategies, a comprehensive approach to improve placement stability, and meaningful engagement by senior leaders with children in care all provide a strong foundation for further improvements".
Permanence is a priority for our Children in Care, with a robust review mechanism to ensure stability in each child's care journey. Ensuring permanence that promotes identity and belonging is key. The service fosters strong relationships and offers creative and restorative practitioners opportunities to make a difference, utilizing sound assessment skills in working with birth families to ensure the right permanence is in place.
There are strong reunification drivers to support children and young people in recognizing their potential and strengthening links with family and significant others. Southampton is committed to staff development, offering opportunities for progression with senior social workers and assistant team managers.
The Service
The Children in Care Team supports children and young people in foster care, cared for by connected carers or family, and includes specialist care such as residential or semi-independent provisions. Managers support Personal Advisors and care leavers, with a shared office space facilitating a streamlined, young person-focused journey to independence.
The service benefits from a permanent management team with diverse experience across service areas, including two visible and approachable service managers. There are five teams within the service, and this post will be the sixth, supporting social workers working with children in care under 18 and a Staying Connected Team supporting those over 18.
The Role
The appointed Team Manager will support social workers and family coaches supporting Children in Care across various placements. This full-time role offers an excellent opportunity for experienced or aspiring managers to utilize their social work skills and values to support staff and children in achieving permanence and preparing for young adulthood.
Who Are We Looking For?
We seek a social work manager passionate about delivering aspirational parenting to our children. Our services go beyond statutory responsibilities to ensure children and young people are engaged, cared about, and supported to be their best. Ofsted noted: "Practitioners are supported by energetic and responsive frontline managers who maintain clear, confident, and close oversight of children's progress".
We want someone committed to ensuring good performance and support for children in care as a dedicated corporate parent. The service actively participates in the corporate parenting community, delivering services that meet the needs of our children and young people, with an overall Ofsted rating of 'Good' for Children in Care and Care Leavers, with Outstanding Leadership as of June 2023.
Advocacy and participation are central to our values. We are looking for a manager who cares passionately about children in care and care leavers and will continue to build a service where permanence, acceptance, and trusting relationships matter.
Join Us
Southampton City Council and partners are committed to well-managed services, manageable workloads, high support levels, and expert guidance. We welcome applicants from near or far, including those considering relocation. We are committed to equal opportunities and value diverse talent.
What We Offer
* Salary: £57,755 - £65,222, with annual progression
* Generous holiday entitlement (25-31 days)
* Flexible working options (role-dependent)
* Family-friendly policies
* Training, development, coaching, and mentoring
* Health and wellbeing support, including Employee Assistance Programme
* Veteran-friendly employer
* Retail discounts and local memberships
* Sustainable travel benefits
* Employee volunteering scheme with paid leave
For more information on benefits, visit our website. For informal discussions, contact Service Lead Ellie Steel or Nikky Brown. Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, 24th September 2024. Recruitment contact: email and phone details.
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