Job title: Team Manager
Salary: PO6 £51,356 - £54,495 pro rata
Hours: 37 hours (full-time, part-time or job-share basis to suitably qualified candidates)
Contract: Temporary full-time positions available.
This includes a temporary 6-month position in south Leeds, a temporary 18-month position at Albion House based in west Leeds.
Locations: South, West Leeds
Are you passionate about making a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families in Leeds?
We’re looking for a committed and motivated Team Manager to join our Children & Families directorate and play a vital role in supporting some of the city’s most vulnerable children and families. As a Team Manager, you will be part of a team committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults in our frontline children’s social work team and you will thrive on working restoratively with children and families. The role of the Team Manager is to lead, motivate and direct a team of professional social work staff to deliver a high standard of social work, which places the child at the centre and ensure that statutory duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority are being met. To be the key contact and advisor on safeguarding at a local level.
At Leeds City Council, our ambition is to make Leeds the best city for children and young people to grow up in. We are committed to the ambition of. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence. We aim to improve outcomes for all our children and want to close the gap facing children and young people from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds.
You’ll be joining a team that is dedicated to safeguarding, supporting families, and working collaboratively with communities to achieve positive outcomes.
We are proud to be part of Leeds children’s services, rated by Ofsted as outstanding, and to be an award-winning employer, recognised as best employer in the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2019.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions
We provide comprehensive support and training packages for Team Manager at all levels with clear career progression opportunities. Our established in-house management teams offer continuous support, guidance and reflective supervision alongside an in-depth programme of continuing professional development.
We can currently offer temporary contracts on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis to suitably qualified candidates and, subject to service needs being fulfilled, we are open to flexible working arrangements to support your work-life balance.
The role is predominantly office based. These are roles available in area social work based in South Leeds, at Deacon House (LS14) and West Leeds at Albion House (LS19).
About You
Knowledge Required
As a Social Work Team Manager, you must hold a formal Social Work qualification (DipSw, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree) and have knowledge and experience of safeguarding good practices including safer recruitment procedures, paramountcy principle, requirements of the Children’s Act 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 and subsequent legal updates.
The post requires knowledge of legislation and contemporary issues within Children’s Social Care, alongside a clear appreciation of the importance of maintaining confidentiality. Applicants must also demonstrate a basic knowledge of child development, including the stages of adolescence and the transition to adulthood.
It is essential that you can demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test and Interview.
Skills Required
The applicant is required to exhibits flexibility in diverse work settings, demonstrates strong leadership and reflective practices, and evidenced based practices, and motivates teams to achieve higher standards. They empower colleagues and service users while maintaining ethical principles, critically apply theoretical knowledge, and challenge suboptimal practices through evidence-based research. Their capabilities include clear communication, effective budget management, thorough risk assessment, and promotion of change management initiatives. Additionally, they are adept at analysing complex scenarios for sound decision-making and interpreting performance metrics accurately.
The candidate must be capable of preparing and delivering comprehensive reports on complex matters to varied audiences, demonstrating advanced negotiation skills to resolve challenging situations effectively. They should adopt a strategic and structured approach at both team and area levels, ensuring the alignment of team objectives with the overarching business plan. The role requires contributing to the enhancement of services for families, children, and young people, as well as fostering constructive professional relationships with partners, agencies, and other internal and external stakeholders. The individual must be able to lead, manage, motivate, and supervise a Children’s Social Work team, providing clear performance guidance and professional supervision. Proficiency in managing both their own caseload and overseeing those of team members, alongside sound IT skills, is also essential.
Experience Required
The essential experience for this role includes: providing supervision to staff and/or students; possessing relevant post-qualification experience; developing collaborative approaches across agencies and disciplines; managing multi-agency work; and innovating in response to work-related challenges. These competencies ensure effective leadership and the advancement of multi-agency practice within Children’s Social Care.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
The candidate is expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to ongoing professional development and continuous improvement. This includes adhering to Leeds City Council’s Equality, Diversity, Cohesion and Integration policies, fulfilling responsibilities under Health, Safety and Wellbeing policies, and actively engaging in training to maintain current skills and knowledge. Additionally, a positive attitude towards self and team development, as well as upholding the council’s values, behaviours, and code of conduct, is essential.
About The Role
Please see the full job description for the role and responsibilities.
What We Offer You
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including: a comprehensive employee experience, including a competitive salary with annual leave and statutory holidays, membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions, and flexible or hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements. Employees benefit from a clear career pathway with ongoing professional development opportunities, alongside a range of staff benefits designed to support wellbeing and enhance financial value.
How