An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead Portsmouth's dedicated Child Safety and Asylum Team.
About the Service
The Child Safety and Asylum Team provides specialist support to children arriving in the UK seeking safety and asylum. We consider it a profound privilege to care for these children in the absence of their parents and are committed to delivering the highest standards of care. We are seeking a compassionate and driven Team Leader to guide our team in delivering trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and holistic support.
About the Role
As Team Leader, you will oversee a team of Social Workers supporting children and young people from the moment they arrive in Portsmouth. You will lead on all aspects of their journey, recognising the trauma and loss they may have experienced, and ensuring comprehensive assessments of their needs—including age assessments where appropriate. You will also support their navigation through the immigration system, advocating for their future with ambition and care.
You will collaborate closely with internal teams such as Children We Care For, Building Your Futures, and Supporting Your Futures, as well as external partners including the Home Office, care providers, and health services. Your leadership will be key in fostering strong partnerships, motivating your team, and driving service improvement.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and supervise a team of Social Workers supporting vulnerable children.
* Ensure compliance with statutory guidance, local policies, and procedures.
* Oversee staff development, performance management, quality assurance, and budget responsibilities.
* Promote a restorative approach to practice and continuous service improvement.
* Demonstrate a thorough understanding of legislation and processes relating to Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC).
Working Arrangements
Attendance requirements to the designated workplace for the role in line with the Hybrid Working - Minimum of 2 days in the office per week
The ideal candidate
We are looking for a candidate who:
* Holds a Diploma/Degree/MSc in Social Work and is registered with Social Work England.
* Has substantial post-qualification experience in Children and Families Social Work.
* Possesses a strong understanding of relevant law, theory, and statutory guidance.
* Is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.
* Demonstrates creativity, curiosity, and a solution-focused approach.
* Works effectively with children, families, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
* Has experience in staff or student supervision, with the ability to support and challenge appropriately.
* Is confident in problem-solving and managing tasks within agreed timescales.
* Contributes to workforce development and supports capability and disciplinary processes as needed.
Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:
If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact Vicky Laybourne -
Please ensure that you read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.
Application process
We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.
As part of your application we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.
We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
About Portsmouth City Council
What we can offer you:
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact or call the recruitment team on