Job Information
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us .
Team Manager - Support & Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Team sits at the heart of our Children’s Social Care directorate, working directly with children and families through every stage from Child in Need to final court hearings. We lead on strategy discussions, Child Protection Conferences, and robust planning and review processes, including permanency planning.
Our team tackles complex and high-risk situations with care, compassion, and clarity. We explore a range of legal options to safeguard children, provide strong evidence in court when needed, and use contingency planning to stay one step ahead in an ever-changing landscape. This is a fast-paced, high-impact service where no two days are the same and where your work truly makes a difference.
Operational area Windsor and Maidenhead Primary place of work Maidenhead Town Hall, SL6 1LF Appointment type Permanent Business area Children's Social Care Full time/Part time Full-time Salary from £60,559 (G11.61) Salary to £66,124 (G11.64) Hours 37 Estimated Interview date/s TBC Closing Date 10/08/2025 Job Reference 2087 Documents
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About the role
As Team Manager, you’ll play a key leadership role across the service, supporting the Associate Director of Safeguarding and Heads of Service. You’ll manage two Assistant Team Managers, Senior Practitioners, and Social Workers driving high-quality interventions, strong case oversight, and impactful decision-making for children and families. You’ll lead with AfC’s Signs of Safety model, championing best practice, performance, and professional development. This role also represents AfC in key strategic and multi-agency forums, helping shape and influence service delivery.
We’re looking for someone who inspires excellence, embraces innovation, and fosters a learning culture putting children at the heart of everything we do. For an informal discussion about the role please contact Lynda Gutteridge, Associate Director For Safeguarding,
About you
2. Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field (e.g. Social Work, Leadership & Management)
3. Active registration with Social Work England and a strong record of ongoing professional development
4. Significant experience in safeguarding, including complex cases and presenting evidence in court
5. Proven ability to lead and support social work staff working with children, young people, and families
6. Skilled in permanency planning and supporting practitioners to deliver thoughtful, child-focused care plans
7. Confident using a range of digital tools and systems (e.g. Microsoft or Google Workspace) to manage and enhance your work
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
8. 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
9. Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
10. Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
11. Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
12. A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
13. A range of staff benefits and discounts
14. An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children. For our social work offer. For our Recruitment Journey,
Important Information
Start dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.
Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.