Are you seeking a rewarding career in Children’s Services? The Chesil Locality, based in Weymouth, are looking for an experienced Social Worker to join us an Assistant Team Manager (Family Help) where you’ll truly make a difference to the lives of children and young people in our beautiful county. You will have experience of managing, appraising and supervising staff, Child in Need case supervision and mentoring others, You will have experience of complex case work and have the ability to manage and chair meetings. You will lead on practice development within the workforce and act as the Lead Child Protection Practitioner within the team. This is an opportunity to join our exceptional Family Help Team in children’s services, where we take immense pride in leading the way nationally, pioneering ground-breaking initiatives that have garnered recognition from the government. You will join a team of dedicated professionals in Children's Services who, in recent months and years, have set new standards in their commitment to the well-being of children and families. In July 2024 the Department for Education officially announced the Families First for Children Pathfinder. Dorset Council were selected to be one of only three initial pathfinder sites nationally, testing the delivery of key reforms across the sector. Our focus is on supporting families to meet the needs of their children and keeping children at home where it is safe to do so. You’ll find a variety of exciting challenges, working with our children, families, and partners, in a workplace that inspires you to grow professionally and personally. As part of our model, we have developed multi-disciplinary Locality teams bringing together colleagues from across Early Help, Children's Social Care, Educational Psychology, SEND and Inclusion services under the leadership of Heads of Locality and Strategy. The success of our Model was recognised by Ofsted in May this year, with us being rated 'Outstanding'. Inspectors commented that 'practitioners have been resolute in universally saying that they feel supported, valued and receive regular and helpful individual and group supervision. They feel equipped with a wealth of resources and training. Practitioners’ relentless dedication to ensure children, families and care leavers receive the support they need shone through in this inspection.' Here at Dorset Council, you won't just be an employee – you'll be a vital contributor to a legacy of positive change. Be a part of a community that values your skills, appreciates your passion, and recognises the difference you can make. Join us in creating a brighter future for children, young people, and families. Your journey towards meaningful work starts here. Should you wish to have a discussion about the role and seek further information then please do not hesitate to contact Teresa Bowden, Family Help Team Manager by email: [email protected] Further Information This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed. This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders. See our policy on safeguarding children and young people. The friends and family referral scheme applies to this post. If an employee recommended this post to you, mention them when asked on your application form. Employees can share this advert by using the button links alongside the job title. You must: have a degree in social work/Occupational Therapy or equivalent be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post About Us At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future. We: provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents work in partnership to make a real difference value every role and the impact it has on our communities support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive You will: be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset have access to a range of benefits and support have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us. Find out more about how to apply.