At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dedicated team supporting children with disabilities and ensure effective service delivery.
- Company: Join Bracknell Forest Council, a friendly local authority focused on improving children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days annual leave, hybrid working, and an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while working in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Must be a registered Social Worker with at least four years' supervisory experience in children's social care.
- Other info: Interviews will be held in person, providing a chance to meet the team.
The predicted salary is between 51000 - 59000 ÂŁ per year.
Bracknell Forest Council is seeking an experienced manager for the Children’s Specialist Support Team. The role requires a registered Social Worker with significant experience in children’s social care. Responsibilities include overseeing team operations, providing leadership, and ensuring effective service delivery for children with disabilities. Join a supportive team dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in Bracknell.
Qualifications
- Minimum of four years' supervisory experience in children's social care.
- Significant post-qualifying experience working with children and families.
- Experience in managing services for children with disabilities.
Responsibilities
- Manage the delivery and performance of the Children’s Specialist Support Team.
- Provide strong leadership and support to Social Workers.
- Ensure effective discharge of statutory functions.
Skills
- Leadership
- Assessment and analytical skills
Salary
ÂŁ60,866 - ÂŁ63,003 FTE inclusive of ÂŁ706 London Weighting and ÂŁ963 Essential Car User Allowance plus annual 4% retention payment after 1 year.
Location: Bracknell
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Flexible Hours/Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Required
Closing Date: 04/06/2025 at 23:59
Reference: People/25/313869
We are seeking an experienced manager with a minimum of four years' supervisory experience in children's social care, including working with and managing services for children with disabilities, to join our Children’s Specialist Support Team and help make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people.
About you
You will need to be a registered Social Worker with Social Work England and have significant post qualifying experience working with children and families in the statutory sector. You will deputise when required for the Head of Service and work closely alongside them to deliver our vision and strategic values. You will have direct line management responsibility for Assistant Team Managers, Social Workers, including newly qualified Social Workers, students and support staff. You will provide strong leadership by fostering a supportive and collaborative working environment, promoting high professional standards, and guiding and motivating team members to achieve their goals.
About the team
The Children’s Specialist Support Team (CSST) is a highly skilled team working with children who have disabilities and/or complex health needs. We are an experienced, friendly and supportive team who focus on ensuring that children are at the centre of all we do. We provide a range of services for children with additional needs and those who are assessed to have additional vulnerabilities. This includes the council’s statutory responsibilities for disabled Children in Need in the community (including care packages and short breaks). The team is comprised of different disciplines and service areas covering a wide breadth of work with children with disabilities, occupational therapy, short breaks (including Larchwood, our short break respite unit), taking a child first and social model approach to disability. Partnership and collaborative working is the key to our success.
We are a small, welcoming and friendly local authority. We are proud of our connected and inclusive culture, with a strong focus on wellbeing, which provides our workforce with a strong sense of belonging. Our leadership team is visible, available and approachable. Everything we do in Children’s Social Care is about improving the life chances of Bracknell’s children; put simply, we change lives for the better.
Benefits
- 28 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service.
- The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility).
- An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks.
- Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme).
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
- Sports and Social Club.
- Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Reasonable adjustments
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.
Interview date
Interviews will be held on Thursday 12th June 2025. Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment. We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview; any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided. Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Team Manager - Children\'s Specialist Support Team employer: Bracknell Forest Council
Contact Detail:
Bracknell Forest Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager - Children\'s Specialist Support Team
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Bracknell Forest Council's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to inclusivity, ambition, and continuous learning will help you align your responses during the interview, showcasing how you embody these values in your work.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of the Children's Specialist Support Team. Engaging with them can provide insights into the team dynamics and expectations, which can be invaluable when discussing your leadership style and management approach in the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your ability to manage services for children with disabilities. Highlighting your direct impact on improving outcomes for children and families will resonate well with the interview panel.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current trends and best practices in children's social care, particularly regarding disability services. Being knowledgeable about recent developments will show your commitment to professional growth and your readiness to lead a forward-thinking team.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager - Children\'s Specialist Support Team
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience in children's social care, particularly your supervisory experience and work with children with disabilities. Use specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to manage a team.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly state your qualifications as a registered Social Worker with Social Work England. Emphasise your post-qualifying experience and any additional training or certifications that relate to managing services for children and families.
Showcase Leadership Skills: In your application, provide examples of how you have successfully led teams in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a supportive environment and how you have motivated team members to achieve their goals.
Demonstrate Commitment to Values: Reflect on Bracknell Forest Council's core values of inclusivity, ambition, and continuous learning. In your application, express how these values resonate with you and how you have embodied them in your previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bracknell Forest Council
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Team Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on your approach to fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
✨Understand the Role's Responsibilities
Familiarise yourself with the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with managing services for children with disabilities and ensuring effective service delivery.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Think about past experiences where you had to make tough decisions or manage complex cases, and be prepared to explain your thought process.
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a critical aspect of this role. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of safeguarding policies and how you've implemented them in your previous roles to protect vulnerable children and families.