At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to improve the lives of children and families through effective management and support.
- Company: Join Bracknell Forest Council, a friendly local authority committed to inclusivity and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, competitive salary, and a 4% retention payment after one year.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Must be a registered social worker with at least five years' experience in children's social care.
- Other info: Interviews on 30th April 2025; apply early as we review applications regularly.
The predicted salary is between 50800 - 52500 £ per year.
£60,866 - £63,003 inclusive of £706 London Weighting and £963 ECU. Plus annual 4% retention payment after 1 year.
Location: Contract: Permanent Working Pattern: Flexible Hours/Full Time Hours: 37 hours per week.
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. As part of our grow your own culture in Bracknell, internal promotions and investment in management capacity, we have an exciting opportunity for an experienced manager with at least four years supervisory experience within children social care, that includes child protection to join our Family Safeguarding service, to make a difference to the lives of children and young people.
About you
You will be able to build effective relationships, demonstrate strong assessment and analytical skills, have a well-developed understanding of assessment, planning and intervention and work effectively as part of a management team. The successful candidate will work with assistant team managers to drive performance, ensure the right plans are in place and needs led services and intervention is provided for children and families. The Team Manager will deputise when required for the Head of Service and work closely alongside them to deliver our vision and strategic values whilst having direct responsibility for assistant team managers and social workers, including newly qualified social workers, students and support staff. You will need to be a registered social worker with Social Work England with at least five years post qualifying experience working with children and families in the statutory sector.
About the team
Bracknell Forest Council have a nationally recognised practice model - the 'Family Safeguarding Model'. 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. Our leadership team is visible, available, and approachable. The Family Safeguarding Team is a stable and established multi-agency group of talented professionals who work collaboratively with specialist practitioners in domestic abuse, mental health, and substance misuse as part of our embedded family safeguarding approach. Dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, the team strives to keep families together whenever it is safe to do so. With a strong focus on providing both high support and high challenge, the team enables you to deliver your best to the families who need it most. The team focuses on longer term intervention, following transfer from our front door we undertake statutory social work interventions, including child in need, child protection, CLA and court proceedings.
Key responsibilities
- Managing a team of staff, including recruitment/retention, induction, training and development, performance support and management, disciplinary/capability, and succession planning.
- Chair Pre-Proceedings meetings, professional meetings and other forums, working together with partner agencies to conclude with safe and proportionate threshold decision and planning.
- Managing care proceedings and Pre-Proceedings ensuring that permanency for children is considered and timely.
- Promoting listening to children and young people at every opportunity, ensuring their views are heard, recorded and acted upon in an appropriate and timely manner.
- Actively engage with parents and carers so that their views contribute to service improvement, including responding to complaints and feedback.
- Leading within a secure base model and to support and encourage a culture where good social work practice can flourish.
- Providing a secure physical and psychological base from which to work safely and thus reducing the risk of harm to children and increase and improve their long-term outcomes.
Our Values
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. 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 us. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.
Interview date
Interviews will be held on 30th April 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.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact us. At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambitious and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process. Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework. Social Work England registration fees can be claimed back from the Council.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK. Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please. Bracknell Forest Council - Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
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.
Team Manager - Family Safeguarding employer: Bracknell Forest Council
Contact Detail:
Bracknell Forest Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager - Family Safeguarding
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Family Safeguarding Model used by Bracknell Forest Council. Understanding this model will not only help you align your experience with their approach but also demonstrate your commitment to their values during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your supervisory experience in detail, especially how you've managed teams in children’s social care. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven performance and supported staff development.
✨Tip Number 3
Engage with current or former employees of Bracknell Forest Council if possible. They can provide insights into the team culture and expectations, which can be invaluable for tailoring your approach during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of the importance of listening to children and families. Prepare to discuss how you've incorporated feedback from service users into your practice, as this aligns with the council's commitment to inclusivity and improvement.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager - Family Safeguarding
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the key responsibilities and requirements. Highlight your relevant experience in children social care, particularly in child protection, as this is crucial for the Team Manager position.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your application to reflect the values and culture of Bracknell Forest Council. Emphasise your commitment to inclusivity, ambition, and continuous learning, as these are core values they uphold.
Showcase Leadership Skills: In your application, provide specific examples of your leadership experience, particularly in managing teams and driving performance. Mention any relevant training or development initiatives you have led.
Prepare for the Interview: Since interviews will be held in person, think about how you can demonstrate your interpersonal skills and ability to build effective relationships. Prepare questions to ask about the team dynamics and the Family Safeguarding Model.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bracknell Forest Council
✨Understand the Family Safeguarding Model
Familiarise yourself with the Family Safeguarding Model used by Bracknell Forest Council. Be prepared to discuss how this model influences your approach to child protection and family support, as well as how you can contribute to its implementation.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Team Manager, you'll need to showcase your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on recruitment, training, and performance management, and be ready to discuss your approach to fostering a positive team culture.
✨Highlight Your Experience with Children and Families
Make sure to emphasise your experience working with children and families in the statutory sector. Be specific about your roles in child protection, care proceedings, and any relevant interventions you've led or been involved in.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Think through potential challenges you might face in the role and how you would address them, particularly in relation to managing care proceedings and engaging with families.