At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of social workers to improve the lives of children and families in Bradford.
- Company: Bradford Children and Families Trust, dedicated to delivering quality children's services.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, excellent pension, retention payment, and family-friendly policies.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with at least four years of post-qualifying experience.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to continuous learning and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
Bradford Children and Families Trust are looking for Experienced, Innovative and Dedicated Practice Supervisors to drive our services forward and to ensure that our promise to improve the lives of Children and Young People in Bradford becomes a reality. You will have a passion and drive to ensure children are at the heart of all we do. You will practice within a relational and restorative culture of continuous learning and reflective practice that inspires staff to give their best in their roles. If you’re up for the Challenge and want to help us achieve our vision, then we’d love to hear from you!
We are recruiting in the following Services/Localities:
- Bradford East - currently based at Sir Henry Mitchell House
- Bradford South – currently based at Sir Henry Mitchell House
- Keighley and Shipley – based in Keighley Townhall.
About Us
Bradford Children and Families Trust was established in April 2023 to bring a step change in the quality and delivery of Children’s Services across our district. Our purpose is clear - to ensure that our promise to improve the lives of children and young people in Bradford becomes a reality. It’s a tough ask. It requires dedication, determination, and resilience – but under our Chief Executive, Senior Leadership team and an unswerving drive to deliver the best outcomes, we are confident that we will achieve our ambition.
Our Ofsted monitoring visits over the past 18 months evidence that we are on the right trajectory and that significant improvements have been made and are being embedded. This means that the children and families we come into contact with are having a better experience with the right support being offered at the right time. We are not sitting on our laurels and know that there is still a lot of work to do but there is a solid commitment to getting this right.
Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as its geography. We cannot do this alone and have strong, collaborative working relationships with our partners. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.
Our workforce is unwavering in their pursuit to give the best possible services to those who need support. We have invested in our services to ensure that we are the best we can be. We have and continue to invest in our Early Help services so that we are reaching as many people as possible who need support to prevent things escalating into statutory services; this includes the development of a Family Help Team who offer intensive support to families.
Families are the experts in their own lives and we need to listen to what they have to say; to that end, we have also invested in our voice and participation service to support children and families to have a voice in what happens next and our aspiration is that all our development is co-produced with those who need our support in their lives.
We are striving to ensure that we are a restorative and relational organisation and have been working with Leeds Relational Practice Centre for over 12 months, they will continue to work with us for the next 12 months, working with our leaders, managers and workforce so that we all have a shared understanding of what this means for children and families. We have invested in conferences and workshops led by Mark Finnis who is a renowned expert in this field.
Our ASYE academy is well established, and we have a high number of applicants who want to have the dedicated support the academy offers during the full 12 months of the ASYE programme; those who have gone through the academy have felt supported through dedicated practice educators, the learning and development offer and the experience of those delivering. We are committed to the ongoing development of all our workforce.
About the Role
You’ll know how to keep everyone in your team energised and focused on doing the right thing for the children of Bradford. Managing a team of professional Social Workers and Community Resource Workers, you’ll help us achieve our aim of delivering outcomes for the children, young people, and families of Bradford. It’s about showing strong leadership, driving continuous improvement, and putting the needs of children first, always.
Here in Bradford, we lead from the front, and we know our most valuable resource is our staff, helping us to meet the needs of our communities. We have built a strong culture of listening to our staff and involving them to ensure every child receives the right help. Bradford is a great place to build your career. You’ll receive an extensive training and support package that will help you develop as a professional, a manageable caseload that will enable you to make a difference and the backing of a supportive leadership team.
Bradford is split into four localities: Bradford East, Bradford South, Bradford West and Keighley and Shipley. We are recruiting for Team Managers across the localities.
Key Responsibilities
- Managing a team of 6 social workers of differing levels, a practice supervisor and a community resource worker
- Supporting social workers to help and support families while managing and reducing risk
- Offering reflective supervision to workers, both child focused and personal
- Supporting progression of your workers and tackling performance issues when needed.
- Performance monitoring of your team through audit activity, reflective group supervision and quality assurance activity.
- Undertake audit activity and disseminate identified learning.
- Undertake practice development projects with those who use our services, colleagues, and stakeholders.
- Attendance at relevant partner agency meetings and service manager meetings.
- Implementing and supporting change within the team and offering a supportive and nurturing leadership style
- Chairing multi-agency meetings and making decisions linked to a thorough understanding of safeguarding thresholds.
About You
Hold a DIPSW or equivalent qualification and are registered with the Social Work England as a qualified social worker, with at least four years post qualifying experience. Be registered with Social Work England (Formerly HCPC) as a qualified Social Worker. Strong interpersonal skills. Experienced and expert in managing the delivery of quality outcomes for children and young people. An ability to build strong relationships with children, their families, colleagues and partner agencies. Passionate about the development of others. Embrace change and strive for excellent practice placing children and young people at the heart of decision making; you have experience of tackling the most complex needs with enthusiasm, drive, and determination. An experience and understanding of relevant statutory and legal requirements to safeguard children and young people.
You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:
- Retention Payment: You will be eligible for our annual retention payment, paid in 12 monthly instalments. This is non contractual (reviewed annually)
- Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
- Excellent Local Government pension
- Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
Team Managers (Social Work) - Localities in Devon employer: Children's Social Work Matters
Contact Detail:
Children's Social Work Matters Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Managers (Social Work) - Localities in Devon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Bradford Children and Families Trust on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for your interview. It’s all about making connections!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the core values of the organisation. They’re all about putting children first, so think of examples from your past work that showcase your commitment to this principle. Show them you’re on the same page!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, but keep it natural. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. This will help you articulate your experience clearly and confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Managers (Social Work) - Localities in Devon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for improving the lives of children and young people shine through. We want to see how dedicated you are to making a difference in Bradford!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in social work and leadership. We’re looking for innovative and dedicated practice supervisors, so connect your past roles to what we do at Bradford Children and Families Trust.
Be Reflective: In your application, share examples of how you've embraced reflective practice and continuous learning. We value a relational culture, so showing that you can inspire others through your own growth is key!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. We can’t wait to hear from you and see how you can help us achieve our vision!
How to prepare for a job interview at Children's Social Work Matters
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of a Team Manager in Social Work. Familiarise yourself with Bradford Children and Families Trust’s mission and values, especially their focus on improving the lives of children and young people. This will show your genuine interest and commitment to the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, particularly in managing teams and driving continuous improvement. Think about specific situations where you’ve supported social workers or tackled performance issues, as these will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Emphasise Relationship Building
Since the role involves building strong relationships with children, families, and partner agencies, be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully fostered collaboration in previous roles. Share stories that demonstrate your interpersonal skills and ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills, especially regarding safeguarding and supporting families. Practice articulating your thought process clearly, showing how you prioritise the needs of children while managing risks.