Team Manager - Help and Protect Child Protection in Knowsley

Permanent Opportunity With A Local Authority

To lead, manage and develop a Children’s Social Care team, ensuring vulnerable children, young people and families receive high-quality safeguarding, care planning and support services in accordance with statutory duties and best practice.

The postholder will provide leadership, supervision and performance management to Social Workers and support staff, ensuring effective case management, robust decision-making and positive outcomes for children. The role will oversee child protection, safeguarding and care planning processes, ensuring compliance with legislation, regulations, policies and quality standards.

Working under the direction of the Service Manager, the Team Manager will drive service improvement, quality assurance and workforce development while ensuring statutory responsibilities are fulfilled and children remain at the centre of all interventions.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, motivate and manage a Children’s Social Care team.
  
• Provide regular professional supervision and management oversight to Social Workers and other staff.
  
• Support, coach and develop practitioners to achieve high standards of practice.
  
• Create a reflective learning culture that is both supportive and appropriately challenging.
  
• Manage staff performance, attendance, capability and professional development.
  
• Complete Performance Review and Development Plans (PR&Ds).
  
• Facilitate team learning, development activities and reflective supervision for ASYEs.
  
• Support recruitment, induction, retention and workforce development initiatives.
  

Safeguarding & Child Protection

• Ensure statutory duties are met in line with the Children Act and safeguarding legislation.
  
• Provide oversight and decision-making on complex safeguarding and child protection cases.
  
• Ensure the welfare of children remains central to all planning and interventions.
  
• Promote participation of children, young people and families in assessment and planning processes.
  
• Ensure statutory reviews, assessments and plans are completed within required timescales.
  
• Monitor risk and ensure appropriate intervention and support are provided.
  

Case Management & Quality Assurance

• Oversee allocation and management of caseloads across the team.
  
• Monitor the quality of assessments, plans, court work and interventions.
  
• Undertake audits, performance reviews and quality assurance activities.
  
• Ensure casework remains outcome-focused and child-centred.
  
• Promote anti-discriminatory and inclusive practice.
  
• Ensure accurate and high-quality case recording and reporting.
  

Service Performance & Improvement

• Deliver services in accordance with performance indicators, targets and statutory requirements.
  
• Monitor team performance and implement improvement plans where required.
  
• Use performance data and management information to drive service improvements.
  
• Contribute to service planning, service development and corporate objectives.
  
• Lead on specific service improvement projects and developments.
  

Partnership & Representation

• Chair meetings and facilitate effective communication across services.
  
• Represent the service at local and regional meetings, forums and partnership groups.
  
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies, health professionals, education providers and safeguarding partners.
  
• Build effective relationships with regional and local stakeholders.
  

Financial & Resource Management

• Monitor expenditure and budget commitments within delegated responsibilities.
  
• Ensure resources are deployed effectively and represent value for money.
  
• Comply with Council Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.
  
• Support efficient and cost-effective service delivery.
  

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with:
  • Children Act legislation
    
  • Safeguarding requirements
    
  • Regulatory standards
    
  • Local policies and procedures
    
  • Equality and Diversity policies
    
  • GDPR and Data Protection requirements
    
  • Health and Safety responsibilities
    
• Promote continuous professional development and regulatory compliance.
  

Requirements

Essential

• Social Work Qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
  
• Registration with Social Work England.
  
• Significant experience within Children’s Social Care and Child Protection services.
  
• Previous Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager or Senior Practitioner experience.
  
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Children Act 1989 & 2004
    
  • Safeguarding Children Procedures
    
  • Child Protection Processes
    
  • Care Planning
    
  • Court Proceedings
    
  • Statutory Reviews
    
• Experience managing and supervising Social Workers.
  
• Experience undertaking quality assurance, audits and performance management.
  
• Strong decision-making and risk management abilities.
  
• Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
  
• Experience managing complex safeguarding situations.
  
• Ability to lead service improvements and practice development initiatives.
  
• Strong report-writing and case oversight skills.
  

Desirable

• Management qualification.
  
• Practice Educator qualification.
  
• Experience supporting ASYEs.
  
• Experience leading service transformation and change programmes.
  
• Experience working within a Help and Protect service.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Knowsley
  
• Hours Per Week: 37 Hours
  
• Salary: Starting Salary £55,224 per annum
  
• DBS Requirement: Enhanced Children’s DBS Required