At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of social workers to support children and families in need.
- Company: Coventry City Council, committed to diversity and community impact.
- Benefits: Inclusive workplace, professional development, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a vibrant, diverse team dedicated to innovation and excellence.
- Why this job: Be a key player in improving outcomes for Coventry's children and young people.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with leadership experience in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.
Our Values are:
- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.
We are looking for a passionate and experienced leader who is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families. You will have a strong track record of providing effective leadership, making sound decisions, managing risk and supporting teams to deliver high-quality services.
The successful candidate will:
- Demonstrate strong leadership, management and supervisory skills.
- Have experience of motivating, supporting and developing staff to achieve excellent outcomes.
- Be confident in managing performance, workloads and complex situations.
- Have excellent communication, partnership-working and relationship-building skills.
- Be able to lead change positively and contribute to service improvement.
- Have a clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, relevant legislation and best practice within Children's Services.
- Demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring services are delivered in a fair and anti-discriminatory way.
Most importantly, we are looking for a leader who shares our ambition for Coventry's children and young people and is dedicated to helping them thrive and reach their full potential.
At Coventry City Council, we are on an ambitious journey to create brighter futures for Coventry's children and young people. As an Outstanding Local Authority, we are committed to delivering exceptional services and achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families. Our Team Managers play a vital role in leading and supporting social workers to deliver high-quality, child-centred practice. Working within a supportive leadership structure, you will have the opportunity to develop your team, drive continuous improvement, and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people across the city.
Join us and be part of a service that is passionate about making a difference, where innovation is encouraged, professional development is valued, and every child is supported to reach their full potential.
As a Team Manager within Children's Services, you will provide leadership and management to a team of social workers and practitioners, ensuring children and families receive timely, effective and child-centred support. You will oversee complex casework, provide professional supervision, drive service performance and support the development of staff, while working collaboratively with partners to achieve the best possible outcomes for Coventry's children and young people. As part of an Outstanding Local Authority, you will play a key role in maintaining high standards of practice and continuously improving services.
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We are looking for an experienced, motivated and passionate Social Work leader who is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. You will be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England and have significant experience working within a statutory children's social care setting. You will have proven experience of leading and developing teams, providing effective case oversight, making sound decisions and driving high standards of practice.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate, support and develop staff.
- Experience of supervising complex casework and making defensible decisions to safeguard children and young people.
- The ability to manage performance, workloads and service delivery effectively.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and partnership-working skills.
- Experience of working collaboratively with a range of agencies and stakeholders to improve outcomes for children and families.
- The ability to lead change, promote continuous improvement and maintain high-quality services.
- A sound understanding of relevant legislation, safeguarding responsibilities and children's social care practice.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring services are delivered in a fair and anti-discriminatory way.
Most importantly, you will share our ambition for Coventry's children and young people and be committed to delivering outstanding services that help them thrive and achieve their full potential.
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.
Interview date: 3rd August
Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5,100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.
If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package.
Team Manager- Children Services in Coventry employer: Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises the well-being of both employees and the community. As a Trauma-Informed Outreach Worker for Women, you will benefit from ongoing professional development opportunities, allowing you to grow in your role while making a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable women in Coventry. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and empowerment, working here means being part of a team that values compassion and innovation in addressing complex social issues.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager- Children Services in Coventry
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Coventry City Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Coventry City Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Coventry City Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Coventry City Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager- Children Services in Coventry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Coventry City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Coventry City Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Coventry City Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
