Team Manager - Children in Care Home Finding & Brokerage

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, accepting of all, and free from discrimination and bias. At Coventry City Council, we are embarking on an incredible journey to create a brighter future for Coventry's children. As a 'Good' Local Authority, we believe in pushing boundaries and delivering excellence for children and families. Our vision is clear, and our social workers are unwavering in their commitment to putting children and families at the centre of their practice. Be part of our inspiring team, making a meaningful difference in the lives of Coventry's children. Together, let's create a nurturing environment where every child's potential can flourish.

Our Values

• 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.

What is the job role?

Coventry Children's Services is looking for an experienced and motivated Team Manager Children in Care Home Finding & Brokerage to lead a high-impact service at the heart of improving outcomes for children and young people in our care. This is a senior role where your leadership, commissioning expertise, and child-focused professional judgement will directly shape the quality, stability, and value for money of homes for Coventry’s children. As Team Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the effective delivery of the Children in Care Home Finding team. You will lead a skilled team operating in a fast-paced, high-demand environment, ensuring children are placed in safe, high-quality homes that meet their needs and deliver the best possible outcomes.

Working closely with commissioning, operational children’s services, providers, and partners, you will play a key role in market management, sufficiency planning, and quality improvement across homes including residential care, fostering, and supported accommodation. You will also contribute at a senior level to strategy development, financial governance, and quality assurance, using insight and data to drive continuous improvement.

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).

Who are we looking for?

You will bring strong management experience alongside deep knowledge of children’s services, commissioning, and home finding services. You’ll be comfortable working strategically while also leading operational delivery in a pressured environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance, and regulatory frameworks relating to children in care.
• Strong experience of home finding, brokerage, commissioning, and placement sufficiency within children’s services.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate professional teams delivering complex services.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience of managing budgets, placement spend, and value for money.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and a child-focused approach.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans, those currently in care or who have previously been in care, and individuals who consider themselves to be disabled or have a long-term health condition.

About Coventry

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 5100 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.