At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support children and young people, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
- Company: Join a dedicated service making a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, permanent position, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Social Work Degree and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 56883 - 59198 £ per year.
Salary: £56,883 to £59,198 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Workington
Contract: Permanent
About this opportunity
The Cared for Children and Care Experienced Service is seeking to recruit a Team Manager to join us in making a real difference to the lives of children, young people and the people who matter most to them. As a Team Manager, you will lead a team of dedicated Social Workers and Pathway Advisors within our innovative 0-25 service model, ensuring our children and young people are safe, happy and supported to achieve the best possible outcomes. You will oversee effective permanency planning and ensure that children and young people receive the kindness, care and support they need to thrive in every aspect of their lives, while maintaining strong connections with the people who are important to them.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Council and partner agencies, you will play a key role in safeguarding children and young people, promoting positive outcomes, and ensuring their stability, safety and wellbeing. Through visible and supportive leadership, you will provide clear oversight and timely decision-making, while fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within your team.
Our service benefits from a stable, dedicated and highly committed workforce and is at the forefront of innovation through our Cared for Children and Care Experienced Partnership. As part of our West Cumbria team, you will contribute to a service that is benefiting from significant investment and strong community support, helping to deliver lasting improvements in the lives and outcomes of cared for and care experienced children and young people.
In this role, you will:
- Lead, support and develop a team of Social Workers, Personal Advisors and a Positive Engagement Officer.
- Manage risk and vulnerability, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding and effective risk management.
- Work strategically with multi-agency partnerships and panels, including MAPPA, MARAC and MACE, to help protect children, young people and the wider community.
- Oversee budgets and resources, ensuring efficient and effective service delivery, value for money, and compliance with allocated team budgets.
- Drive best practice, shaping policy, improving performance, and embedding our Empowering Families Practice Model across the service.
What you’ll need:
- A Social Work Degree (or equivalent qualification).
- A management qualification (desirable).
- Strong leadership skills and experience within children's social care.
- A passion for improving outcomes for children and young people.
- A commitment to youth voice, participation and co-production, using the views and experiences of children and young people to inform and improve practice.
Who we’re looking for
Whether you're an experienced Social Worker looking to take the next step into management, or an established Team Manager seeking a new challenge, we'd love to hear from you. We're looking for someone who is passionate about supporting children and young people, committed to achieving the best possible outcomes, and able to inspire and lead others to deliver outstanding practice. This role is available on a permanent basis.
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.
We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.
Be sure to take a look at the post specification for the essential criteria for this role.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Claire Stanley by email at claire.stanley2@cumbria.gov.uk
DBS Checks
This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is: Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check. Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with Children.
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role:
- Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
- Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
- Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).
If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application.
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.
If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 21/08/2026
Interview date: TBC
Please read the supporting information: Post Specification
Basis: Full time
Team Manager - Children Looked After & Leaving Care (Internal) - CMB2630i employer: Cumberland Council
Cumberland Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people at risk of exploitation. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and professional development, employees benefit from a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and well-being. Working in the beautiful Cumberland region, staff enjoy a fulfilling career with competitive salaries and the opportunity to make a real difference in their community.
