Team Manager - Exit from Care

Derby City Council is seeking an experienced and motivated Team Manager to lead a new, innovative team of Social Workers and Children’s Practitioners. The team will focus on safely reunifying children with their birth families and supporting children to exit care through legal routes such as Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) and Child Arrangements Orders, in line with the Children’s Social Care National Framework and reform programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and support a team of Social Workers and Children’s Practitioners working with children who may return home or exit care through legal orders.
• Ensure high-quality assessment, planning and interventions which promote safe permanency and stability for children.
• Oversee work relating to care proceedings, i.e. discharge of Care Orders and applications for SGOs, Child Arrangements Orders and other permanency pathways.
• Drive a culture of strengths-based, solution-focused and child-centred practice.
• Maintain robust quality assurance and performance management systems, ensuring practice is of a consistently high standard and impact of the work of the team is clearly understood across the organisation.
• Provide regular, reflective supervision and support the professional development of practitioners within the team.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, regulatory frameworks and local policies, including safeguarding duties.
• Work collaboratively with children, families, carers, partners and the wider children’s services system to achieve positive outcomes.
• Contribute to the implementation of Children’s Social Care reforms locally, developing and embedding new ways of working.

About You

Qualifications and Registration – A recognised Social Work qualification (e.g. BA, MA, DipSW or equivalent) and Social Work England registration.

Experience – Substantial post-qualifying experience in front‑line children’s social work; direct experience of care proceedings and court‑related work; experience in a leadership and/or management role within Children’s Social Care; experience of working to secure permanency for children (e.g. reunification, SGOs, Child Arrangements Orders, long‑term fostering).

Skills and Attributes – Strong understanding of safeguarding and statutory guidance; clear knowledge of regulatory frameworks, care planning and permanence planning; demonstrable experience of quality assurance and performance management; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; proven ability to make evidence‑based decisions balancing risk and protective factors; solution‑focused, resilient, and managing complexity; strong commitment to strengths‑based, child‑centred practice; ability to lead and contribute to service development and innovation.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to lead an innovative and progressive team at the forefront of Derby’s Children’s Social Care reforms.
• Supportive management and peer network with reflective supervision and professional development.
• Training and development opportunities to support leadership.
• Commitment to staff wellbeing and inclusive workplace culture.
• Flexible work/life balance scheme.
• Hybrid working options.
• Modern office environment.
• Continued professional development opportunities and career conversations.
• Annual leave of 27 days (rising to 32 after 5 years) plus.