Social Work Team Manager in Grimsby

Due to an internal promotion, we are now seeking a dynamic and passionate social worker to join us as a Social Work Team Manager. Working with other Social Work Team Manager colleagues, you will lead and manage the social care teams across Focus, supporting the delivery of effective Adult Social Care services in North East Lincolnshire.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a self‑motivated individual, and a leader who can inspire and empower people to achieve organisational objectives, ensuring service delivery is strengths based and outcome focussed. You will need to be confident, often in challenging and difficult situations. You need to have a wide knowledge of adult social care, have a high level of communication skills and be experienced in collaborative working across a range of different partner agencies. If you are looking for a role which offers you autonomy, an opportunity to expand on your experience and work at a leadership level then this may be the opportunity for you!

About us

The Company Focus Independent Adult Social Work is a member-led, Community Interest Company (CIC) delivering statutory social services, including safeguarding, for adults in North East Lincolnshire. Formed in 2013, we employ approximately 160 staff and work collaboratively with local charities, other social enterprises, the local Council and Health organisations to improve the well‑being of local people whilst delivering an ethical and caring social work service.

Job responsibilities

• KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
• Responsible for the management of the day to day running of the operational social work functions (inc. SPA) within Focus.
• Instil a positive culture whilst providing inspirational leadership to the social work function and the wider organisation.
• Manage a small caseload of complex cases and lead of court work / cases for Focus, this will include preparation of reports and attending court as and when required.
• Deputise for the Deputy Head of Service, in a variety of situations, as appropriate.
• Act as the Lead for focus on specific areas of work, being actively involved in project groups and ensuring feedback is shared with Social Work Team Manager colleagues, the Deputy Head of Service and the wider organisation as appropriate.
• To work in conjunction with the Practice Development, Assurance and Education Team to ensure the Practice Framework and Quality Assurance Framework are embedded in the Social Work Teams.

• PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Leadership
• Provide day to day leadership to a team of Social Work Practitioners, Social Work Co‑ordinators, Single Point of Access staff and also to the wider organisation.
• Continually manage the performance of staff and undertake monitoring, improvement plans and formal capability processes as required; this could include attending and presenting at disciplinary hearings.
• Continually develop staff in line with the KSS and the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for Social Work.
• To be involved in the recruitment of new staff; developing recruitment paperwork such as adverts as well as partaking in interviews, group discussions and skills tests.
• Plan, oversee and lead on onboarding of new staff, provide mentorship for students.
• Allocation of work, management of resources and capacity planning across the teams.
• Authorise service requests from staff via the Adult Social Care database (SystmOne), holding Practice Surgeries, case discussions with staff and continually provide advice / guidance to staff on cases.
• Through strong leadership and good management practice, motivate staff to work in a responsive and effective way that demonstrates the values of social work and achieves the standards and performance measures set.
• Provide excellent social work supervision to direct reports, complying with the professional supervision framework across social care in Focus.
• Collect information about individual and team workloads to use to plan / prioritise work and resources effectively and efficiently across the service area.
• Set team performance objectives / targets.
• Available to undertake On Call Rota system duties.

• Performance Management, Quality & Improvement
• Assist the Deputy Head of Service on performance standards / targets in matters relating to:
• Key national and local performance indicators
• Data quality issues
• Adherence via supervision framework to workforce processes e.g. standards relating to onboarding, supervision etc.
• Practice standards of the team and wider organisation
• Improve social work practice on the front line and supporting and advising on the quality of practice, which includes:
• The practice of others and monitoring / managing the performance of individuals
• Providing supervision, coaching, mentoring and challenge to a wide range of practices at various levels within the organisation
• Monitoring operational front-line practice within the team, providing observation and constructive feedback.
• Observing and providing feedback to staff on their performance, practice and behaviours.
• Encouraging and supporting self‑reflection / critical reflection within practitioner groups to develop and support a framework of self‑management.
• Facilitating case study working groups / case discussion groups / peer support groups to encourage self‑responsibility and increase competence and confidence of staff group.
• Work to the Focus Quality Assurance Framework to ensure services are compliant; conduct regular audits and evaluations of social work programmes, processes and documentation, highlighting areas for improvement.
• Work closely with social work teams (inc. SPA), management and external stakeholders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and quality excellence.
• Investigate and formulate draft responses to formal and informal complaints received into the service.
• Keeping self and others up to date with best practice and excellence in practice, regulatory and legislative changes, contemporary models of delivery and changes in practice required to meet delivery demands.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures relevant to the service.

• Partnership Working & Networking
• Work with external professionals and partner agencies to ensure consistency, ease of practice, best use of resources and the best outcomes for the individual.
• Proactively seek opportunities for self and team members to further develop and maintain strong multi‑agency relationships.
• Represent Focus at local, regional and, where appropriate, national working groups, events, meetings and conferences which relate to the role.
• Development and sustaining partnership arrangements with stakeholders within and outside of the organisation.

Note: No role profile can cover every issue which may arise within the post at various times. The post holder is expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those described.

Person Specification

• Experience
• Case Management, including completion of statutory Adult Social Care Assessments
• Social Work Supervision
• Multi-Disciplinary Working
• Successful management experience of working in Adult Social Care
• Risk management and high level decision making
• Leading, motivating and managing teams successfully
• Demonstrable experience of working with people with lived experience
• Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders & partners to achieve results and outcomes for adults

• Knowledge
• Knowledge of relevant Legislation, national guidance and local and regional good practice in relation to Adult Social Care, including Safeguarding knowledge and procedures
• Knowledge and experience of performance management and quality assurance frameworks and systems
• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and the European Convention on Human Rights
• Knowledge of Safeguarding Adults procedures and the requirements of Section 42 of the Care Act and Chapter 14 of the Care and Support Guidance
• An understanding of CQCs Inspection Framework for Adult Social Care Services
• IT literacy, sufficient to work with systems, databases, spreadsheets and other Microsoft Office products competently and confidently
• Ability to manage the risk associated with case management and make sound professional decisions.
• Strong communication skills (written, oral & via electronic communication methods)
• Able to motivate, lead and develop staff
• Able to think strategically and analyse complex data
• Able to build effective relationships and partnerships (public, private and voluntary sector)
• Excellent communication skills; written, oral and via electronic communication methods
• Clear sighted and lateral thinker able to challenge constructively
• IT literacy, sufficient to work with systems, databases, spreadsheets and other MO products competently and confidently (and to use such systems to interrogate data for performance management and quality assurance purposes).

• Qualifications
• Essential Qualifications
• Social Work Qualification (e.g. Dip.SW / Degree in Social Work)
• Current Registration with Social Work England
• Best Interest Assessor Qualification (or willingness to undertake within 12 months of commencement in post).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.