At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate team of social workers to protect vulnerable children and families.
- Company: Join an outstanding local authority committed to safeguarding and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Supportive environment with structured supervision and a focus on continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with strong child protection experience and leadership abilities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you ready to lead with purpose and make a real difference in children’s lives? We’re looking for a passionate, confident, and experienced Social Work Team Manager to join our fast-paced Assessment Team — the frontline of safeguarding and protection for children and families in our OUTSTANDING authority. This is your chance to step into a key leadership role where your decisions shape safer futures, drive excellent practice, and support a high-performing team of dedicated professionals.
About the Role
You are a qualified social worker with a proven track record in child protection and frontline practice, confident in your judgment and driven by a strong ethical compass. You are ready to step into leadership—or build on existing management experience—with the tools to support, challenge, and develop a team to be their very best.
What You’ll Bring
- SWE registration
- Strong knowledge of the Children Act, Working Together, and safeguarding frameworks
- The ability to balance risk, make decisions, and lead with clarity
- A commitment to putting the child’s voice at the centre of everything you do
Why This Role? Why Now?
- Be at the heart of decision-making that protects vulnerable children and families at the earliest point of contact
- Lead a dynamic, skilled team of social workers committed to high-quality, child-centred assessments
- Bring your leadership to life in a local authority that values innovation, learning, and outcomes.
- Work closely with partners to influence real, positive change across services
- Thrive in a supportive environment that offers structured supervision, strong leadership backing, and continuous development
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading a small team of social workers in the Assessment Team, managing risk, and ensuring safe, timely decision-making.
- Inspiring social workers through effective supervision, coaching, and development
- Overseeing quality assessments under Section 17 and Section 47 of the Children Act
- Collaborating across agencies to deliver effective multi-agency safeguarding responses
- Accountable for decision making and implementing safeguarding processes, endorsing assessment outcomes, and ensuring that children have the right support and protection at the right time.
- Driving service improvement, innovation, and accountability across your team
- Making a difference—every single day
What We Offer
- A competitive salary and generous annual leave
- Excellent professional development opportunities and leadership programmes
- Flexible working options and a hybrid work culture
- A supportive senior management team who listen and back you
- Access to employee wellbeing services, peer networks, and more
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:
- Social Work degree or equivalent, e.g. CQSW, DipSW (with specialism in children’s services), approved by Social Work England and evidence of continuing professional development.
- Extensive statutory experience focused on applying threshold and Child protection processes including public and private law.
- Demonstrate your ability to support others including social workers, alternatively qualified staff and students and have experience of providing case work supervision
- Strong communication and leadership skills, able to confidently chair complex meetings and lead important pieces of development work
- Experience of making decisions at an advanced level being accountable for recommended outcomes that safeguard children
- Understanding the complexity of the statutory child protection processes as set out in legislation and statutory guidance
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer. This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for this role.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
Team Manager First Response Assessments in London employer: Leicestershire County Council
Join a leading local authority that prioritises the safeguarding and protection of children and families, where your leadership can truly make a difference. With a strong commitment to professional development, flexible working options, and a supportive management team, you will thrive in an environment that values innovation and collaboration. This role offers the unique opportunity to lead a dedicated team in a fast-paced setting, ensuring that every decision contributes to safer futures for vulnerable children.
Contact Details:
Leicestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager First Response Assessments in London
✨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 Leicestershire County 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 Leicestershire County 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 Leicestershire County 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 Leicestershire County 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 First Response Assessments in London
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 Leicestershire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Leicestershire County 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 Leicestershire County 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.
