At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a team focused on supporting children in care.
- Company: Join a dedicated team committed to improving life chances for young people.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, excellent pension, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: This role offers a fixed term of 3 years 5 months with potential for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Must have a relevant social work degree and be registered with Social Work England.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Team Manager who is child‑centred, supportive and confident, with the ability to lead and inspire a Children in Care team. You will be professionally curious, calm under pressure and outcomes‑focused, providing reflective supervision and ensuring high standards of practice. You will be a strong communicator and collaborative leader, committed to permanence, stability and positive life chances for children and young people.
As a Team Manager you will need to provide strong, ethical, and outcome‑focused leadership to a Children in Care team, ensuring children and young people experience stability, safety, permanence and improved life chances. The Team Manager will ensure statutory duties are met, high‑quality social work practice is embedded, and staff are supported to deliver child‑centred, relationship‑based interventions.
Due to the nature of the work, you will be expected to work in a demanding working environment dealing with a variety of complex, risky, and diverse issues when supporting and safeguarding the many children and young people we work with. You will be responsible for risk management and decision making within the team. This requires you to have extensive knowledge and experience with professional standards for social work as well as the laws, statutory guidance, and local policies and procedures and to ensure these are being modelled and adhered to within the team. In line with our Signs of Safety practice model, it is expected you will have previous training and/or experience working with a solution‑focused approach.
This post is for a fixed term of 3 years 5 months. You would need to possess a relevant social work degree qualification (i.e.: DipSW or CQSW or degree in social work). You must be registered with the professional regulator for social work (Social Work England). Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
As a disability confident employer Bexley welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on recruitment@bexley.gov.uk.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Team Manager - Children Looked After in Bexleyheath employer: London Borough of Bexley
Bexley is an exceptional employer for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people. With a strong commitment to professional development, a supportive work culture, and a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and generous leave, we empower our Team Managers to lead with confidence and compassion. Our focus on safeguarding and promoting welfare ensures that you will be part of a dedicated team striving for positive outcomes in a dynamic and rewarding environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager - Children Looked After in Bexleyheath
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field and let them know you're on the lookout for a Team Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions related to child-centred leadership and outcomes-focused strategies. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with reflective supervision and solution-focused approaches during interviews. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate how you've led teams effectively and improved outcomes for children in care.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager - Children Looked After in Bexleyheath
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Child-Centred Work:When writing your application, let your passion for working with children and young people shine through. Share specific examples of how you've made a positive impact in similar roles, as this will resonate with us and show that you're the right fit for our team.
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! Make sure your application is well-structured and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to highlight your skills and experiences, making it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect candidate for the Team Manager role.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As a Team Manager, your leadership abilities are crucial. In your application, emphasise your experience in leading teams, providing supervision, and fostering a supportive environment. We want to know how you inspire and motivate others to achieve high standards of practice.
Tailor Your Application to Us:Make sure to tailor your application specifically to our organisation and the role. Mention our Signs of Safety practice model and how your experience aligns with our values. Applying through our website is the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at London Borough of Bexley
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the relevant laws, statutory guidance, and local policies related to social work. Being well-versed in these areas will show that you're not just a candidate, but a knowledgeable leader ready to ensure high standards of practice.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your child-centred approach and how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about times when you inspired your team or made tough decisions under pressure—these stories will resonate with interviewers looking for a confident and supportive manager.
✨Be Reflective and Curious
Demonstrate your professional curiosity by asking insightful questions about the team and their challenges. This shows that you’re not only interested in the role but also committed to understanding and improving the lives of the children and young people you'll be working with.
✨Communicate Clearly
As a strong communicator, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, especially when discussing your experience with relationship-based interventions and risk management.
