At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate team to support children and families in need.
- Company: Join Norfolk Children's Services, recognised as Outstanding by Ofsted.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holidays, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive, ambitious team dedicated to positive change.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families across Norfolk.
- Qualifications: Experience in leadership and frontline management with a focus on child welfare.
The predicted salary is between 56068 - 56068 £ per year.
Description
Family Help Team Manager – Prevention (Children’s Services, Family Help, Protection and Care) | 11558 | Permanent Contract
| 37 hours per week | £51,821 to £56,068 per annum | Grade L | County Hall, Norwich
Are you ready to help shape brilliant support for children, young people and families in Norfolk?
This is an exciting time to join Norfolk Children’s Services.
In May 2026, Ofsted rated our Children’s Services as Outstanding in all areas, recognising our child-centred approach, strong relationships with children and young people, and inspirational strategic and operational leadership.
About the opportunity
We are looking for an experienced, confident and relationship-focused Family Help Team Manager – Prevention to join our Family Help, Protection and Care service.
This is a rewarding opportunity to lead with purpose, support excellent practice and make sure children, young people and families receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people.
Working closely with the Protection Manager, you will help create the conditions for practitioners to do their very best work.
You will lead day-to-day practice, support confident decision-making, champion staff development and wellbeing, and nurture a positive team culture where restorative, relationship-based and strengths-oriented practice can truly thrive.
- Why this role matters
- Be part of an Outstanding Children’s Services department recognised by Ofsted for consistently strong services that make a positive difference to children and families.
- Lead and support a welcoming, multi-disciplinary Family Help team that puts children, young people and families at the centre of everything we do.
- Work within our practice vision, Vital Signs for Children, helping children to FLOURISH through relationships, strengths and outcomes.
- Bring your leadership, curiosity and creativity to a service that values ambition, collaboration, evidence-based practice, continuous improvement and kindness.
- What you’ll bring to the role
- Provide supportive, visible and confident operational leadership across Family Help and Prevention practice.
- Work alongside the Protection Manager to support team performance, allocation, case oversight and timely intervention.
- Coach, supervise and develop practitioners through positive supervision, induction, probation and performance development planning.
- Use performance data, auditing and quality assurance activity to celebrate strengths, identify learning and drive improvement.
- Build trusted relationships with children, families, colleagues and partner agencies.
- Promote safe, restorative and solution-focused practice that helps children and families achieve positive and lasting outcomes.
Essential criteria
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with evidence of leading, motivating and supporting staff while driving positive change.
- Ability to make sound judgements under pressure and respond to complex or unusual situations with a clear rationale.
- Ability to chair meetings and work effectively with multi-disciplinary and multi-agency partners.
- Ability to model relationship-based and restorative practice and support others to understand and apply these principles.
- Ability to work to timescales and ensure timely, purposeful practice across the team.
- Strong commitment to equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Flexible, pragmatic and solution-focused approach to problem-solving with complex families.
- Evidence of frontline management experience in the UK, preferably within a large organisation.
- Experience of working with a variety of agencies and client groups to promote social inclusion and safety.
- Experience of designing and implementing processes and systems, including outcome monitoring.
- Experience of coaching, mentoring, training or leading groups.
- Detailed knowledge of relevant procedures, policies, legislation and regulations.
- At least four years’ experience working with children and families.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of child development, child and adolescent needs, parental needs including substance misuse, childhood trauma and the impact on parenting, and the experiences of children looked after by a local authority.
- A relevant qualification related to the role.
Ready to make a difference?
If you are a skilled and compassionate leader who can combine professional confidence with warmth, curiosity and a genuine commitment to helping families thrive, we would love to hear from you.
This is your opportunity to join an ambitious, supportive and forward-thinking service where your leadership can help make a lasting difference for children, young people and families across Norfolk.
We know that considering a new role is a big decision, so we want you to feel welcomed, supported and excited about the opportunity ahead.
If this sounds like the kind of team and service you would love to be part of, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Before you apply, we recommend reading the full
Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria.
- These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:
- Competitive salary
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
- Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need.
• Financial benefits such as
- ‘ Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.
- A
- Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
- Relocation expenses (where applicable)
- An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions.
- Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes
Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)
- A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job
- You can also find information on our
Terms and Conditions here.
Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in my Oracle using your @norfolk. gov. uk or @nccal. ac. uk email.
We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.
- Redeployment closing date: 12 November 2026 at 23:55
- All other applicants closing date: 22 November 2026 at 23:55
Family Help Team Manager - Prevention employer: Norfolk County Council
Norfolk County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have access to training opportunities and resources to enhance your skills while making a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children in the community. Located in Norwich, this role provides the unique advantage of working within a collaborative environment that values partnership with schools and families, ensuring a rewarding experience for all involved.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Help Team Manager - Prevention
✨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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 Family Help Team Manager - Prevention
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 Norfolk County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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.