At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of Social Workers to achieve outstanding outcomes for children in care.
- Company: Join Rotherham Council's Children and Young People’s Service, rated Outstanding in 2025.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, hybrid working, and strong support for your career growth.
- Other info: Supportive environment with manageable caseloads and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification, management experience, and a passion for improving children's outcomes.
The predicted salary is between 51356 - 54495 £ per year.
Permanent, 37 hours per week.
Now is the time to come and work for Rotherham Council Children and Young People’s Service.
Salary £51,356 - £54,495 & excellent benefits (Pay Award Pending). Contractual hours: 37. Basis: Full time. Region: Rotherham. Job category/type: Childrens Social Work. Date posted: 01/06/2026. Job reference: REQ23158.
Directorate – Children and Young People’s Services
We seek to appoint a dynamic, caring and forward‑thinking Team Manager; who has experience of working with children in care, for our Children in Care Service. The post is based in one of three Children in Care teams at Riverside House, Rotherham.
You will:
- Lead a team of Social Workers to reach outstanding outcomes for children in service.
- Be responsible for the learning and development of your staff and quality assurance of their work.
- Have a good understanding of the issues affecting children in care, and experience of working with this group of children.
- Remain child‑focused in decision making.
- Promote a strengths‑based approach.
- Offer high quality, reflective supervision to a group of Social Workers.
- Add value and make the most of available resources with children in mind.
You will be a ‘critical friend’ to your team, providing high support and high challenge. You will provide leadership, direction and support to your team in order to achieve outstanding service delivery for children and their families.
Come and join the team here in Rotherham! Why?
- We have a strong, visible, accessible leadership team and a heartfelt pledge to deliver outstanding services to children and their families.
- We have an established ‘Rotherham family approach’ that assists us in how we work with families and also how we care and support our workforce.
- We pride ourselves on our strong learning culture and use this positively to develop staff and improve practice.
- We strongly believe in ‘growing our own’. Your development, and career goals are important to us. We will support you to achieve your career ambitions.
- You will be joining an authority rated as Outstanding in 2025.
- We have a generous annual leave allowance.
- We have manageable caseloads and support Hybrid working arrangements.
ABOUT YOU
You will have:
- A Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
- A passion for improving outcomes for children.
- Management/leadership experience.
- A positive approach to securing permanence for children in a timely way.
- A supportive and empowering approach with which to support social workers in your team.
If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please email: Kim Wilson, Service Manager kim.wilson@rotherham.gov.uk
Closing date: 21st June 2026
Shortlisting: 22nd June 2026
Interview: 8th July 2026
This post involves working with children and therefore if successful you will be required to apply for a disclosure of criminal records check at an enhanced level. Further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found at www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. For further information, please visit our website.
Head Office Riverside House Main Street Rotherham S60 1AE
Children’s Social Work Team Manager, Children in Care in Rotherham employer: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Rotherham Council Children and Young People’s Service is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its staff. With a strong emphasis on professional development, manageable caseloads, and a commitment to outstanding service delivery, employees are empowered to grow their careers while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children in care. Located in Rotherham, the council offers a generous annual leave allowance and promotes a healthy work-life balance through hybrid working arrangements.
Contact Details:
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children’s Social Work Team Manager, Children in Care in Rotherham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in social work or related fields. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet people who might know about job openings. Remember, sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Understand their approach to child welfare and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission. This shows you’re genuinely interested and committed to making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable talking about your management style and how you support your team. The more you rehearse, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the latest opportunities there, so keep checking back for new roles that match your skills and passion.
We think you need these skills to ace Children’s Social Work Team Manager, Children in Care in Rotherham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience with children in care. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Team Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Team Manager, leadership is key! Use your application to demonstrate your management experience and how you've successfully led teams in the past. We love to see examples of how you’ve supported and developed others.
Be Child-Focused:Remember, this role is all about the children! Make sure your application reflects a child-focused approach in your decision-making and how you’ve prioritised their needs in previous roles. We’re looking for that passion!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our amazing team there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the issues affecting children in care. Brush up on relevant legislation and best practices in social work. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show your passion for improving outcomes for children.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your management and leadership experience. Think about times when you've supported your team, provided reflective supervision, or led initiatives that improved service delivery. Be ready to discuss how you can be a 'critical friend' to your team.
✨Emphasise Your Child-Focused Approach
During the interview, make it clear that your decision-making is always child-focused. Share specific instances where you prioritised the needs of children and families in your previous roles. This will resonate well with the values of Rotherham Council.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about the team's current challenges, the council's approach to professional development, or how they implement the 'Rotherham family approach'. It shows you're genuinely interested and engaged.