Social Work Team Manager - Children Looked After Team

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Social Work Team Manager to lead it’s Children Looked After Team. As the Team Manager for the Children Looked After Team, you will lead and manage a dedicated team of social workers and support staff responsible for providing high-quality care and support to children and young people in the care of the local authority. You will ensure that all statutory responsibilities are met, and services are delivered in line with best practices, with the ultimate goal of promoting the safety, stability, and well-being of looked after children., * Provide strong and effective leadership to the Children Looked After Team, ensuring a shared vision for delivering excellent outcomes for children in care.

• Manage and supervise a team of social workers and support staff, offering guidance, support, and regular supervision to ensure high-quality practice.

• Monitor team performance against service objectives, providing feedback and implementing action plans to address any areas of improvement.

• Ensure that care plans for looked after children are robust, child-centred, and regularly reviewed to reflect their changing needs.

• Oversee the management of caseloads to ensure timely and effective interventions.

• Ensure that statutory visits, health assessments, and personal education plans (PEPs) are completed in accordance with legal and policy requirements.

• Provide oversight and quality assurance for court reports, care plans, and other key documents

• Foster strong working relationships with multi-agency partners, including health, education, legal services, and fostering teams, to deliver holistic and coordinated support.

• Represent the Children Looked After Team at multi-agency meetings, panels, and court proceedings, ensuring the local authority’s interests are effectively advocated.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across children’s services to ensure a seamless transition for children and young people as their needs change.

• Ensure that safeguarding procedures are consistently applied and that risks to children and young people are effectively identified, managed, and reviewed.

• Provide advice and support to social workers in complex or high-risk cases, ensuring that decision-making is informed and evidence-based.

• Act decisively to escalate and address any safeguarding concerns, ensuring that children and young people are protected from harm.

• A recognised qualification in Social Work (e.g., BA/MA Social Work, Diploma in Social Work, or equivalent).

• Registration with Social Work England (SWE) as a qualified social worker.

• Significant experience in children’s social work, including assessment and intervention work.

• Proven experience in managing or supervising social work teams, ideally within a children’s services context.

• A strong understanding of relevant legislation and statutory requirements, including the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance, and relevant case law.

• Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire staff, manage performance, and drive improvement.

• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and organisational skills.

• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing demands, and deliver high-quality services in a timely manner.

• A commitment to promoting the welfare