At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team managing children's assessments and safeguarding concerns.
- Company: Join a supportive local government team with a strong commitment to child welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, wellness support, and lifestyle discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your career in social work.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Work degree, SWE Registration, and relevant UK experience required.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a strong focus on staff wellbeing and development.
We have a great opportunity for a Duty Team Manager to join our Children's Assessment Team based in Dakota, Weybridge. The salary range for Team Managers is £54,636 - £58,953 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.
When not working with our residents in the community, we are keen to support agile working with a combination of home and office working. We are keen to get the balance right of providing flexibility but ensuring you feel connected to your team and the service.
Our Offer to You
- We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
- 28 days annual leave, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Refer a friend payment of £1,000 as a thank you for finding the right Social Worker
Our Progress
We are proud of our recent Good Ofsted judgement, which marks a significant milestone for Surrey. The report highlights how strong assessments in Surrey consider children's histories and involve social workers spending time alone with children to understand their experiences.
Our strong training and development offer in Surrey helps to equip staff with the understanding, knowledge and skills that they need to practice in a kind, sensitive, motivational and respectful way and that staff feel highly valued, are proud to work for children's services.
About the Role
Our Duty Team Manager is responsible for managing the contacts coming into the North East Assessment Team via both the Multi Agency Partnership (MAP) and the Request For Support (RFS) and ensuring these are allocated and managed in line with Surrey thresholds, policies and procedures.
You will delegate contacts to duty social workers and will be responsible for the allocation of children to social workers across the assessment service, and where necessary lead on the identification of children who are at risk of immediate harm, facilitating strategy discussions in line with agreed processes to ensure a timely response to any safeguarding concerns.
You will also work closely with the other Team Managers as part of the management team within the North East Assessment service and will be expected to provide cover to other Team Managers as and when required to ensure cover across the service and ensuring the monthly rota for the duty social workers is covered.
About working in Assessment
The first contact any family or professional has with our assessment service sets the tone for our entire working relationship with them. Our practice across the whole service is based upon consent, strong relationships with families and with partners who are also supporting our families.
Using motivational approaches the assessment social worker engages with both the family and the network supporting them to understand the presenting worries and work out whether a statutory social work service is required. If not, a plan to support the family at a lower level of need will be put in place to meet the need of the child and family.
One Voice
In Surrey, you will have a sense of belonging within your individual team but also the wider service areas and directorate. You will receive high quality supervision, as there is a firm commitment towards dedicating time that focuses on the work you do with children and families, to enable you to work creatively and holistically in providing support and protection to children whilst also paying attention to your wellbeing and career development.
Your Application - Our Inclusive Approach
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with:
- Qualified Social Work degree and SWE Registration
- Car driver with a valid UK license
- ASYE completed, within two years of qualifying
- UK social work experience
- Substantial post-qualified experience
- Evidence of supervising (students and practice educator) or supervising other qualified staff
To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following questions (no more than 200 words per question):
- Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
- Please tell us about the key skills and experience you will be able to bring to this role.
- Working in an Assessment team can be quite fast paced, unpredictable and often requires multi-tasking. Using an example, please tell us how you cope under pressure?
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
Children\'s Assessment Duty Team Manager in Weybridge employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Children\'s Assessment Duty Team Manager in Weybridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who might know about openings in children's services. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren't even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to children's assessment and safeguarding. We recommend role-playing with a friend or using online resources to get comfortable discussing your experience and approach.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for working with children and families during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in past roles. This will help you stand out as someone who truly cares about the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Children\'s Assessment Duty Team Manager in Weybridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Thoroughly: Before you start writing, give the job description a good read. It’ll help you understand what we’re looking for and how to tailor your application to show that you’re the perfect fit for the Duty Team Manager role.
Be Authentic in Your Responses: When answering the application questions, be yourself! Share your genuine motivations and experiences. We want to know what drives you and how your unique skills can contribute to our team.
Showcase Relevant Experience: Make sure to highlight your social work experience and any supervisory roles you've held. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage pressure and multitask effectively, as these are key in our fast-paced environment.
Check Your Application Before Submitting: Don’t rush it! Take a moment to proofread your CV and answers. A well-presented application shows attention to detail, which is super important in our line of work. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a Duty Team Manager and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Familiarise yourself with Surrey's policies and procedures, especially around safeguarding and assessment processes, as this will show your commitment and readiness for the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your relevant experience in social work, particularly any supervisory roles you've held. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've managed contacts, allocated cases, or dealt with safeguarding concerns. This will help demonstrate your capability to handle the fast-paced environment of the assessment team.
✨Demonstrate Your People Skills
Since the role involves building strong relationships with families and partners, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully engaged with clients or colleagues in the past. Highlight your motivational approaches and how you've worked collaboratively to support families, as this aligns with the team's values.
✨Prepare for Pressure
Working in an assessment team can be unpredictable, so think of a specific situation where you successfully coped under pressure. Discuss the strategies you used to manage stress and maintain focus, as this will reassure the interviewers that you're equipped to handle the demands of the role.