Team Manager - Safeguarding and Support Team

Team Manager - Children Safeguarding & Support Team

Band G £52,805 - £59,476 per annum.

Hours: 37

At Solihull Council, we pride ourselves on being a Council that is small enough to care, but big enough to make a difference.

We are well on our way on our transformational journey, designed to improve the experience of the children and families we work with. Children's Services is our top priority within our Council Plan and we are placing children at the heart of all that we do.

We currently have an opportunity for an experienced and committed Team Manager to join our Children's Safeguarding & Support Team within Solihull Children's Services. We are looking for exceptional candidates who are passionate about improving the lives of children, young people and their families at this critical time, here in Solihull.

You will be responsible for the leadership and management of a social work team who work with children and families in need of support, and with some of our most vulnerable children and families. Our social workers are passionate and committed to making a difference in the lives of children subject to child protection plans and/or involved in care proceedings. We will enable you and your team to invest in the children and families you support; building strong relationships over time and allowing you to see the long-term positive impact of your hard work and dedication.

As the Team Manager, you will lead on operational developments alongside our partners, as well as working with others to develop services. You will take responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of a team of Social Workers and Family Support Workers, to ensure that children and their families receive a responsive service that promotes and safeguards their welfare.

As a key part of the council leadership team, you will also have the opportunity to be creative, influence practice and promote a learning environment where team members can develop their skills, enabling them to do their job well and support children to achieve positive outcomes.

Due to our investment and commitment to ensuring additional resources are in place, our Social Workers have genuinely manageable caseloads, to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children, young people and their families.

You will be social work qualified, registered with Social Work England and have substantial post-qualifying experience of practice with children, families and their carers.

You will also have:

• Significant management experience working within a pressurised children's social work environment
• Knowledge of relevant up-to-date social work legislation, statutory guidance, theories and research and how it impacts on practice
• PQ or Practice Teaching Accreditation, or be working towards/willing to complete
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills, enabling you to build strong relationships with children, young people and their families/carers, as well as wider partners and voluntary agencies
• A full driving license and access to a car, though reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants, where required.

In return, we will agree on a bespoke personal development plan; you will have access to our high-quality internal training programme and continuous professional development framework, to enable you to further develop your leadership skills within a friendly, professional working environment.

We are ambitious in Solihull and are building a stronger Solihull for our children, families and workforce. Connecting Families is the name of Solihull Children's Services practice framework. At its core, Connecting Families demonstrates the beliefs, values and principles of restorative practice and gives us a consistent relationship-based way of practicing to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families.

We believe that families and their connected networks are of primary importance and are the most important influence on improving outcomes for children. We believe that children and their family networks are experts in their own lives and that children and their family networks have strengths on which they should be empowered to build and draw on through effective family decision-making.

We are a small and friendly local authority with good relationships across the children's social work service. We also have close partnerships across agencies in the borough, which allow for a culture of support, shared learning and mentoring between agencies.

Our team enjoys a hybrid approach, working from both their home and our modern offices, as well as various flexible working arrangements and a generous benefits package that includes competitive salaries and payment of SWE registration; a modern working environment; a staff discount scheme; and a strong focus on staff wellbeing, with access to our Employee Assistance programme.

If you are ready to lead our ambitious team - and make a tangible impact and positive difference to families' lives - then we would be delighted to receive your application.

To apply, please click on the link.

If you have a specific question regarding this vacancy please contact:

Sara Jefferies, Operations Manager -

Hayley Hadnum, Operations Manager -

Joel Desous, Head of Service -

Closing Date: 2 April 2025

Interview Date: Week commencing 14 April 2025

This post will require an enhanced DBS and barring list check.

This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Attached documents
Job Description & Person Specification