Job Information Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us click here. We are proud to share that children's services in Kingston have achieved an OUTSTANDING rating from Ofsted in December 2024, receiving the highest judgement rating in all five assessment areas. This marks Kingston's second consecutive OUTSTANDING rating, a true reflection of the commitment to ensuring children and young people across the borough have a fairer start in life, and providing the support and services they and their families need to live happy, healthy and successful lives. To find out more click here. If you would like to be part of our success story, take a look at the below opportunity to see if it's the right fit for you. Achieving for Children (AfC) are currently growing our outreach services to children and young people on the edge of care. We want to prevent children and young people coming into full time care by offering a variety of support and respite interventions. We already have an Outreach Team offering support to children, young people and care leavers with lower level needs. We now want to develop a service that can also meet the needs of children and young people with more complex needs. As part of opening our second children’s home we are recruiting nine workers who are attracted to a role which will include both working within a children's home setting and offering outreach support to children in the community. We also want to recruit a pool of casual workers able to offer support to a suitably matched child with more complex needs. This new role of Team Leader for the edge of care will coordinate the outreach work and be closely linked to our residential service in developing respite packages. The salary shown is the Full Time Equivalent and will be calculated pro-rata. About the role We're looking for a qualified social worker or experienced childcare practitioner to lead our new edge of care service, which will help prevent children from going into full-time care by offering support and respite interventions. You will be working with children who have complex needs and their families across Richmond, Kingston upon Thames, and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. You will lead on assessing children and young people’s level of need to create tailored support packages, as well as work closely with their extended family, other professionals and agencies. The post will monitor the effective delivery of edge of care support for families, children and young people. The role will include working with RBWM’s Families First Team to develop and bring together best practice in edge of care responses. It will also involve working closely with our existing Outreach Service and SHiFT teams. You’ll be working alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about delivering high-quality care and keeping children within their families, promoting family reunification or enabling children to step down from residential or fostering provision. For further information about this role, please contact Ricky Degun by email ricky.degunachievingforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion. About you The successful candidate will have: Qualified and experienced social worker or educated to a level 4 qualification in a relevant field i.e. Early Years, Social Care Education, Criminal Justice, Family Support/Parenting or equivalent by demonstrable training and experience. Experience in leading a team, undertaking line management, performance management and change management. Knowledge of relevant theory that informs practice delivery. Knowledge of safeguarding and experience of risk assessment and management whilst ensuring approaches are strength based and child focused. Experience of building strong partnerships, maintaining relationships and co-producing solutions to challenges across a diverse set of stakeholders, including children, young people and their families. Advocating the voices of those we are working with. Proven ability to effectively use data, intelligence and evidence to create meaningful insight and to inform own decision making. Experience of keeping and maintaining records (in accordance with local policy) and producing accurate reports, presentations, and written updates to a range of stakeholders (which may include families, children or young people) About our benefits We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to: 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month(Or for term term workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract.) Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension) Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme A range of staff benefits and discounts An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here. For our social work offer click here. For our Recruitment Journey, click here. Important Information Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected. Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance. Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.