JOIN OUR SERVICE AND MAKE YOUR MARK
We’re seeking highly motivated and passionate individuals to support our disabled children and young people in Devon Children Services.
Our Team Managers make a vital contribution to the delivery of high-quality social care services. This is a great opportunity to grow your social work career with an ambitious authority at a time of exciting change. We’ve embedded our restorative practice approach across our teams and have invested in training our all practitioners and managers to build and maintain positive relationships with our children and families.
About the role
Our Disabled Children’s Social Work teams are responsible for supporting children, with a wide range of complex needs, and their families throughout their journey within the service.
Social Workers in our teams undertake assessments of children immediately following referral, create and review Child In Need Plans, Child Protection Plans where this is necessary, and support Children in Care.
Our work with Children in Care includes supporting children who are in care full time and those who are in care due to receiving a planned series of overnight Short Breaks.
The teams also support families by creating and reviewing Short Break plans for children and this includes an element of managing financial packages of care.
Social Workers complete applications to the Family and High Courts where needed to protect children or to obtain authorisation for any deprivations of liberty within young people’s Care Plans.
For young people of 16 years and over the team undertake Mental Capacity Act assessments, Best Interests Meetings and complete Court of Protection applications to authorise any necessary restrictions in young people's care plans.
The teams work closely with a wide variety of multi-agency partners including the Devon Learning Disability Service and Special Educational Needs and Disability teams.
The work of the teams is wide ranging, varied as we often support children with complex needs in challenging contexts. You will need to be confident and experienced in working to support staff to manage high demand in challenging circumstances while always promoting a restorative and collaborative approach.
The work is engaging, rewarding and evolving as part of our improvement journey.
Our social work teams are friendly, diverse, hardworking and welcoming, and we will offer regular support and resource to help with your development, learning and progression.
As a Team Manager, you will embed a high-performance consistent culture by helping your team to continually develop their skills so they can achieve the best outcomes for our children, young people and their families/carers. Through reflective supervision meetings with your team, you’ll champion their personal and professional growth. Alongside your role as a people manager, you will provide oversight on all children and young people in your defined area, ensuring quality standards are maintained and championing restorative practice, working with children and young people and their families/carers to reduce risks, build on strengths and achieve positive outcomes together.
About us
We are on an exciting and ambitious journey of cultural change in continuing to embed restorative and relational ways of working. Together, we've worked hard to get to know individual children and young people better - understanding who they are and their needs, so we can implement appropriate interventions.
We’re really proud of our workforce, and what has been achieved for children and families in Devon. Our social work teams are committed to providing the best service possible and are supported by our ambitious culture.
About you
You will have a strong understanding of managing complex Children’s plans including court work, with significant post-qualifying experience gained within statutory social work. You will have the following skills:
1. a social work qualification and registered with Social Work England
2. experience of supervising and mentoring social workers and students
3. experience of leading and managing change within teams, which is founded on engagement and co-design with families, partners and your team
4. a good understanding of children’s legislation and process
5. demonstrable experience of promoting good practice that improves outcomes for children, and an understanding of offering high support and high challenge to get the best out of your team.
What we can offer you
In recognition of the vital contribution you make, we offer an attractive package of benefits including:
6. Up to £2,000 retention payment per year, paid in two 6 monthly instalments for those who have been working for a period of 6 months (pro rata for part time employees).
7. Ongoing learning and development opportunities through our Social Work Academy with dedicated support from our Restorative Practice Leads, as well as Research in Practice membership and full access to Devon Children and Families Safeguarding training programme.
8. Dedicated support with regular supervision from line management so you can critically reflect on your practice on a regular basis. Group supervisions are also offered, allowing you to learn from your colleagues and grow the strength of your social work practice together.
9. 26 days paid annual leave per year, rising to 31 days with 5 years’ continuous service, plus bank holidays.
10. Access to our confidential Devon Wellbeing Hub and Employee Assistance Programme to support you to balance the demands of everyday life – available 24/7.
11. Flexible working opportunities, including flexitime and a degree of remote working (subject to the needs of the role - please discuss at interview).
12. Excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
13. Links to staff networks and forums such as our LGBTQ+, BAME and Staff Diversity support networks.
14. Cycle to Work Scheme.
15. Devon Discounts Scheme which offers a variety of great savings.
16. Free onsite parking available
If you’re looking to move to Devon, subject to qualifying conditions, we offer a generous relocation allowance. There’s never been a better time to make the move!
Click to find out more about our benefits.
Presence in the office is vital to embed positive relationships from the outset. This is complimented by our hybrid working model, whilst still delivering the best possible outcomes for children and young people. Click to hear from our workforce about working for us and why you should join our Children’s Services.
To arrange an informal discussion, please email Jennie Waldron, Service Manager –
Applications close on 04/05/2025 and shortlisted applicants will be contacted to arrange interview dates promptly.
Interviews may take place throughout our recruitment campaign, therefore we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment as we may close the advert early.
Join us and make a difference in the lives of our children - click apply now!
Please Note: At this time, we are only accepting applications from candidates who are currently residing in the UK and are unable to consider overseas applications.
Additional Information
17. This role requires a DBS disclosure.
18. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
19. DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our .
20. -The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
21. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
22. Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the.
REQ007770 - Children's Social Care