Job title: Team Manager Therapeutic – Maternity Cover
Hours: 37 Hours
Contract: Temporary
Location: Cottingley Children’s Centre
A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced social worker to join the Therapeutic Social Work Team as one of two managers in the service. This post is for maternity cover starting in January 2025 until November 2025.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Therapeutic Team Manager, you will bring to the role:
* Experience of leadership steeped in restorative practice, and a drive to support staff who are working therapeutically with children who have experienced complex developmental trauma.
* A solid understanding of the impact of developmental trauma and of the best evidenced interventions to support healing.
* The skills to manage and supervise workers who will be providing a range of therapeutic interventions within a systemic framework. As well as experience of safeguarding and therapeutic interventions and be confident in supervising staff managing this interface.
* A creative and resilient approach, with a drive for continuous improvement to raise outcomes for children, young people and families in Leeds.
* A social work qualification and registration with Social Work England. At least three years post qualification experience. A qualification in or experience of providing therapeutic support to children and families and supervision of staff providing these services is desirable.
About the role
This is an opportunity to manage a fast paced, innovative, and exciting team. Our social workers work collaboratively as part of a systemic approach to support Children Looked After, Children on Child Protection Plans and Care Experienced adults up to 25 years with their emotional wellbeing. Additionally, the team benefits from Clinical Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy input.
We are a friendly and supportive team, with a relationship based, systemic approach to our work. The range of work with children and families is varied, dynamic and constantly developing in response to changes in the field of developmental trauma, attachment, and neurodevelopment.
As one of the Therapeutic Team Managers, you’ll undertake the following core tasks -
* Directing, managing and motivating the team.
* Provide regular supervision and appraisal to staff members maintaining supervision and appraisal records using the appropriate documentation and associated guidance.
* Managing the workflow for therapeutic referrals, screenings, caseloads, and ongoing therapeutic work within the team. Ensuring the appropriate review and evaluation of therapeutic plans and response to risk.
* Assist in the development and promotion of the service and practice improvements.
* Leadership and development in key strands of the therapeutic team's offer, for example Residential homes, Systemic practice, Theraplay, DDP & Foundations for attachment, Sensory and bodily approaches, training and development.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
* membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
* a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
* a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job purpose
The role of the Team Manager is to lead, motivate and direct a discrete team of professional social work staff to deliver a high standard of social work, which places the child at the centre and ensure that statutory duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority are being met. To be the key contact and advisor on safeguarding at a local level.
Responsibilities
* Directing, managing and motivating a locally or service based social work team, including managing caseload levels through appropriately allocated, planned and supervised work which will be critically evaluated and reviewed, monitoring performance within statutory timescales ensuring regulatory compliance and high quality service delivery outcomes.
* Assist in the development and promotion of services and practice improvements which are designed to mitigate risk and provide qualitative improvement to the outcomes for children.
* Act as an exemplar in knowledge of social care legal and guidance requirements, policy, procedures and practice standards.
* Ensure that formal processes, for example proceedings in the child and family courts or Fostering and Adoption panel processes are instigated and managed appropriately in line with the best interests of the child.
* Take a lead on Safeguarding including Safer recruitment, the requirements of Children Act 1989 & 2004, Working Together 2010 and any subsequent legal version updates to ensure a child friendly and child focused approach.
* Where appropriate, ensure services meet regulatory requirements.
* Act as the key contact and provide advice to local professionals, families, elected members and other agencies on child protection law and proceedings.
* Lead on liaison with Police colleagues in agreeing and applying procedures for action where children may be at risk.
* Provide regular supervision and appraisal to staff members maintaining supervision and appraisal records using the appropriate documentation and associated guidance.
* Provide appropriate support and mentoring to newly qualified social workers ensuring they have a clear understanding of the expectations of the role and receive appropriate development opportunities.
* Actively promote the effective use of resources and to manage appropriate financial resources within available budgets within Council Financial Procedures and Standing Orders.
* Instigate and manage quality assurance activity in accordance with practice standards including, for example Case File Audits; ensure that improvements and corrective actions are highlighted and implemented in a timely manner.
* Ensure all case recording meets practice standard guidance in respect of timeliness and quality.
* Promote and instigate appropriate use of information technology, processes and systems in service delivery, maintaining records and management information to ensure efficient and effective service delivery including planning and control.
* Manage and deal with complaints in the most efficient and effective manner.
* Resolve complex and extremely challenging situations through conflict resolution, using counselling and negotiating skills and expertise.
* Proactively manage performance of the team across a range of agreed indicators, prepare appropriate reports and undertake management actions to improve performance as necessary.
* Deal with all staff management issues promptly including recruitment & selection, probation of new employees, attendance management, staff supervision, performance, grievance or disciplinary issues.
* Undertake quality assurance of all reports to formal panels eg Adoption Panel, Child Protection Conferences, Family Court Hearings and Fostering Panels.
* Contribute to developing and improving Children’s Services using a creative and innovative approach to service/partnership development and delivery, taking a lead where required.
* Develop and produce team plans on an annual basis to ensure delivery of a professional child friendly and child focused service which delivers in line with CYPSC Service plans and Service Improvement Plans and to take a lead on Service Development where appropriate.
* Ensure all Team Plans include clear expectations for the year and set achievable targets which are monitored and reviewed at regular intervals.
* Be a visible member of an integrated management team at cluster / area or City Wide level as appropriate and contribute to departmental, multi-agency Regional and National working groups as required.
* Actively promote and deliver partnership working through integrated practice for effective service delivery, ensuring compliance with joint protocols and provide specialist advice as appropriate to partner agencies and integrated services.
* Liaise and negotiate with other professional groups and agencies involved with young people and represent Children’s Services at key professional forums.
* Comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures which include, staff safety, on site visits/travel, working environment, fire safety, undertaking display screen and risk assessments.
* Undertake investigations under the disciplinary procedures of the Council as and when appropriate.
* Actively participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and competencies.
* Actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Departmental Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner to create a culture that ensures equality and values diversity.
* Undertake any other duties commensurate to the post as required.
Qualifications
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills Required
* Ability to demonstrate leadership qualities including the ability to model a reflective practice approach which facilitates a team culture of evidence based practice.
* Ability to demonstrate the ability to motivate and inspire team members to consistently raise standards in practice.
* Ability to empower self and others including service users, ensuring high ethical standards in practice.
* Ability to demonstrate a sound theoretical understanding and the ability to critically apply theory in practice.
* Ability to challenge poor practice and use research to inform high standards of excellence.
* To be able to pass information effectively, accurately and concisely using a variety of formats.
* Ability to manage a budget and have an understanding of how this meets the business needs of the Department.
* Ability to demonstrate skills in risk management including the ability to identify indicators of risk and the preventative actions that will address them.
* Ability to actively promote the change management agenda at team and area level.
* Ability to analyse complex situations and make considered decisions.
* Ability to analyse and understand statistical information.
* Ability to prepare and present reports on complex issues to a variety of different audiences.
* Able to demonstrate advanced negotiating skills to ensure effective solutions to complex and difficult situations.
* Ability to demonstrate a strategic and structured approach at team and area level and an ability to link the work of the team with the business plan.
* Ability to contribute to the overall development of services for Children.
* Ability to develop constructive working relationships with other Agencies.
* Ability to develop, manage, motivate and lead a Children’s Social Work team and offer appropriate professional supervision, giving clear and specific guidance on performance based on accountability agreements.
* Ability to manage caseloads and supervise the caseloads of others.
Knowledge required
* DipSw or Equivalent.
* Safeguarding good practices including safer recruitment procedures, paramountcy principle, requirements of the Children’s Act 2004 and Working Together 2010 and subsequent legal updates.
* To keep abreast of developments in Social work best practice, professional practice and legislation.
Experience required
* Of providing structured supervision for staff and/or students.
* Developing inter-agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to issues.
* Of management of multi-agency work.
* Of developing new approaches to work related issues.
Behavioural & Other Related Characteristics required
* Committed to continuous improvements.
* Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
* To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies and Code of Conduct.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.
* Demonstrate a positive approach and commitment to providing training and development for your staff.
Essential behavioural and other characteristics
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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