Job summary
Grade: N
Salary: From £49,764 up to £53,817 per annum pro rata plus relocation support
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent
Location: Craven area, hybrid working available
Here at North Yorkshire Council, we are extremely proud of the work our Childrens Services do, having been rated as Outstanding across all areas by Ofsted. We are now pleased to be offering the opportunity to join our highly acclaimed service and help us continue to offer an excellent provision.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a full time Team Manager who shares our values and passion to improve outcomes for Children and Young People. You will work in a team of Social Workers and Practice Supervisors. You will have a good understanding of the challenges that children and families face and want to truly make a positive change whilst driving forward the promotion and development of the Strength in Relationship Practice model, which puts effective relationships with children and families at its heart.
As a Team Manager you will already be a qualified Social Worker and be able to evidence your Social Work degree and Social Work England registration.
As a Partner in Practice, we are leading the way in social work with children and their families; our work is child-centred and there is a longstanding, clearly embedded model of practice, based on building effective relationships with children, young people and families. One of the primary aspects of the role of Team Manager is to lead and manage Social Workers with the support of Practice Supervisors to ensure the delivery of an effective social work service to children and their families in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures.
About us
As you continue to develop, you may decide you want to manage other social worker professionals and we support this with the First line leadership programme in conjunction with a range of corporate leadership programmes facilitated by the council itself. We're proud to support the Local Government Association's Return to Social Work programme, offering former social workers free training so they can return to social work.
We are also committed to providing ongoing support in what we appreciate can be a rewarding yet challenging role. If you are committed to delivering a high standard of practice, we would love to hear from you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job context
Childrens Social Care provides services which follow fromspecific legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004as well as other Government guidance and policy. We are committed to providing good qualityservices to support children young people and their families.
Enhanced DBS check required.
The post holder will operate in an environment oftransformational change and innovation, be able to manage change in a time offinancial constraints and provide clear leadership and management to enablestaff to perform at their best. Thereare 6 key skills required for all senior managers:
people management
transformational change and innovation
project management
partnership working
financial management
personal development
To have a commitment to shared values and the common purposeof developing a culture of interagency working; including statutory bodies,third and private sector organisations.
To ensure that strategic visions are translated into localplans in collaboration with professionals, partners and service users.
Job Purpose:
The postholder will manage staff within their team and willbe key to ensuring a high level of engagement with multi agency partners in thegeographic area of operation. The post holder will be instrumental in ensuringgood service outcomes across agencies to meet OFSTED inspection standards. The postholder will ensure the delivery ofhigh quality and timely assessment of childrens needs and appropriate decisionmaking concerning child protection and social care. The postholder willactively manage and monitor budgets to ensure services are delivered tofinancial targets.
Operational management:
Ensure delivery of a service in a specialised field ofsocial work in accordance with legislative requirements, all relevant policiesand procedures and to agreed performance targets.
Ensure the effective assessment and management of risk withregard to keeping children and young people safeguarded and promoting positiveand sustainable outcomes.
Provide leadership, advice and support in relation tocomplex cases.
Ensure professional decisions are made according to thehighest standards, using an evidence base which stands up to scrutiny. Provide appropriate challenge to thedecisions of other staff within the team.
Have a lead role in ensuring all service delivery includingthat of multi-agency partners meets high OFSTED standards
Manage the allocation of workload to agreed servicepriorities, monitor team and individual performance and resolve workload issuesas they arise
Drive performance management and quality assurance andensure value for money in services delivered by the team; act on inadequateperformance as appropriate.
Strategic
Develop and implement policies and procedures at team leveland service level when management: required.
Contribute to the development of the services business planand contribute to the wider annual service planning process in line with keyperformance objectives, priorities and quality assurance principles.
Take responsibility for the Team inspection preparation,planning and implementation of recommendations.
Contribute to strategic level initiatives with key partners(for example Health, CAMHS, Police, Education) to ensure joint planning, accessto resources and the development of interagency strategies.
Contribute to and drive Directorate, cross-Directorate andmulti-agency strategy and policy development.
Ensure childrens and young peoples voices are heard inservice planning and delivery.
Communications:
Establish rapport and respectful trusting relationships withchildren, young people and their families.
Ensure policies, procedures and practice standards arereadily available to practice staff and that they are child focused to ensurechildrens rights are upheld.
Ensure appropriate standards and practices are observed bythe team around confidentiality.
Investigate and respond to complaints from serviceusers/relatives/carers.
Use systems such as Childrens services electronic casemanagement systems effectively to ensure appropriate information is recordedabout cases, contacts and individuals.
Systems and Information
Implement systems to monitor caseloads and case filerecording, including computerised records.
Safeguarding:
Be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare ofchildren and young people that you are responsible for and come into contactwith.
Understand systems that are there to protect children andyour role in their effectiveness.
Involve children and young people as appropriate when takingaction that affects them.
Know that development includes emotional, physical,intellectual, social, moral, and person character growth and know that they canall affect one another.
Understand your role in promoting the normal development ofyoung people.
Ensure the service is able to respond appropriately to thedemands placed upon it, in supporting young people with complex needs
Understand the systems for obtaining support and reportingconcerns.
Supporting
Manage the process of transition in a timely way in order tohelp the child or young transitions person reach a positive outcome.
Understand your own role and its limits and the importanceof providing care or support.
Maintain professional knowledge and skills throughcontinuous development.
Sharing
Ensure service information is shared with relevant otheragencies and key information stakeholders in order to ensure access to servicesis smooth and effective.
Communicate clearly and effectively with staff.
Accurately collate required information about the team orworkload as requested.
Report issues of poor practice, issues of media interest andany other issues that require reporting to appropriate senior managers.
Encourage children and young people to share information.
Ensure service information is available to services users,their families and the general public as appropriate.
Understand the importance of sharing information, how it canhelp and the dangers of not doing so.
Share information and ensure good practice is in placeregarding confidentiality and data protection.
Attend and chair reviews, planning meetings, caseconferences, strategy meetings and other appropriate forums for discussion anddecision-making.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Fully qualified, accredited social work professional status (CQSW, DipSW, CSS, PQCCA)
2. Current registration with General Social Care Council
3. Leadership & Management Module completed
Occupational Skills
Essential
4. Ability to manage, supervise and support a diverse range of staff within a staff team both with regular job role and responsibilities but also during periods of uncertainly and service change
5. Ability to monitor services and practices to ensure agreed standards are maintained and intervene constructively where necessary
6. Ability to demonstrate effective leadership skills and to motivate teams.
7. Excellent communication skills, verbal & written, including the ability to use different methods according to service users and professionals differing needs.
8. Competent in word processing, creating & manipulating spreadsheets, data inputting, accessing information from databases and electronic communication. Basic level of familiarity with ICT equipment & systems including ICS or equivalent.
9. Excellent organisation skills and the ability to organise and prioritise the work of the team effectively to agreed national and local standards.
10. Ability to motivate and lead staff in a changing social care environment
11. Ability to plan and develop new ways of working, including integration with other key agencies.
12. Managing and delivering high standards of performance
13. Ability to work in partnership with a wide range of agencies to deliver sustainable outcomes for children, young people and families.
Experience
Essential
14. Knowledge and experience of current research and good practice standards in relation to children & families at a local and national level.
15. Knowledge of the legal framework for working with children & families,
16. Awareness of current national developments for children and families
17. Extensive post qualifying experience within a relevant social work field.
18. Extensive case management experience of cases with complex, professional and ethical issues including child protection, court proceedings, case conferences and other formal processes.
19. Substantial experience as a senior practitioner in a relevant social work field.
20. In depth experience of people and budget management.
21. Experience of intra and inter-agency work.
22. Experience of supervising a range of staff.