We have an opportunity to join and lead our Children Looked After Team based in Guildford.
This role can be offered as a 12-month secondment or fixed term contract opportunity, or a permanent opportunity.
When not working with our residents in the community, we are keen to support agile working with a combination of home and office working. We are keen to get the balance right of providing flexibility but ensuring you feel connected to your team and the service.
The salary range for a Team Manager is £52,942 - £57,125 per annum. We also offer a financial package of up to £6,000 which is payable in 3 instalments across your first 18 months in post.
Rewards and Benefits
- We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
- 28 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
Following our latest Ofsted visit in April, we are pleased to report positive feedback on our service quality for children in need or under child protection plans in Surrey. Ofsted recognized the improved impact of our 'comprehensive improvement programme'. We are committed to continuing our progress and are seeking a motivated individual to help us ensure children in Surrey are effectively safeguarded and receive timely support.
Working as a Team Manager is an opportunity to be part of a culture in which children and families are supported in a spirit of partnership working that encourages them to develop their own solutions while receiving the help and support, they need to address their complex situations. You will build sustainable relationships with children and families, placing planning for their permanence at the heart of your practice.
This role is an opportunity to nurture and grow your own team of social workers and practitioners using a motivational interviewing approach, supported by relational social work practice to deliver the best possible outcomes for the children, young people and families we support.
Supporting You
In Surrey, you will have a sense of belonging within your individual team but also the wider service areas and directorate. You will receive and be responsible for providing high quality supervision. There is a firm commitment towards dedicating time that focuses on the work your team does with children and families, enabling them to work creatively and holistically with a child centred approach.
You will also be supported with your own career and development needs by your manager whilst supporting others in your team to grow, learn and expand their practice. To support this our Surrey Children's Service Academy currently has over 60 courses available and offers a bespoke learning programme for staff so you can be at the forefront of best practice, providing you with a clear pathway to achieve your future aspirations. and success.
Modules such as motivational interviewing and our total respect course allow you to feel empowered in having essential conversations.
Our Inclusive Approach
To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following questions. (no more than 200 words per question):
- Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
- Please tell us about the key skills and experience you will be able to bring to this role.
- Please tell us about an example that demonstrates how you have built long lasting relationships with children.
Next Steps
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore your answers to the above questions (lasting approx. 15- 20 min).
If successful following this, you will be invited for an in person interview, allowing you to meet the team, check out your potential office and get a feel for what your journey might look like.
We are committed to inclusive recruitment. That's why, if you're invited to a face-to-face interview, we'll share the themes of the questions with you in advance. This way, you can prepare and feel comfortable knowing what topics will be covered during the process, allowing you to confidently discuss your skills and experiences.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 26th August 2024.
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
You will need to be registered with Social Work England.
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and Social Workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.