Salary Details: Scale Point 48 to 51 - £45,645-£48,495 per annum
Job Term: Permanent
Appointment Type: Full-time
Hours: 36
Location: , Chessington
Directorate: Specialist Children's Service
Service: Safeguarding

About the role
As Team Leader you will provide casework oversight and professional supervision to colleagues in the Safeguarding Cluster Team to improve outcomes for children.

As Team Leader/ Assistant Team Manager for Achieving for Children, you will be responsible for:
Supporting the Cluster Head of Safeguarding by contributing to the overall operational management and development of the team
Providing casework supervision to other social workers in the team to ensure the highest practice standards and working at all times in the best interests of children and young people.
Assisting the Head of Safeguarding in formulating and implementing the Team Plan objectives and priorities.

This is a fantastic role a lively and supportive team.

About us
We have been up and running for four years, and in that time we have established a reputation as one of the leading children’s services providers in the country. We are one of the Department for Education’s eight ‘Partners in Practice’, tasked with leading improvement across the sector. 

About you
To be Team Leader/ Assistant Team Manager for , you will be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people as well as demonstrating the following points:

You will be an expert in your field, with extensive front-line child protection and court work experience. 
You will bring a wealth of knowledge and be inspirational in your approach managing diverse and complex cases. 
You will have sound communication skills, including written and verbal. This role requires you to have a social work qualification and be HCPC registered. 

You will work with the Head of Service and take operational responsibility to ensure the delivery of team objectives and ensuring targets are met. Full support for personal development, career progression and further training will be provided.

For this post we require:

• Experience of supervision of staff and preferably managing a team with a complex caseload 
• A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with the H.C.P.C.
• Substantial experience of working with vulnerable children
• Evidence of effective performance management 
• Strong analytical, and planning skills 
• Use of relevant research methods, including critical reflection and evidenced-based decision making
• Evidence of continued professional development

In return, we will offer you high-quality support and development opportunities. Our learning and development offer was highlighted as a key strength by the judging panel when they named us Social Work Employer of the Year in 2016.

If you would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity, please contact James Thurston, James.Thurston@achievingforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion. 

If you have the management style, that will ensure effective decision making, provide high-quality supervision, and rigorous management oversight then this will be the role for you. 

For more information about this role, please click here to view the role profile.

Benefits of working for Achieving for Children
As a social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Kingston, Richmond and Windsor & Maidenhead), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. We offer a range of excellent staff benefits, including generous annual leave entitlements, cycle to work scheme, annual season ticket loan, childcare vouchers, and discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres and much more.

The successful candidate will have access to; 

• Excellent learning and development opportunities and schemes of support 
• A competitive and desirable retention package (to include a generous local government pension scheme)
• Retention of continuous service benefits, for those moving from a local government post 
• A clear progression path when key qualification milestones are reached
• Tools and models to support p, including Signs of Safety
• Reflective supervision from an experienced management team

You will find out more about our organisation at https://www.achievingforchildren.org.uk 

How to apply
Before applying please refer to the role profile and ensure you meet the essential criteria. You will then need to complete the online application, adding a supporting statement addressing how you meet the criteria outlined on the role profile. Some of our positions require CV only.

Achieving for Children is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

All candidates will be required to undertake a Criminal Record Check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. However, should you not declare an offence that is subsequently revealed, e.g. through the DBS check, then this may place your appointment in jeopardy.