Team Manager, Care Leavers Team

Job description

We are recruiting to an exciting, newly created post for an additional Leaving Care Team Manager to join our Corporate Parenting Service.

About the role

This role will work closely with the current Team Manager, leading a team of Leaving Care Personal Adviser’s and continuing progress and improvement in our Leaving Care Team which was graded ‘Good’ in our recent Ofsted inspection.

Alongside oversight and development of our work with care experienced young people, the successful candidate will take a lead in our work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) and young people. Our aim is to ensure that the services being provided to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people within North Somerset remain consistently high and respond flexibly to both National and Local changes for this demographic of young people.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of issues relating to unaccompanied asylum seeking children, young people and refugees, this includes relevant legislation, guidance and recent case law and will need to maintain and share this in a fast moving area of social care. The Team Manager will share expertise and offer advice and support in relation to age assessments and the rights and entitlements of our young people, to ensure our services are fair and accessible. You will be joining a dynamic, supportive and committed team who are passionate about empowering young people to reach their goals and keen to further develop the service.

You will supervise up to 6 leaving care personal advisers and be the key link for colleagues and partner agencies regarding UASC. You will also be responsible for undertaking regular Quality Assurance work and ensuring that team performance is good and that we continue to work within North Somerset Children’s Services 6 fundamentals of family support and safeguarding and our local and regional offer for care leavers.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role

About you

The successful candidate will:

Be registered as a social worker with Social Work England

Have a Social Work Qualification, ie Social Work Degree or Diploma in Social Work

Have up to date knowledge and understanding of issues relating to Unaccompanied Asylum seeking children and young people and refugees.

Be proficient in IT skills

Have specialist knowledge of childcare across the range of work procedures and practices underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience.

Have knowledge of National Minimum Standards for all areas of the service.

Significant post qualification experience in relevant work area to give knowledge and understanding equivalent to a further advanced qualification in the service area, especially in management and leadership.

Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding protocols and the threshold levels for service user groups to make decisions about service needs.

Demonstrate an ability to lead and manage staff through significant changes, an ability to motivate and lead staff and an ability to supervise/appraise.

Ability to engage with service users and partner agencies within the relevant codes of practice values (dignity, respect etc).

Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone and in writing.

Experience in service development and embedding improvements into work methodologies and evaluating their impact.

Ability to provide and receive highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information.

Ability to plan and chair meetings.

Practical experience in service delivery and in leading and managing others to deliver the service.

Knowledge and experience of managing budgets, resourcing and contracts

Ability to manage/organise own work and that of a team to meet agreed deadlines

Anticipated interview date : To be confirmed.