Team Manager - Family & Friends - Grade 16 (£57,201 - £59,328) + £10k Welcome Payment

We are seeking a qualified Team Manager experienced in family and friends assessment and court work to join us and support our extremely talented team of Social Workers to drive the service forward. You will lead and manage performance of the Family and Friends Assessment and Support team and foster a culture of continuous learning and reflection of practice that inspires staff to give their best in their roles. Introduce, embed and continually improve at team level, the quality of social work consistent with established models of good practice.

To provide professional advice to staff, colleagues and partners for the area of responsibility. Ensure that assessments and plans for children are robust, evidence-based, progressed in a timely way, are effective in keeping children safe and are outcome focussed. Allocate cases effectively in terms of matching the risk / complexity of cases with the skills, experience and professional development needs of social workers. Prioritise the deployment of staff resources and ensure practice is operating in accordance with the thresholds of Croydon's early help and staged intervention model. Ensure compliance with statutory requirements and Croydon practice standards in respect of the protection and well-being of children, including looked after children and young people. To embed and develop the outcomes focussed framework and culture across the service that demonstrates measurable improvements in the stability, well-being and safety of children and families allocated in the Team. Contribute
to the development and introduction of a quality assurance framework for the service and use the findings to drive continuous practice improvement in the Team. To manage and contribute to projects that deliver service improvement, working to recognised project management principles and methods. To maintain up-to-date knowledge of research findings, legislation, statutory guidance and policy developments relevant to the service area.

Qualified Social Workers who are Social Work England registered.
Experienced team managers, preferably with a background in family and friends (kinship, connected persons) work.
Working knowledge of national policy, strategy and developments regarding children's social care, and areas that impact on children's social care.
Knowledge of the family courts, fostering regulations and national minimum standards.
Able to lead improvement in social work practice at an operational level through effective performance management.
Evidence of leading and managing operational change effectively.
Able to lead and manage in an operational area dealing with high risk and high complexity in a way that delivers good safeguarding and well-being outcomes for children and families.
Experience of managing and/or supervising childcare social workers in an area relevant to this particular service area with evidenced results of continuing practice and good outcomes for children.

Our team consists of experienced, dedicated practitioners. We meet regularly to make sure everyone we work with has the support and knowledge needed to make a difference and be the difference to our families, communities and colleagues. At Croydon relationships matter and we are about strong partnerships and working together to make lasting positive change. We are an established team who can help you settle in and offer their expertise. You will have the support of an extremely knowledgeable understanding manager. You will have access to a busy, buzzy, committed workforce and work environment Opportunities to work from home and work flexibly provides you with more work-life balance. Opportunities to think together with your manager about career development. Support to help you grow, develop, learn and lead.

You will be valued for your skills and expertise, supported by the team of experienced professionals, as well as the management at Croydon Council, one of the largest employers in the borough. We also offer:

Highly competitive compensation package

Accredited Systemic Practice training

A range of CPD opportunities

29-31 days (grade equivalent) annual leave in addition to Bank Holidays and option to purchase more

A pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 20%

Continuing Professional Development - genuine opportunities to grow, develop and specialise in your career

Management development programmes

Investment into your wellbeing

Access to Employee Discount scheme with a range of programmes (Cycle Benefit Scheme, GymFlex, Retail Discounts and more)

We promote flexible & hybrid working arrangements where possible to support a healthy work-life balance