We are looking for a CWD service experienced, knowledgeable, restorative, relationship focused practitioner to join our team as the Team Manager. You will support a team of Social Workers in delivering exceptional service and contributing to service improvements, to continue to improve outcomes for our most vulnerable children and young people, and provide their families with the support they need.

It is really important to us that Westmorland and Furness is a great place to be a child and grow up; a place of opportunity where young people are able to live happy and productive lives and a place where young people will want to live and work in the future. This goes for ALL children and inclusion and challenging inequality are a high priority for us. Our Children with Disabilities are supported to lead fulfilled lives with good aspirations, and they are seen for the child and personal individual that they are, and not their disability. We promote creative use of resources, supports, communications and direct work and bright ideas!

We firmly believe that all children in Westmorland and Furness deserve the best start in life, and we're looking for the right people to help make that happen. If this sounds like you, feel free to contact us to find out more.

The Role

The role is for a team manager, of a team of social workers, who assess and support children who meet the criteria of the Children with Disabilities Team. You will make decisions around criteria for assessment, provide reflective supervision to staff, management oversight, quality assuring the work of your team and also undertaking the safeguarding elements of practice wherever these are required. You will have a good understanding and application of the relevant laws and guidance around Children with Disability, including Children Act 1989, Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and the Child and Families Act 2014, also Working Together 2023.

Experience of managing a team and knowledge of working with Children with Disabilities is essential. Safeguarding experience in chairing strategy meetings, directing S47 enquiries and managing safeguarding processes through Child Protection, PLO and proceedings would be highly beneficial. You will work across wider Children’s Services and Education in supporting colleagues where children might have additional or emerging needs to provide advice and signposting and you will in turn, receive the support of colleagues in their areas of specialisms. You will work closely with the SEN team in support of striving for quality EHCP and closely joined up working, we know we get the best outcomes when we work together.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for a passionate and motivated person, who has strong values about inclusion for all children and is prepared to champion and showcase the amazing things that our young people can achieve, when the right support is in place. We want our Team Manager to create an environment which is highly ambitious for our children and sets standards high and motivates others to do the same.

Relationships are key in working with families and we want a Team Manager who thinks its essential to develop a culture of kindness, honesty, collaboration and shared accountability with families and with staff. It’s important that we collaborate with children, families, colleagues and partners to constantly develop feedback and improve our service and outcomes.

Westmorland and Furness has a strong foundation of career progression and professional development to enable our employees to take up opportunities as they arise in their careers. We will provide you with coaching and mentoring in your professional development.

If this sounds like an opportunity you would be interested in, and you’re looking for a role where you can make a positive difference in the lives of children in Westmorland and Furness, then please apply today, alternatively if you want an informal chat about the role, please contact Kirsty.Parry@cumbria.gov.uk

This role requires an enhanced DBS check with a Children’s and Adults Barred List check. Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with Children and Adults.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

• Genuine flexible working: family-friendly patterns such as flexible start/finish times and state of the art technology support, so you can spend some time working from home.
• Encouragement to take your TOIL back – we mean it!
• Our annual leave allowance isn’t bad either… 25 days per year, rising to 30 after four years’ service, alongside your yearly bank holiday leave, there should be plenty of time for rest and recuperation
• Supervision; Our strengthened supervision policy supports you to build a trusting relationship with your manager.
• We have a permanent and stable management team. You will have easy and regular access to the Senior Leadership Team.
• We pay your Social Work England registration fee
• Career development opportunities
• The Local Government Pension Scheme provides you with a secure future income, independent of share prices and stock market fluctuations. The council pays, on average, twice as much into your pension as you do and regular cost of living increases
• Child Care vouchers, Cycle to work scheme, free eye tests, car loans, car lease and so much more.

There to give you a helping hand - Specialist Inhouse Support 

We have some unique teams that can offer specialist support to you in your role or create a great range of career paths and opportunities.

The Complex Safeguarding team: a team of child exploitation practitioners who support the child and young people on a one-to-one basis in our area who are at risk of exploitation and those children and young people who frequently go missing.

Family Resilience Team: a team of family resilience practitioners providing intensive support day, evening and weekend wrap around to families we are working with who may be experiencing really difficult times.

Family and Assessment Team; a team of child and family workers who ensure family time is supported for those children unable to live with their parents, work is completed with parents as well as undertaking specialist assessment work such as parenting assessments, PAMS assessments and Ability to Protect assessments.

Emotional Health and Wellbeing Team; delivering therapeutic life story work to the children and young people who require it and supporting social workers in their work with children who have experienced trauma.

Application and Interview information

Closing date: 14^th April 2024

Interview date: 26^th April 2024

We are currently operating both in-person and virtual interviews. Options will be discussed with candidates once they have been invited to the interview stage of the process for this specific position, and if you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss.

If you are invited to a virtual interview, this will preferably be undertaken using the Microsoft Teams software, which is currently free for new users, however if there are any issues with accessing this technology, we are happy to discuss alternative arrangements prior to the interviews.

Safer Recruitment

At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all employees, volunteers and the Externally Provided Workforce (EPWs) to share this commitment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.

As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.

Please see below the supporting information:

Post Specification

Role Profile