Assistant Team Manager - Adoption Support (14754)

Why Work for us: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)

This role is with Adopt South, the partnership Regional Adoption Agency for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton local authorities, with the lead authority Hampshire County Council as the employer.

We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent full time Assistant Team Manager join Southampton City Council in our dynamic and innovative Regional Adoption Agency.

Children and young people who have been adopted may at times, face day to day challenges both at home and in school. As the Adoption SupportAssistant Team Manager, you will review and consider, how best we shape and define support to our families through the range of services we currently offer.  This includes our triage and multi-disciplinary services, as well as assessing families who require therapies funded by the Adoption Support Fund.

We are looking for an inspiring and enthusiastic person, who will consider new approaches and processes with the team, so when our families contact us for help or advice, we can offer them the best outcome that meets their needs efficiently and timely. 

You'll have exceptional communication skills, with the ability to relate to all different kinds of people. You will have some management experience with evidence of reporting, changing or introducing new processes to improve performance, whilst ensuring staff feel motivated and involved.

A good understanding of Child Protection legislation is important to the role, as is the motivation to grow through personal and professional development. Above all, you will be determined to make a difference for both the service and the children who need it.

You will be responsible for: 

• Managing, prioritising and reviewing a complex case load within departmental guidelines.
• Managing staff allocations and ensuring work is completed within statutory regulations.
• Contributing to robust reflective management oversight through supervision, case oversight and auditing.
• Ensuring that best outcomes for children are at the centre of all practice and decision making.
• Maintaining an awareness of corporate and departmental equalities, health and safety, sustainability and other relevant policies and procedures and applying them in the day to day job requirements.
• Ensuring that all Hampshire County Council child protection and safeguarding policies are adhered to, and concerns are raised in accordance with these policies.
• Deputising for the Team Manager in their absence.
• Authorising assessments in line with team quality assurance processes.
• Supporting in the development of training including being prepared to deliver training as required.
• Working flexibility to meet the needs of the service which will include some evening and Saturday working.
• Collaborating with the marketing team to ensure communications to families and young people meet the needs of different audience groups who use our Adoption Support services.

You will have:

• Social Work qualification
• Social Work England registration.
• A minimum of three years post qualifying social work experience.
• Extensive experience of assessment work and understanding of permanence for children. 
• Knowledge of adoption services and processes coupled
• Knowledge of relevant adoption legislation and regulations.
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality.  
• Proactive with ability to work alone and as part of a team when required.

For further information about this role please view the job description.

Contact details for an informal discussion: 

For further information and details regarding the position please contact Service Manager carol.beddow@hants.gov.uk

Recruitment contact details:

Email: recruitment@southampton.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8083 4033

Additional information: 

• This is a permanent position.   
• Please note that appointments are usually made at the bottom of the salary scale.
• You must be able to travel between work locations within the Southampton area.
• This post requires an enhanced DBS check.
• For any posts that require a DBS check, if you have lived outside the UK within the last 5 years, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct or a police certificate from the country/countries you have resided in. Kindly note that this is at the expense of the candidate, as well as any costs involved for translating into English.

How to apply:

To apply for the position please select the 'Apply for this job' button at the bottom of the page.

The supporting statement section of the application form must be completed, unless there are specific criteria questions for you to evidence against. Applications are shortlisted against the essential and desirable criteria found within the job description for the post. Please refer to the job description when completing your application form and evidence how you meet the required criteria/questions. A CV on its own will not be considered.

Unfortunately we are not able to accept applications that are made through a third party agency. We cannot guarantee that any correspondence sent from third party agencies will be responded to. To ensure your application is received please apply directly through our website.

We are proud to be #DisabilityConfident and support fair recruitment practices. Find out how you can get involved at gov.uk/disability-confident.  No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

Southampton City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults.  It is committed to delivering services to ensure they are happy, safe and have opportunities to reach their goals as responsible members of our community.  We believe it is always unacceptable for a child, young person or adult to experience abuse of any kind, and recognise our responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare.  We are committed to following safe practices to ensure this and expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.  This commitment is reflected in all our recruitment and selection practices.

As a Corporate Parent we are actively aiming to support all our children in care (looked after children) and care leavers. Any applicants who are children in care or care leavers, who meet the essential criteria for the post applied for, will be guaranteed an interview.