Childrens Academy Team Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to join Cumberland and make a difference to our children and their families. We are proud of our compassionate and talented workforce who are ambitious and committed to making a difference to our children and their families. Our new Children’s Social Care Academy provides an innovative approach to supporting Newly Qualified Social Workers as they enter their social work journey with a key focus on providing high levels of support and excellent access to training. We are seeking an inspirational Team Manager who will be able to provide outstanding support to Newly Qualified Social Workers alongside developing the academy to be a centre of excellence that is recognised both locally and nationally.

As Children’s Academy Team Manager, you will be responsible for supervising, mentoring and supporting Newly Qualified Social Workers throughout their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). You will provide management oversight to ensure that children are safe and supported and their plans are progressed. You will provide group supervision, workshops and development opportunities to aid the learning and development of the Newly Qualified Social Workers. You will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with universities and education providers to ensure there are excellent links for the purposes of student placements and the recruitment of Newly Qualified Social Workers.

Cumberland Council are a new Local Authority which means this is an extremely exciting time as we develop our services with passion, innovation and in collaboration with our workforce and community. It is really important to us that Cumberland 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. Health and Wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do, we aim to be Ambitious, Collaborative, Compassionate, Empowering, and Innovative.

If you have the skills and experience required to provide excellent support to our Newly Qualified Social Workers and give them the best start in their social work career, then we would love to hear from you!

What can we offer you! We offer a generous benefits package including:  

• Reimbursement of your Social Work England registration / renewal fees.
• A comprehensive induction that helps you settle in and get to know your team, service area and multi-agency partners. 
• We know that having a good work / life balance is important, that’s why we offer a number of different flexible working options such as 9 day fortnights, hybrid working and family-friendly work patterns such as flexible start and finish times.
• Bespoke training package that offers excellent training aimed at helping you to increase your knowledge and skills. We have training for those wanting to be practice educators and those interested in progressing to management and leaderships roles. We have links to research ambassador projects and encourage practitioners to undertaken research projects.
• You will receive an increased salary upon successful completion of your probationary period.
• We offer a mileage allowance and access to company pool cars. Tusker Car Leasing Scheme and Car Loan Schemes are also available.
• Relocation packages are available with financial incentives of up to £8000. (Terms and conditions apply)
• You will have frequent interaction with our welcoming Senior Leadership Team who foster a supportive and collaborative working environment.
• You will have regular meetings with your Principal Social Worker via monthly drop ins and participation events where you will be able to share your good ideas, showcase good practice and have reflective discussions. 
• Celebration and recognition events to showcase the fantastic work of all our Social Workers, Social Care Workers and Managers; this includes yearly events to celebrate World Social Work Day, regular staff engagement events where we showcase good practice and achievements and frequently nominating members of staff for national awards.
• Strong Partnerships with Lancaster University and the University of Cumbria for the purposes of practice education and research.
• Cycle to work scheme, 20% off childcare discount for working parents, free eye tests and so much more.
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution.
• Generous Annual Leave Entitlement.
• Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Parental Leave.
• Sickness Pay.
• Cycle to work scheme, 20% off childcare discount for working parents, free eye tests and so much more.

If this sounds like you, and you share our passion, then please get in touch!
If you are interested in what you have read and would like to have an informal discussion around guidance on applying for this role, please register your interest at the earliest opportunity and email ashleigh.johnston@cumbria.gov.uk or call 07824407730.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity with our Principal Social Worker, Lyndsey Smith on lyndsey.smith@cumbria.gov.uk or 07827313848

Person Specification

Role Profile

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.