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SalaryAbout Us
We are committed to improving our services for the children and families we support in West Sussex. In May 2023 Ofsted Inspectors praised West Sussex County Council's Children's Services for its 'relentless approach to improving practice,' giving the service an overall rating of 'requires improvement', with 'good' judgements for children in care and leadership and management. The judgements on children needing help and protection and children leaving care are they 'require improvement to be good'.
Inspectors recognised the 'strong, determined and cohesive leadership team' who have made significant improvements since 2019 and their commitment and focus to make further improvements.
For further information about us and about working in Children's Social Care at WSCC, please visit Careers in children's social work in West Sussex.
About The Job
We are looking for an inspirational Team Manager to join us in our Family Safeguarding Team in Bognor Regis. You will lead a team of professionals, with indirect responsibility for others within assigned groups. Your team will consist of specialists and support staff, ensuring delivery of efficient and effective services to children and families.
You will contribute to the development and shape of future team or group service provision and inform the work of the organisation and that of other service providers, supporting and managing change as needed within their area of responsibility.
Experience and Skills
Key Skills:
- Ability to make sound pragmatic problem-solving decisions, which will have a wider service impact. The ability to provide comprehensive professional advice and support within the service specialism.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence the actions of others and communicate information which may be complex and contentious.
- Effective people and performance management skills and the ability to provide direction and motivate and inspire the team to deliver quality professional practice.
- Able to manage self, is self-aware and understands impact of work on self and others and responds constructively to situations. Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to situations where others are in a stressful or anxious situation.
- Able to reflect on practice and learn from experience and feedback, taking responsibility for own performance and being proactive in relation to own work and professional development.
Qualifications and experience:
- A recognised Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, Post Graduate Certificate in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the relevant professional body.
- A recognised post qualifying award in Social Work or demonstrable evidence of continuous professional development at a similar level.
- Registration with the relevant professional registration body and maintaining registration with that body.
- Demonstrable experience of delivering or co-ordinating a quality customer focused service to others.
- Experience in dealing with significant issues, for example management of complex child protection matters, staff under performance, managing resources to address team performance priorities through allocation of limited resources.
- Experience of leading staff.
- Expert relevant experience in specialist area, including sound relevant operational experience in social work, ideally working as a senior practitioner or small team leader/supervisor.
- Experience of managing a small budget and/or contributing to financially related decisions on larger spends, how cost-effective decisions are made and operating within the financial constraints.
- Experience of supporting initiatives in a political environment.
- Demonstrable knowledge of how to improve practice and performance in a supportive, positive way.
- You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Pool cars and pool bikes available.
Rewards and Benefits
We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.
For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.
Further Information
The reference number for this role is CAFHE04441 .
To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and cover letter. In your cover letter outline your motivations for applying and explain how you meet the key skills listed in full and the experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills).
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, SWE Registration, 5 years referencing and a health check.
West Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer committed to promoting an environment that is inclusive and free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of its people. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and take every possible step to ensure that no individual will be disadvantaged.
For information regarding your eligibility to apply for this role under our Disability or Veteran's Guaranteed Interview Scheme, this can be found on our application help page.
