Team Manager (Placement Support) - Req24483

As a Placement SupportTeam Manager, you’ll thrive on motivating a multidisciplinary team to promote and support placement stability for our Looked After Children and Young People.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Placement SupportTeam Manager, you will bring to the role:

• Creative and dynamic leadership.
• A knowledge and experience of promoting placement stability for children and young people.
• A solution focussed approach and attitude.
• An understanding and Knowledge of policy, guidance, and legislation in relation to specialist services such as mental health, drug and alcohol, youth justice.
• A passion for providing positive solutions to strengthen care arrangements for vulnerable children.

About the role

As our new Placement SupportTeam Manager, you will lead a multi-disciplinary team who will offer targeted support to strengthen, stabilise and maintain fostering and residential childcare placements. In addition to this, your team will work alongside the newly established Reunification Team in formulating and delivering bespoke support packages to children returning home.

You will be responsible for the management, supervision, and professional development of your team members, ensuring that the needs of children are met through quality interventions and support. Through effective supervision, you will ensure that assessments and plans appropriately identify any risks and needs. Interventions will be tailored accordingly and will promote the importance of collaborative working relationships with the multi-agency network.

Through your line management of the Placement Support Team, you will ensure that the needs of children and families, referred for support, are appropriately identified and supported by the relevant professionals. You will be responsible for managing incoming referrals and allocations within your team whilst supporting them to work with foster carers, residential homes, and Social Work Teams. This is to offer planned and time sensitive support while caring for children and young people with complex and challenging behaviours.

You will be familiar with using SMART goals when working with children, carers, and families. SMART goals will be incorporated into family agreements and systemic approach when working with young people and their families, using evidenced based methodologies and tools where appropriate. This will include analytical chronologies, genograms and eco maps.

As a Team Manager, you will lead by example and promote good practice and a positive attitude to securing the best outcomes for children and young people. You’ll be able to demonstrate the ability to navigate complex multi-agency systems and processes, engage with a variety of stakeholders and communicate effectively both written and verbally. You will also support the implementation of the Placement Support model across the city, which is a strategic priority in terms of achieving permanence for children and young people.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Emily Spink, Service Delivery Manager on 0113 3784008 or email emily.spink@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
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This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

​Job Description 

Job Purpose: Lead, motivate and direct a discrete team of professional social work staff to deliver a high standard of social work, which places the child at the centre and ensure that statutory duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority are being met. To be one of the key advisors on placement stability at a local level.

Responsibilities:

Directing, managing, and motivating a multidisciplinary Placement Support team, including managing caseload levels through appropriately allocated, planned and supervised work which will be critically evaluated and reviewed, monitoring performance and ensuing compliance and high-quality service delivery outcomes.

Assist in the development and promotion of services and practice improvements which are designed to mitigate risk and provide qualitative improvement to the outcomes for children.

Act as an exemplar in knowledge of placement stability, therapeutic and social care legal and guidance requirements, policy, procedures, and practice standards.

Ensure that formal processes are instigated and managed appropriately in line with the best interests of the child.

Where appropriate, ensure services meet regulatory requirements.

​Act as the key contact and provide advice to local professionals, families, elected members and other agencies on placement stability.

​Lead on liaison with Social work colleagues in agreeing and applying procedures for action where children may be at risk.

​Provide regular supervision and appraisal to staff members maintaining supervision and appraisal records using the appropriate documentation and associated guidance.

Provide appropriate support and mentoring to less experienced social workers ensuring they have a clear understanding of the expectations of the role and receive appropriate development opportunities.

Actively promote the effective use of resources and to manage appropriate financial resources within available budgets within Council Financial Procedures and Standing Orders.

Instigate and manage quality assurance activity in accordance with practice standards including, for example Case File Audits and foster carers experiences of support service provision in Leeds; ensure that improvements and corrective actions are highlighted and implemented in a timely manner.

​Ensure all case recording meets practice standard guidance in respect of timeliness and quality.

Promote and instigate appropriate use of information technology, processes and systems in service delivery, maintaining records and management information to ensure efficient and effective service delivery including planning and control.

Manage and deal with complaints in the most efficient and effective manner.

Resolve complex and extremely challenging situations through conflict resolution, using counselling and negotiating skills and expertise.

Proactively manage performance of the team across a range of agreed indicators, prepare appropriate reports and undertake management actions to improve performance, as necessary.

Deal with all staff management issues promptly including recruitment & selection, probation of new employees, attendance management, staff supervision, performance, grievance or disciplinary issues.

Undertake quality assurance of all reports to formal panels e.g. fostering panel;

Contribute to developing and improving Children’s Services using a creative and innovative approach to service/partnership development and delivery, taking a lead where required.

Develop and produce team plans on an annual basis to ensure delivery of a professional child friendly and child focussed service which delivers in line with CYPSC Service plans and Service Improvement Plans and to take a lead on Service Development where appropriate.

Ensure all Team Plans include clear expectations for the year and set achievable targets which are monitored and reviewed at regular intervals.

Be a visible member of an integrated management team as appropriate and contribute to departmental, multi-agency Regional and National working groups as required.

Actively promote and deliver partnership working through integrated practice for effective service delivery, ensuring compliance with joint protocols and provide specialist advice as appropriate to partner agencies and integrated services.

Liaise and negotiate with other professional groups and agencies involved with children and young people and their families and represent Children’s Services at key professional forums.

Comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures which include, staff safety, on site visits/travel, working environment, fire safety, undertaking display screen and risk assessments.

Undertake investigations under the disciplinary procedures of the Council as and when appropriate.

Actively participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and competencies.

Actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Departmental Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner to create a culture that ensures equality and values diversity.

Provide appropriate support and mentoring to newly qualified social workers ensuring they have a clear understanding of the expectations of the role and receive appropriate development opportunities.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications: 

Appropriate social work professional qualification (BSc, BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent) is essential.  

You should be registered with the Social Work England upon commencement of the post and maintain yearly registration.     

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Able to demonstrate leadership qualities including the ability to model a reflective practice approach which facilitates a team culture of evidence based practice.

Able to demonstrate the ability to motivate and inspire team members to consistently raise standards in practice.

Able to empower self and others, including service users, ensuring high ethical standards in practice.

Able to demonstrate a sound theoretical understanding and the ability to critically apply theory in practice.

Able to challenge poor practice and use research to inform high standards of excellence.

Able to pass information effectively, accurately and concisely using a variety of formats.

Able to manage a budget and have an understanding of how this meets the business needs of the Department.

Able to demonstrate skills in risk management including the ability to identify indicators of risk and the preventative actions that will address them.

Able to actively promote the change management agenda at team and area level.

Able to analyse complex situations and make considered decisions.

Able to analyse and understand statistical information.

Able to prepare and present reports on complex issues to a variety of different audiences.

Able to demonstrate advanced negotiating skills to ensure effective solutions to complex and difficult situations.

Able to demonstrate a strategic and structured approach at team and area level and an ability to link the work of the team with the business plan.

Able to contribute to the overall development of services for Children.

Able to develop constructive working relationships with other Agencies.

Able to develop, manage, motivate and lead the team and offer appropriate professional supervision, giving clear and specific guidance on performance based on accountability agreements.

Able to manage caseloads and supervise the caseloads of others.

Knowledge of safeguarding good practices including safer recruitment procedures, paramountcy principle, and requirements of the Children’s Act 2004, Fostering Regulations and National Fostering Minimum Standards and any subsequent legal updates.

Keep abreast of developments in Social work best practice, professional practice and legislation.

Experience of providing structured supervision for staff and/or students.

Post qualification experience.

Experience of developing inter-agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to issues

Experience of management of multi-agency work.

Experience of developing new approaches to work related issues.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.

Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon

Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.

Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.

Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.

Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.

Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.

Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.

Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.