The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Team Managers are expected to work from the office during their designated Duty Week. Outside of Duty Week, the role operates on a hybrid working arrangement.
At Reading Borough Council, we're looking for an experienced and motivated Team Manager to lead our Integrated Assessment Service, ensuring children receive the right support at the right time and that safeguarding remains at the heart of everything we do.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a service focused on delivering high-quality assessments, effective interventions and positive outcomes. You'll provide visible leadership to a team of social workers, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, quality practice and strong partnership working across the children's workforce.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
As Team Manager, you'll provide operational leadership and oversight of referrals requiring assessment, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met and that assessments, child protection enquiries and planning processes are completed to a high standard and within timescales.
You will:
- Lead, supervise and support a team of approximately six social workers
- Allocate and monitor workloads, ensuring effective management of risk and priorities
- Provide guidance and oversight on complex child protection, child in need and assessment work
- Drive high-quality practice through supervision, performance management and quality assurance activity
- Support the recruitment, retention and development of a skilled and motivated workforce
- Chair strategy meetings, planning meetings and reviews where required
- Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, safeguarding procedures and service standards
- Build strong relationships with partner agencies to improve outcomes for children and families
- Contribute to service improvement, policy development and workforce planning
- Manage delegated budgets and resources effectively, ensuring value for money
About you
We're looking for a confident and experienced leader who can inspire others, make sound decisions in complex situations and maintain a relentless focus on achieving the best outcomes for children.
You'll bring:
- A recognised Social Work qualification
- Registration with Social Work England
- Significant post-qualification experience within statutory children's social care
- Direct management experience in children's services
- Strong knowledge of child protection, child in need and looked after children processes
- Experience of managing risk and making evidence-based decisions in complex cases
- A sound understanding of relevant legislation, policy and practice frameworks
- Experience of performance management, quality assurance and service improvement
- The ability to effectively chair complex multi-agency meetings
- Strong communication, leadership and relationship-building skills
- A commitment to supporting and developing practitioners to achieve their full potential
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact [email protected]
Closing Date:Sunday 23rd August 2026
Interview Date: To be confimed
Interview Process:To be confirmed
