The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
37 hours, 12 month fixed-term contract
Hybrid working but based at Civic Centre, Reading, for a minimum of 3 days a week (to include Wednesdays)
Reading Borough Council is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Team Manager to lead our Kinship & Permanence Service, playing a key role in securing stable, long-term family arrangements for children and young people.
This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished social work leader to manage a specialist service that supports permanence planning, kinship care, special guardianship and private fostering arrangements. You'll join a forward-thinking Children's Services team focused on delivering high-quality, relationship-based practice and achieving the very best outcomes for children.
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 leadership, direction and oversight across the Kinship & Permanence Service, ensuring children and families receive high-quality, timely and effective support.
Key responsibilities include:
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Leading and developing a specialist team delivering kinship, permanence and special guardianship services.
- Ensuring permanence plans progress without unnecessary delay for children in care.
- Overseeing assessments, support services and family-finding arrangements.
- Providing supervision, guidance and professional challenge to staff.
- Driving quality assurance, performance management and service improvement.
- Chairing and contributing to complex meetings and decision-making processes.
- Building effective partnerships across Children's Services and external organisations.
You'll also play an important role in shaping the future of the service, promoting best practice and ensuring our work continues to deliver positive outcomes for children and carers.
About you
We're looking for a confident and experienced social work leader who is passionate about achieving permanence and stability for children.
You will be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England and have substantial experience within children's social care, fostering, kinship, permanence or related services. You'll be comfortable managing staff, supporting professional development and leading practice improvement in a busy and evolving environment.
You will also bring:
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Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Sound knowledge of legislation, safeguarding and permanence planning.
- Experience of quality assurance and performance management.
- The ability to build effective relationships with children, families, carers and professionals.
- Excellent communication, analytical and decision-making skills.
- A commitment to delivering high-quality services and improving outcomes for children
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:
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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: Friday 24th July
Interview Date: Week commencing 27th July
Interview Process: Formal interview with questions
