Assistant Team Manager – Duty and Assessment
Initial 3-month interim contract
Inside IR35 – £40-42 per hour (via umbrella)
South West of England, Local Authority
Hybrid working; 1-2 days a week on-site
The Assistant Team Manager will provide operational leadership and line management to a team of Social Workers (including Newly Qualified Social Workers and Senior Practitioners) and Family Help Practitioners. The role focuses on ensuring the safe and effective delivery of the duty and assessment function, with a particular emphasis on managing Child and Family Assessments, Strategy Discussions, and Section 47 Investigations for newly referred children or those not currently open to a statutory team.
The post holder will play a key role in promoting high-quality, strengths-based practice and ensuring timely, proportionate, and effective responses to children and families in need of help and protection.
CV submission is ASAP, with a view to interview W/C Monday 3rd November 2025.
Your responsibilities as the Team manager for Duty and Assessment:
- Line manage and supervise Social Workers and Family Help Practitioners, including supporting NQSWs through the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme.
- Lead the review, allocation, and progression of new referrals via the duty system, ensuring timely and safe decision-making.
- Support the Team Manager in performance management, ensuring statutory duties are met and performance targets achieved.
- Quality assure Child and Family Assessments, ensuring they are completed to a high standard and within appropriate timescales.
- Chair strategy discussions, mapping meetings, and other key multi-agency meetings as required.
- Provide case supervision and oversight of complex cases, ensuring effective planning and risk management.
- Support social workers with legal casework, including pre-proceedings and care proceedings, ensuring timely and high-quality submissions.
- Promote and embed the Family Safeguarding model, ensuring effective multi-agency working and holistic support for families.
- Lead practice development within the team, including facilitating workshops, team discussions, and sharing research and best practice.
- Contribute to the Service’s Quality Assurance Framework through regular audits and themed reviews.
- Ensure all children have clear, outcome-focused care plans that promote their safety, development, and wellbeing.
- Support the induction of new staff and contribute to a positive, learning-focused team culture.
- Promote anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice and challenge inequality where identified.
- Ensure accurate and timely recording on the electronic case management system.
- Represent and advocate for children and families, ensuring their voices are central to all planning and decision-making.
- Ensure compliance with local and national safeguarding procedures and statutory guidance.
Your required experience as the Team manager for Duty and Assessment:
- Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
- Significant post-qualification experience in statutory children’s social care, including assessment and safeguarding.
- Experience of supervising or mentoring social workers, including NQSWs.
- Strong understanding of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989, Working Together 2023, and Care Planning Regulations.
- Proven ability to manage risk, make sound decisions, and lead practice in complex cases.
- Skilled in chairing multi-agency meetings and promoting effective partnership working.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to quality assure assessments and court reports.
Values & Behaviours:
- Child-centred, strengths-based approach to practice.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and reflective supervision.
- Ability to lead by example and inspire high standards of practice.
- Resilient, adaptable, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
If you’re interested in discussing this opportunity in more detail or know someone who this may be of interest to, please contact Sarah Macrae on 0117 3137110 or apply today.
(We offer a senior referral scheme upon successful placement of your recommendation so please do get in contact)
Our clients are passionate about creating and evolving a diverse workforce and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant. Recruiting decisions are based on your experience and skills. Any reasonable adjustments in the workplace will be fully supported during the application and hiring process.
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