Team Manager

3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

We are seeking an experienced Team Manager / Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to provide sickness-cover management within our Supporting Families First service. This dynamic multi-disciplinary team works directly with families identified as Children in Need (CIN) under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 delivering intensive family support and safeguarding interventions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide operational management and professional supervision to a multi-disciplinary CIN team.
  

• Ensure effective case allocation workload management and oversight of social work practice.
  

• Maintain high standards of performance safeguarding and statutory compliance.
  

• Fulfil IRO responsibilities including chairing CIN reviews quality assurance of plans and escalation where necessary.
  

• Monitor the effectiveness of CIN and family support plans ensuring childrens voices are central to decision-making.
  

• Provide critical challenge to practitioners to improve outcomes and reduce risk.
  

• Oversee complex CIN cases ensuring risk assessments are robust and regularly reviewed.
  

• Ensure practice aligns with Section 17 responsibilities Working Together guidance and local safeguarding procedures.
  

• Promote safe timely and coordinated responses to emerging risks.
  

• Work collaboratively with health education police early help and voluntary services.
  

• Support the integrated approach offered by the Supporting Families First service.
  

• Strengthen partnerships to ensure coordinated child-centred interventions.
  

• Drive continuous improvement and reflective learning within the team.
  

• Support staff training coaching and development in child protection CIN processes and family-led approaches.
  

• Ensure recording decision-making and casework reflect best practice standards.
  

• Contribute to service development initiatives and performance reporting.
  

• Maintain accurate timely case notes and oversight records.
  

• Provide leadership cover as required across pods ensuring service continuity.
  

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker with registration (SWE).
  

• Strong experience working as a Team Manager IRO Deputy Team Manager or Senior Practitioner within childrens services.
  

• Proven track record in CIN safeguarding and multi-disciplinary family support.
  

• Experience managing complex cases and providing high-quality supervision.
  

• In-depth knowledge of:
  

  • The Children Act 1989 particularly Section 17
    

  • CIN and CP pathways
    

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children
    

  • Safeguarding and multi-agency practice
    

• Ability to analyse risk quality-assure plans and drive improved outcomes.
  

• Strong leadership communication and organisational skills.
  

• Confident in chairing meetings challenging practice and escalating concerns appropriately.
  

• Ability to travel within Worcestershire across service pods.
  

• Flexible resilient and able to manage high-pressure environments.