Location
Sutton, London Borough of Sutton

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£57,402 per annum

About the Borough
The London Borough of Sutton is situated less than 30 minutes by train from Central London, with direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge. Located in zone 5 with excellent transport links, Sutton boasts award-winning parks and open spaces, low crime rates, affordable housing, and great schools. The borough enjoys high levels of resident engagement and satisfaction, delivering quality services while addressing financial challenges and involving residents in key issues and local developments.

Sutton is investing continuously in the health, wellbeing, and education of its residents and future generations, as outlined in the “Ambitious for Sutton” corporate plan. Home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton is developing the London Cancer Hub, aiming to become the world’s leading life-science district specialising in cancer research and treatment. This vision is expected to create around 13,000 jobs and contribute £1.2bn annually to the UK economy. With ongoing regeneration including new homes and schools, Sutton is committed to supporting residents and vulnerable groups to maintain independence and balance support with independent living.

The Council is a key driver within the South London Partnership, focusing on strategic growth, regeneration, and investment across five outer south west London boroughs. Sutton aims to shape the borough’s future to make it a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

About the Service and Team
Locality Teams provide social work services to children and young people living at home under Section 17 or Section 47 of the Children Act 1989. This is achieved through partnership working with relevant agencies, children, young people, and their families. The service offers a diverse and inclusive working environment with manageable caseloads, regular supervision, daily management support, and extensive learning and development opportunities.

The team promotes a creative and flexible working approach, allowing a balance of home and office working to support work/life balance.

Sutton collaborates with Kingston University and regional partners as part of the Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership (SWTP), providing a wide range of pre- and post-qualifying education opportunities. Staff can attend conferences, workshops, and access research and practice resources to support ongoing professional development. The council encourages staff to support the practice education of Social Work students and those in the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE).

Staff network groups such as the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic +A Network, LGBTQ +A Network, and Women’s +A Network ensure staff voices contribute to positive organisational change.

About the Role and Our Ideal Candidate
Join Children’s Social Care as a Team Manager and benefit from a generous Welcome and Retention Bonus:
- £1,000 paid in your first month’s salary
- £1,000 paid at the end of your first completed year
- £2,000 paid after your second completed year
- £3,000 paid in your third completed year and every year thereafter

Reporting to the Service Manager, you will manage the day-to-day running of a multidisciplinary Locality Team, providing direction and oversight to Social Workers and support staff within Child Protection, Child in Need, and Assessment and Referral services. Your focus will be ensuring children remain at the centre of all recommendations and decisions.

Your responsibilities include:
- Managing a team of Social Workers and Specialist Support Workers, overseeing case management decisions and ensuring compliance with practice standards, legal frameworks, and policies
- Collaborating with partners across health, education, voluntary sector, and others to develop joint plans supporting young people
- Equipping your team with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to perform effectively

Team Managers work collaboratively with other teams and organisations in health, education, and legal services to secure the best outcomes for children and young people. You will quality assure work by ensuring robust assessments, plans, and outcomes for families.

Your leadership will be key in guiding staff and partner agencies to adopt innovative approaches while managing your own time to meet deadlines and deliver measurable outcomes. This role is ideal for experienced social care professionals seeking a challenging and rewarding leadership position.

This is an excellent opportunity for senior social workers, assistant managers, and team managers with strong management and leadership experience, preferably within a local authority setting. You will be expected to have in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and guidance pertinent to social work practice.

Experience
- Extensive post-qualification social work practice experience
- Proven leadership and managerial skills managing multidisciplinary social care teams
- Experience working within local authority settings is preferred
- Strong knowledge of relevant legislation including the Children Act 1989 and Working Together Guidance 2023
- Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and community partners

About you
- Dedicated and passionate about making a meaningful impact on children and families
- Strong communicator and team leader who supports innovation and creativity
- Able to manage competing priorities and deliver measurable outcomes
- Committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equality within the workplace
- Enthusiastic about continuous professional development and supporting others’ growth

Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Social Work is essential
- Registration with Social Work England is required
- A Master’s degree in Social Work or related field is preferred