Deputy Team Manager SAFE

Fixed Term Contract - 6 months (external applicants)

Ealing Council have an exciting new opportunity as Deputy Team Manager- SAFE available on full-time basis for 6 months. Ealing is a diverse and multicultural borough, and the SAFE Service is committed to embedding cultural awareness, equality, and inclusion into all aspects of our work with children, young people, and their families. We are seeking a candidate who is passionate about delivering high-quality early intervention and family support services that are child-centred, strengths-based, and focused on partnership working, improving outcomes for families and reducing escalation to statutory interventions.

The Deputy Team Manager role:

This is an exciting opportunity to join the SAFE Early Intervention Service as a Deputy Team Manager for a 6-month secondment opportunity for internal candidates. We would welcome senior social workers who would like to step up into this role.

As the Deputy Team Manager role you will:

The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to relationship-based practice, working collaboratively with families and partner agencies to identify needs, build resilience, and prevent escalation to statutory services where appropriate. They will support staff to deliver interventions that promote children's safety, wellbeing, and development, while ensuring practice is informed by local procedures, safeguarding responsibilities, and Ealing's Brighter Futures Practice Model.

Ealing is committed to innovative ways of working and supporting staff to embed the Brighter Futures Practice Model. This values-led approach focuses on developing empathic, respectful, and trusting relationships with children, young people, families, and colleagues to achieve sustainable and meaningful change. Reflective practice is integral to the service, with regular case and personal  and group supervisions,  supporting professional development, learning, and high-quality outcomes for families.

The Deputy Team Manager will provide leadership, guidance, and support to practitioners within the SAFE Service, ensuring effective case management, oversight of interventions, and the promotion of best practice. The post holder will work closely with managers and partners across the ECIRS/integrated front door, Assessment and Intervention and MAST/Family Help teams to ensure coordinated and responsive support for families.

The successful candidate will be expected to attend the office a minimum of 3 days per week to support team development, collaboration, and service delivery. Ealing promotes flexible working arrangements, although office attendance may be reviewed in line with service requirements and operational needs.

The Deputy Team Manager will report directly to the Team Manager and can expect to receive ongoing support, supervision, and opportunities for professional growth. Ealing Council offers a comprehensive training programme and coaching opportunities to support managers in developing their leadership skills and management style.

Our ideal Deputy Team Manager will have the below skills and experience:

• Ability to provide high quality, reflective, analytical and evidence-based supervision to develop reporting managers and Social Workers to the highest professional standards in order that they achieve excellent outcomes with and for children, young people and their families.
• Ability to embrace diversity in service development, delivery and evaluation and people management.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills to enable meaningful dialogue with children, families, multi-agency networks, internal and external departments as well as colleagues within other boroughs.
• Ensure the team’s approach to working with families follows the Brighter Futures practice model, including mentalisation and PACE.
• Ability to manage resources within budgetary constraints, securing best value and cost effectiveness.
• Manage a team, including individual performance management and professional development of staff, establishing regular individual and group supervision arrangements, mentoring, and coaching staff.
• Knowledge of the broad categories of services and resources available to children and families and the cost implications of meeting those assessed needs.
• Liaise with external agencies and partners to ensure coordinated service delivery in line with the Working Together to Safeguard Children Statutory guidance 2026.
• Ability and skills to prioritise work, exercise initiative and use personal authority appropriately.

Ealing council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Ealing follows safer recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults. The post holder will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

You must have the right to work in the UK.  Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

It is an exciting time to join us, here at Ealing Council. If you would like to make a positive difference to our residents and borough, then we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

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Ealing Council is committed to creating good jobs and delivering on its connected communities’ agenda. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive.

We therefore welcome applications from all residents of the borough, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are entering the employment market in the early stages of their career and mid-career professionals, who are currently underrepresented in Ealing’s workforce.

Please note all applications will be determined on merit.

This role is subject to Ealing Council’s enhanced vetting process.

Closing date: Monday 2nd November 2026.