INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Social Work Team Manager

Salary: PO6 £51,356- £54,495

Hours: 37 (Full time or Job share)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Middleton NCMT. Middleton Health Centre, Middleton Park Avenue,

About the role

We are seeking to recruit an experienced, motivated and inspirational Team Manager to lead the Middleton Neighbourhood Care Management Team (NCMT) within Leeds Adult Social Care.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a committed and skilled team within one of Leads’ largest and most diverse communities. As Team Manager, you will provide operational, professional and strategic leadership to a team of registered social workers, wellbeing practitioners and support staff, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, strengths-based social care services that promote independence, wellbeing and positive outcomes for adults and carers.

The successful candidate will be a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England, with substantial experience in Adult Social Care. You will have a thorough understanding of relevant legislation, policy and best practice, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, safeguarding adults procedures and strengths-based approaches to assessment and support planning.

Team Leeds Approach

As Team Leeds, our ambition is to tackle poverty and inequality and improve quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.

Leeds City Council delivers over 500 services to residents and is committed to building a compassionate, inclusive and thriving city. This is an exciting time to join Adult Social Care as we continue to transform services, strengthen neighbourhood working and develop innovative approaches that place people, communities and partnerships at the centre of everything we do.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region, employing over 14,000 staff. We are committed to recruiting and developing talented people who embody our values and ambitions and who are passionate about making a difference to the lives of Leeds residents.

The team is co-located with Leeds Community Healthcare colleagues and maintains strong relationships with primary care, community health services, housing providers, neighbourhood networks, the voluntary and community sector, and wider partners. These relationships are fundamental to delivering coordinated support and improving outcomes for local people.

Middleton NCMT operates within a fast-paced environment where effective leadership, professional curiosity, partnership working and sound decision-making are essential to delivering excellent outcomes.

Neighbourhood Team footprints

Neighbourhood Health is becoming our way of working across Leeds, the successful candidate will therefore have an understanding of the evolving Neighbourhood Health agenda and the role of Neighbourhood Team (NT) footprints across Leeds. Applicants should be able to demonstrate an appreciation of how locality-based partnerships contribute to reducing inequalities, improving access to services and supporting integrated care delivery within communities.

Experience of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries and supporting integrated models of care will be highly valued.

About You

As Team Manager, you will be:

An inclusive, visible and compassionate leader.
Passionate about delivering outstanding outcomes for adults and carers.
Committed to developing a skilled, resilient and inclusive workforce.
A confident and effective communicator who can build positive relationships across organisations and communities.
A skilled decision-maker with experience of managing complexity, risk and competing priorities.
A critical and curious practitioner who promotes reflective practice and continuous learning.
An advocate for strengths-based and person-centred approaches.
Committed to reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes through partnership working.
Able to lead change, innovation and service improvement within a complex operational environment.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate knowledge of:

Adult social care legislation and statutory responsibilities.
Safeguarding Adults procedures and Making Safeguarding Personal principles.
Mental Capacity Act and best interest decision-making.
Integrated neighbourhood and community-based models of support.
The Neighbourhood Team (NT) footprint model across Leeds.
Performance management, quality assurance and continuous improvement methodologies.

As Team Manager for Middleton NCMT, you will:

Provide leadership, management and professional supervision to a team of registered and unregistered staff.
Promote and embed high-quality strengths-based social work practice.
Ensure statutory duties are fulfilled in line with legislation, policy and professional standards.
Oversee complex casework, safeguarding enquiries, Mental Capacity Act assessments, risk management and care planning.
Support staff development through reflective supervision, coaching and performance management.
Lead partnership working with health colleagues, housing services, voluntary sector organisations and wider stakeholders.
Drive service improvement and innovation to meet the changing needs of local communities.
Support the development and implementation of neighbourhood-based approaches and integrated care models.
Ensure resources are used effectively whilst maintaining high-quality, person-centred service delivery.
Manage operational pressures whilst maintaining a focus on quality, outcomes and continuous improvement.

Quality Assurance and Practice Excellence

A key aspect of this role will be leading and championing quality assurance across the team.

The successful candidate will have responsibility for ensuring that social work practice is safe, effective and outcome-focused through robust quality assurance activity. This will include:

Undertaking regular case audits and thematic audits.
Monitoring the quality and timeliness of assessments, reviews and support plans.
Using performance and practice intelligence to identify strengths, areas for development and emerging risks.
Supporting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Translating learning from audits, complaints, safeguarding activity and feedback into tangible service improvements.
Promoting evidence-informed practice and professional accountability.
Supporting the team's contribution to Leeds City Council's Quality Assurance Framework and continuous improvement agenda.

You will be expected to create an environment where good practice is recognised, learning is embedded and staff are supported to deliver consistently high standards of work.

What We Offer

We take pride in offering an excellent employee experience, including:

A competitive salary and generous annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements, subject to service requirements.
Ongoing learning, development and leadership opportunities.
Regular professional supervision and support.
Access to a comprehensive range of employee wellbeing initiatives.
Career progression opportunities within one of the country's largest local authorities.
The opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people and communities across South Leeds.

How to Apply

Apply online by completing the application form in full.

Please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria and evidences your experience of leadership, partnership working, quality assurance, workforce development and service improvement within Adult Social Care.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Helen Barnes
Service Delivery Manager
0113 535 0126
Helen.Barnes@leeds.gov.uk

Matt Kemp

Team Manager

0113 3780184

Matt.Kemp@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

The role of the Team Manager is to lead, motivate and direct a discrete team of professional social work staff to deliver a high standard of social work and ensure that the statutory duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority are being met.

Responsibilities

Responsible for delivering within their service area agreed business and service priorities for Adult Social Care.
The appropriate allocation of work and motivation of the Social Work / Disability Services Team
Deal with all staff management issues promptly, including recruitment & selection, probation and supervision of Newly Qualified Social Worker’s/Occupational Therapists, Social Work staff, Occupational therapy Assistants, attendance management, staff supervision, performance, grievance and disciplinary issues with assistance and support from local HR and Business Support Centre.
To ensure high performance standards are met by monitoring self, individual and team performance and identifying developmental and training needs where appropriate.
To ensure that casework is the subject of planning, review and evaluation.
The effective use of resources and management of appropriate financial resources within available budget’s and under the supervision of the Service Delivery Manager.
The delivery of Safeguarding in accordance with agreed Directorate policies and procedures.
Carry out the role of a member of the Area Management Team / Mental Health Unit Management Team, deputising for other’s where deemed necessary.
Contribute to departmental working parties as required.
To contribute to developing and improving the Directorates services using a strategic, creative and innovative approach to service development and delivery.
To participate in and provide training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.
To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required by the Service Delivery Manager.
To comply with the requirement’s of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.
Where in the role of Team Manager within the Mental Health Team, to act as an Approved Mental Health Professional.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Appropriate professional qualification (BSc, BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent). You should be registered with Social Work England upon commencement of the post and maintain registration

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Ability to pass varied and complex information effectively, accurately and concisely using a variety of formats.
To demonstrate the ability to motivate and inspire team member’s to consistently raise standards in practice.
Ability to empower self and others including service users, ensuring high ethical standards in practice.
Ability to demonstrate sound theoretical understanding and the ability to critically apply theory in practice.
Ability to analyse complex situation’s, identify indicators of risk and make considered decisions within a risk management framework within timescales and with consultation with local management.
Ability to actively promote the change management agenda at team and area level.
Ability to demonstrate a strategic and structured approach to team and area level link to the Directorate Business Plan
Ability to check and audit individual support packages.
Ability to manage a budget and have an understanding of how this meets the business needs of the Directorate under the supervision of line management.
To be involved long term financial planning and to contribute towards the planning, preparation, provision and analysis of information in relation to budgets.
Ability to analyse and understand statistical information
Ability to prepare and present information and report’s on complex issues to a variety of different audiences
Ability to demonstrate advanced negotiating skills to ensure effective solutions to complex and difficult situations.
Ability to contribute to the overall development of services for Adults within the Change Management Agenda.
Ability to develop constructive working relationships with other Agencies.
Ability to develop, manage, motivate and lead an Adults Social Work / Disability Services team and offer appropriate professional supervision, giving clear and specific guidance on performance based on the competency framework review.
Ability to manage caseloads and supervise the caseload of others and to consistently raise practice standards.
Ability to set targets and monitor performance in line with strategic and Directorate business plans.
DipSw or Equivalent.
Understanding of local government and the social, political and legal context in which it operates.
Understanding of adult care legislation and current issues affecting the provision of Social Services.
Understanding of the work of other key Agencies.
Knowledge of the current developments affecting the provision of services to adults, including mental health and disability issues.
Experience of providing structured supervision for staff and/or students.
Post qualified experience.
Experience of developing inter-agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to issues

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Competent in the use of information technology, including word processing and databases.
A management qualification
Car driver
Experience of management of multi agency work.
Experience of developing new approaches to work related issues
Knowledge of the problems of disadvantaged groups

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