Team Manager - Family Help

Our developing Family Help service aims to provide targeted support and help to families so that children and families can thrive and more families are able to stay together. We recognise that providing the right type of support at the right time for families is key to working effectively and that lasting relationships with professionals is central to working alongside families and their networks. We believe in the power of relationships. Our Family Help model is rooted in Restorative practice and built on trust, consistency and co-production. You will work with families to create plans that reflect their voices and values - whether under Child in Need, Child Protection or care proceedings that will help to develop meaningful and lasting change for families. This includes increased capacity to manage complex parenting challenges and reducing risks within family networks and across our community. Our Family Help service provides a whole family approach to support. Social workers and Family Help practitioners will co-ordinate the support offered to families drawing on the knowledge and skillset of experienced Child Practitioners; Drug and Alcohol practitioners' Probation Officers; Domestic Abuse Workers, and Mental Health Practitioners. We are based centrally at Cable Plaza, Dudley Waterfront but our Family Help service is a locality-based model. Teams working closely alongside Dudley's 5 Family Hubs who provide early support to families through their links with our local partners. As the Family help service continues to develop, improved relationships between Family Help practitioners and our local partners will enable more families to be supported earlier when problems and difficulties are easier to address. We believe our children and families deserve the consistency and stability in the support provided. Our service works with families who require a single assessment, a co-ordinated plan including child protection plans and we undertake pre-proceedings and care proceedings work. We recognise that strong permanency planning for our children is key to supporting family relationships and networks, even when it is not safe for children to remain within the care of a parent. Our kinship offer is developing and we working closely with our kinship team to secure creative and supportive plans for family networks. Our service is a friendly and passionate service, always seeking to improve the best outcomes for our children and families. We offer a great opportunity to expand your skillset, knowledge, and confidence within front line help and safeguarding practice management, supported by a committed and stabilising leadership team. As a Team Manager, you will lead a team of skilled social workers and alternatively qualified practitioners, supporting children and families across Family Help and Child Protection. You will support the service to continue our journey is developing high-quality practice, strong multi-agency collaboration and a relentless focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children. As a Family Help Team Manager you will:

• Create a positive team culture where staff feel supported, valued and empowered to achieve excellent outcomes for children and families.
• Drive high-quality, relationship-based practice through effective supervision and professional development.
• Ensure children receive timely and effective interventions that improve safety, wellbeing and long-term resilience.
• Maintain oversight of assessments, plans and interventions, ensuring they are child-focused and outcome-driven.
• Lead on decision-making and risk management within statutory safeguarding processes.
• Promote strengths-based and restorative approaches across all aspects of practice.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with partners within localities
• Support service development, innovation and continuous improvement within the Family Help model.
  
  A recognised Social Work qualification (BA, MA or equivalent) and be registered with Social Work England.
• Have significant experience within statutory children's social care services with knowledge of safeguarding legislation and relevant practice frameworks.
• Have experience of supervising, supporting or developing practitioners and promoting excellent social work practice.
• Have the ability to make sound decisions in complex situations and manage risk effectively.
• Evidence excellent communication, leadership and partnership-working skills.
• Have a commitment to strengths-based, relationship-focused and trauma-informed practice.
  
  Top tip when applying - As we've got a new recruitment system the application process has changed a little and we hope you'll like it!
You'll first need to register and create a profile the first time you apply. Creating your profile will enable you do things such as track your application progress, view emails you've received from us and manage communication preferences, manage your interview bookings and offer information if successful. About Dudley Council It's an incredibly exciting time to work in Dudley Council as we embark on numerous multi-million pound regeneration schemes which will be real game-changers for the borough. In addition to the exciting schemes such as the Midland Metro we also have the ongoing and very serious challenges of ensuring vulnerable people across the borough receive the services they deserve. At Dudley Council we have a 'one council' ethos that builds an effective and dynamic organisation which grows the economy and creates jobs, creating a cleaner and greener place and supports stronger and safer communities. We are rightly proud to be the historic capital of the Black Country and, working with our partners, Dudley Council is also committed to looking forward and helping to deliver our borough vision of 'Forge a Future for all' www.dudleyboroughvision2030.org.uk We ensure communities influence council decisions and are committed to delivering services in partnership with communities. We provide flexible and responsive service in partnership and help communities help themselves. In joining a local authority that serves 320,000 residents you will become an integral part of a council that:
• is ready to embrace change, providing an environment in which you will be encouraged to make your mark
• is aware of its key challenges and the need for a new energy to innovate the council, in order to find cost effective ways of delivering services
• has aligned its political and managerial leadership structures and is committed to protecting, securing and transforming the lives of children, families, the vulnerable and older people
• wants borough residents to have their say through our community forums
• dedicates time to meaningful consultation and listen to the views of our residents
• is working with the community to encourage active involvement of our residents