Assistant Team Manager - Permanence

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About the role

We are seeking a full-time Assistant Team Manager to join our Permanence Team. You will be an experienced, qualified social worker with a passion for supporting children in care and helping them achieve stability and long-term security.

In this role, you will provide leadership and management support to the team, working alongside the Team Manager to ensure high-quality practice and effective supervision. You will:

• supervise and appraise social workers and family workers
• provide oversight of complex casework and offer guidance on care planning
• chair meetings and contribute to decision-making that promotes the best outcomes for children
• support practice development within the team, acting as a role model and mentor for colleagues
• maintain a focus on securing permanent homes for children and ensuring stability in placements

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our committed Permanence Team, where we work with children from the conclusion of care proceedings through their time in care, building lasting relationships and helping them reach their full potential. We work closely with fostering services, commissioning teams, the Virtual School, and the Children in Care Health Team to ensure every child has the support they need to thrive.

You will bring proven experience in supervision, mentoring, and leading others, along with a track record of delivering excellent outcomes in complex children's social care cases. A collaborative approach, strong communication skills, and the ability to work in partnership with professionals and families are essential.

At Dorset Council, you'll be part of a service that has been recognised for its commitment to children, families, and care leavers, with Ofsted rating us 'Outstanding'. You'll benefit from supportive leadership, regular supervision, access to resources, and opportunities to develop your career in a team where your skills and passion will be valued.

Further Information

For an informal conversation or if you have any questions please contact Sonia Vitale-Richardson, [email protected]

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

See our adult safeguarding policy.

You must be a qualified, registered social worker with experience of being at least a level 3 social worker.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you're passionate about making a difference, we'd love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.