Deputy Team Manager -First Response
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Job description
Fixed Term for 12 months, Between 22.5 - 37 hours per week - Must include Mondays
Location: Office based position.
The First Assessment Service (First Response) is looking for a talented, motivated and experienced qualified Social Worker for a Deputy Team Manager position within the First Response Team.
First Response is the initial point of contact for professionals and members of the public to make referrals for children and young people in need of help or protection. Based with Avon and Somerset Constabulary in the New Bridewell Police Station, the team provide referrals into specialist safeguarding services and Early Help, and offer information, advice and guidance to families and professionals about the right services to help children and their families.
First Response is a stable, well established and supportive team. You will work consistently alongside your deputy team manager colleagues, the team manager, business support and a small team of advisors who you have line management responsibility for.
As a deputy manager, you will be Social Work qualified with good practice experience. You will share responsibility with the team of deputy managers for decision making and correct pathway identification for all contacts coming through our "front door".
You will work closely with colleagues from other organisations in our "Mulit-Agency Safeguarding Hub", based in Bridewell Police station, and with internal colleagues across children's services.
You will have excellent risk assessment skills, a specific interest in short term / decision making work, and will be able to support a team of non-social work qualified First Response Advisors in their safeguarding enquiries.
You will advise on a range of referrals, from Early Help Services who can provide support to children, young people and families to safeguarding referrals needing urgent escalation to social work teams.
The work is pressurised and requires a capacity to absorb significant information and make threshold decisions including overseeing follow up enquiries when safeguarding referrals need to be progressed to a social work team.
The deputy managers are also expected to partake in our MASH arrangements as the social care representative.
The service has close contact with Early Help, universal services, social care and multi-agency partnerships to ensure children and families receive a service appropriate to their needs. You will need to possess:
- A social work qualification and SW England registration.
- A comprehensive knowledge of safeguarding practice and process
- Excellent decision making skills
- An ability to work effectively with multi agency partners, universal and specialist services
- Good team work skills and a capacity to work under pressure.
The current team are well supported by an experienced and stable management team and an effective working environment. The work is interesting and challenging but effective working relationships both within the team and the wider children's services ensure this is a post which provides satisfaction.
This post is an excellent opportunity for experienced Social Workers to take the next step into a managerial role and to learn about the tasks and responsibilities that come with this in a supportive environment, or for existing managers to bring their skill and experience to our team.
Please note this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check and you and your household will be required to undertake enhanced police vetting as the team is based with Avon and Somerset Constabulary in the New Bridewell Police Station. For Police Vetting to be carried out without discrimination to any applicants they must have resided in the UK for a continuous period of 3 years minimum and have a 3 year minimum checkable history immediately prior to the date of their application. You must be living in the UK free of restrictions at the time of application or must be entitled to do so. Successful vetting will be a condition of any offer of employment.
Why Bristol City Council?
At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high profile organisation.
Join us and you'll receive a generous rewards package including flexible working, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition you'll be working in a supportive environment where you'll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.
How do I apply?
If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.
To be shortlisted for interview you'll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.
For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.
For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.
If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.
We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career. Interviews will be held w/c 6th January 2025.
If you would like further information or an informal discussion please contact James McFeat, Service Manager: james.mcfeat@bristol.gov.uk
At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.