Assistant Team Manager - Children's Assessment Service

Assistant Team Manager – Children's Assessment Service (Oxford)

In our Early Help, Assessment and Prevention Directorate, we are committed to delivering lasting change, by helping the children, young people, and families of Oxfordshire to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach.

• Line manage Social Workers (including NQSWs, Senior Practitioners) and Family Help Practitioners.
• Manage child & family assessments and strategy discussions/Section 47 Investigations for newly referred children or those not currently open to a statutory social work team.
• Supervise newly qualified social workers supporting and assessing them to meet the requirements of the Council's ASYE programme.
• Ensure that the duty and assessment function in the team is managed safely and delivers outcomes effectively and in a timely way.
• Support other services within the Front Door and undertake a range of tasks in line with the needs of the Service.
• Work flexible hours, which may include some work outside normal office hours on occasion.

You are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children, young people, and families in need of help and protection. You are free‑thinking, brave, supportive and energised, and you don’t accept the norm if it can be done better. You embody our values: always learning, being kind and caring, equality and integrity, taking responsibility and daring to do it differently.

• Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Working knowledge of the Family Safeguarding Model and Motivational Interviewing.
• Considerable direct experience of frontline safeguarding social work, assessment working at pace and developing safe plans and interventions.
• Direct experience of supervising student social workers, family support staff, and/or social workers.

• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
• Flexible working culture.
• Technology to support agile working where role permits.
• Member of the local government contributory pension scheme, employer contribution up to 19.9%.
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 access.
• Range of family‑friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle‑to‑work scheme, electric car scheme, staff discounts.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome applicants for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have staff network groups providing peer support, education and safe spaces.

Disability confident employer – guaranteed interview for disabled applicants meeting essential criteria.

Care leaver guarantee – interview for care leavers who have completed further education or apprenticeships.

Armed Forces transition – interview for those demonstrating essential criteria within three years of leaving the service.

Safeguarding – we are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children, young people and adults.

Flexible working – open to flexi‑time, part‑time, job sharing, nine‑day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on role requirements.

Email:
Laura.watson

Please refer to the job description linked below for a full list of selection criteria. We would love to hear all about your relevant experience and achievements in your application.