Team Manager - Family Support and Safeguarding

Job Introduction

About Us 

We’re shaping the future of children’s social care in Oxfordshire. Every day, our team helps families thrive through strong relationships, restorative practice, and innovative thinking. Rated “good” by Ofsted and driven to do even better, we’re a financially stable authority investing in real change through our Family Solutions Plus model. Here, you’ll be supported, challenged, and empowered to make a difference—because together, we’re creating lasting change.

Are you in?

About the Role

Join our dedicated team at OCC as a Team Manager!

You will play a crucial role in ensuring that children, young people and families in need of help and protection receive timely, high quality assessments and support. Your efforts will help identify and meet their needs, reduce risks and safeguard their wellbeing.

Key responsibilities include:

Team Management: Lead a team to deliver exceptional services to vulnerable children and families.

Service Development: Support the Service Manager in the continual development, delivery and review of services to maximise life chances and implement permanency plans for children.

Practice Model: Ensure adherence to Oxfordshire's Family Safeguarding Plus practice model, including effective group supervision and timely progression of children's plans.

Policy Compliance: Ensure all relevant County policies and procedures are followed, and concerns are raised appropriately. 

Budget Management: Oversee the effective management of the team's budget.

About you

You’re free-thinking and brave, and that sets you apart. You’ll be supportive and energised; you don’t accept the norm if it can be done better - finding answers through exploration and courage. Just as importantly, you will embody our values in everything you do.

Fundamentally, you’ll be passionate about delivering stand-out public services, because we’re here to make every moment the best it can be for the residents of Oxfordshire. 

This is an opportunity for a proactive and passionate leader to join our team and develop our service. You will be a competent and dedicated manager who has insight and experience of the needs of care leavers.  

Does this sound like you? If so, we look forward to receiving your application!

To apply, you will need:

Social Work Qualification and registration with Social Work England

Ability to form positive working relationships with children, families and a range of colleagues across agencies

Ability to engage children, young people families who are resistant to intervention 

Please refer to the job description attached for a full list of essential criteria. 

Rewards & Benefits

It really is true that every single job role here contributes to bettering the lives of the people in our county - we want to do this for our employees too. We are proud of our strong flexible working culture, including the opportunity for flexibility on working hours and the use of technology to support agile working. We offer some of the best learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

We have a generous holiday allowance which rises as you remain in employment with us up to 33 days. 

Option to buy additional holiday. 

Access to a Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions of up to 19.9% of your salary. 

A range of local and national retail discounts 

A host of enhanced family friendly policies including carers leave and paid time off for volunteering.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted 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 a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education, and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. 

We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. We expect all employees, workers, and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk