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We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Team Manager to lead a Child Protection social work team in Plymouth. This is an opportunity to play a key role in improving outcomes for children and families, ensuring that safeguarding practice is effective, consistent and focused on the child’s needs.

You will provide strong professional leadership to a team of qualified social workers, offering supervision, guidance and support in complex and high-risk cases. You will oversee the quality of assessments, plans and interventions, ensuring that work is completed in line with statutory requirements, relevant legislation and professional standards. The role will involve monitoring performance, managing workloads and promoting timely, purposeful decision-making.

Working collaboratively with families and partner agencies, you will contribute to child protection planning, legal processes and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. You will champion strengths-based, relationship-focused practice while ensuring that risks are identified, responded to and escalated appropriately. You will also support the development of staff through reflective supervision, coaching, performance management and continuing professional development.

The successful candidate will hold a recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England. You will have substantial post-qualification experience in children’s social care, including child protection, court work and managing complex safeguarding situations. Previous experience of supervising or managing social work professionals is essential, together with a sound understanding of statutory frameworks, assessment models and effective quality assurance.

You will be a confident communicator and skilled decision-maker, able to build positive relationships with children, families, colleagues and partner organisations. A calm, organised and solution-focused approach is essential, as is the ability to provide visible leadership in a demanding environment. You must be committed to anti-discriminatory practice, participation and achieving the best possible outcomes for children.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to safeguarding services in Plymouth while supporting a committed team to deliver high-quality, child-centred practice.