Job Introduction
We’re looking for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Deputy Team Manager to join our Fostering Service within Children’s Social Care.
You’ll report to the Fostering Operations Manager alongside another Deputy Team manager, managing Senior Practitioners, Social Workers and Social Work Assistants to fulfil Milton Keynes City Council’s statutory requirements under the Children Act 1989, Fostering Regulations 2011 and National Minimum Standards 2011.
This team covers mainstream fostering, kinship and special guardianship and the team you’ll manage focuses on the support and supervision of foster carers, kinship carers and special guardians.
Main Responsibility
- Support the Fostering Operations Manager to ensure that services are delivered in line with legal requirements and ensure that all children placed with carers are safeguarded and their well-being is promoted.
- Assist in the recruitment, retention and support of foster carers, and the timely completion of assessments.
- Oversee the placement Duty system.
- Work in partnership with key agencies, ensuring collaboration and information sharing to ensure good outcomes for children.
- Support the Fostering Operations Manager with the development of Fostering strategies and policies and completion of household reviews.
- Manage the team, supervising social work staff and allocating cases.
- Contribute to monitoring budget decisions.
- Undertake staff performance tasks as directed by the Fostering Operations Manager to ensure staff performance conforms to the required professional and performance standards.
The Ideal Candidate
- Qualified Social Worker with a valid Social Work England registration, eligible to work in the UK and hold a UK driving licence.
- Minimum of 4 years post qualification experience, and post qualification award in subjects related to child or family work.
- Experience of case management practice within the Fostering Service and supervisory experience of Social Workers, Social Work Assistants to improve outcomes.
- Self-motivated and able to analyse highly complex information, summarise and write/record relevant information clearly and concisely so that it is easily understood.
- Able to make difficult decisions and support staff in complex work.
- Able to lead and motivate staff to deliver changes in and improve practice.
- Good interpersonal, organisational and information management skills
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes City Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 18.8%.
- 28 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 32 days after 5 years.
- Holiday Purchase Scheme.
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Health Cashplan.
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- Blue Light Card - Employees working within Social Care can qualify for a range of discounts from national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more!
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles).
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs).
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements.
- Childcare Subsidy.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, welcoming, and expanding place, built on smart ideas with even bigger plans for the future. We have world class attractions, beautiful open spaces, and a great standard of living.
Milton Keynes City Council is one of the largest employers in the region, making a difference every day for local people. We’re responsible for all local government services in MK including education, housing, highways, and social services - around 240 services in all.
Our values are to be dedicated, respectful, and collaborative. If this sounds like you, join us for a stimulating and fulfilling career measured on results, and a rewarding work-life balance.
