Group Manager - Family & Friends Team

ABOUT US Here at West Sussex County Council we are ambitious for our children and our workforce. We are committed to improving our services for the children and families in West Sussex we support. You will join us as at a key time on our improvement journey. The work we have started includes establishing a new and experienced leadership team driving forward our 'Children First' improvement plan. We don't underestimate the work that still needs to be done and the challenge ahead. That's why we need professionals, like you, who really want to be part of the positive change that is happening. Be part of an ambitious improvement plan and make a significant difference to children and families in West Sussex. There's never been a more rewarding time to join. JOB DETAILS Salary: £50,379 - £53,356 Contract: Permanent, full-time (The option for this to be a job-share may be considered) Location: Horsham We are recruiting for a Group Manager to develop and lead the new West Sussex Family and Friends Team within our Fostering and Adoption Service. This new team brings together assessments and support for Family and Friend carers and it will be your responsibility for ensuring the high-quality delivery for both pre- and post order. You will also have the responsibility for ensuring that support needs assessments and plans to support families are of a high quality and are both realistic and achievable. As the Group Manager for the Family and Friends Team you need to have the knowledge and understanding of developmental trauma to ensure robust assessments of connected persons or relative foster carers under temporary approval and Special Guardianship carers for court. You will also need experience of working in a front-line child protection team and within the Court arena. You will have excellent risk and decision-making skills regarding long-term outcomes for children. You will join a very supportive management team within the Fostering and Adoption Service and be managing experienced and enthusiastic staff. This Group Manager role covers a broad range of activities across the whole of children's social care and will take a leading role for policy and practice development for these services. Our practice framework is based on Signs of Safety underpinned by knowledge of attachment and the impact of developmental trauma on children and families, with all staff receiving extensive training and support to implement these approaches. We're looking for a social work manager who is solution focused, resourceful, forward thinking and innovative to lead and develop this exciting new team. BENEFITS We offer regular group supervision, access to research communities including Research in Practice, flexible and mobile working opportunities, a minimum of 5 days CPD per year and access to excellent further learning and development opportunities. To find out what Rewards and Benefits we offer you as a West Sussex County Council employee, please click here . This post is eligible for our Recruitment & Retention Scheme which includes a one-off payment of 20% of your basic annual salary after joining, free parking or payment for parking and the option of an interest free loan of up to £10,000. Relocation support may be available. For further information, contact . HOW TO APPLY For an informal conversation or further information regarding the role, please contact Sarah Foster (Service Lead, Fostering and Adoption) at or on 0330 222 3797 or 07590 600309. To apply, upload your CV and complete the application explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role by clicking on 'apply for job' below. Please ensure any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the role profile below as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again. For further information about Children's Social Care at West Sussex and to see our staff talk about what it's like to work with us, please see our site www.westsussex.gov.uk/be-my-voice. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, Social Work England registration, 5 years referencing & health check. You must be able to travel throughout the county including to locations that are not always accessible by public transport.