Team Manager

to be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England

to lead from the front and thrive in a fast-paced environment

understanding that visibility, accessibility and support are key to success

significant management experience within Children's Social Care

strong understanding of safeguarding, thresholds and risk

the ability to provide direction when complex decisions need to be made

to develop and inspire practitioners to be their very best

a track record of improving performance and driving change.

A passion for achieving outstanding outcomes for children and families.

Experience in Front Door, MASH or Assessment Services will be highly desirable

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert. If you believe you can succeed in this role, even if you don't meet all requirements, please still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

At Suffolk County Council, we aspire for every child to live their best life .

The Integrated Front Door is a fast-paced, multi-agency environment bringing together professionals from across the partnership, including social care, police, health and education, to ensure concerns are responded to quickly, consistently and effectively.

You’ll be part of a service that:

Supports early decision-making and earlier help

Works within a shared safeguarding framework and statutory duties

Promotes joined-up, high-quality responses for children and families

Plays a key role in Suffolk’s Families First approach.

This is an office-based role, five days per week. We believe that being together matters. Visible leadership supports better decision-making, stronger oversight, professional development and a culture where practitioners feel supported to do their best work.

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

Please contact Scott Wentworth or Milly Clark for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 296371 or 01473 260673 or emailing [email protected] or [email protected] .

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word) .

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template .

Describe a time when you led and developed a team to improve performance, practice or outcomes for children and families. What was your approach and what impact did it have?

Describe how you have supported practitioners to develop their skills, professional curiosity and confidence. What did you do and what impact did it have on practice?

Tell us about a complex safeguarding situation where you had responsibility for overseeing or making a significant decision. How did you assess risk, apply thresholds and ensure the child's needs remained central to decision-making?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page .

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at [email protected] or 03456 014412 . You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages . If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.

Closing date: 11.30pm 01 November 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Onsite

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days

membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits

performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase

training and encouragement to expand your knowledge

a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation

diverse and active staff networks

flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .