Team Manager

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Based at one of the locations below – Hybrid working
  • Beacon House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX
  • Riverside, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ
  • Waterloo Centre, Leiston, IP16 4HE
  • Haverhill House, Haverhill, CB9 9HB
  • Summit House, Felixstowe, IP11 2JB
• Salary: £48,163 - £53,788 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Team Manager in our Family Help service, you will help lead high-quality, relationship-based support for children, young people and families across Suffolk. You will be part of a service that is focused on early intervention, prevention, safeguarding and creating sustainable change for families.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Posts:

• 5 x Permanent – Based at one of the following locations:
  Beacon House, Ipswich IP1 2BX
  Riverside, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ
  Waterloo Centre, Leiston IP16 4HE
  Haverhill House, Haverhill CB9 9HB
• 1 x Fixed Term (Maternity Cover) - Summit House, Felixstowe, IP11 2JB
  

Please specify in your application the post/s and location/s you are applying for.

Salary within Grade 7 will be determined by qualification level. Social Work Qualified (SWQ) candidates will commence at SCP 30, while Alternatively Qualified (AQ) candidates will commence at SCP 27, the entry point of Grade 7.

Your role and responsibilities

As a team manager, you are co-responsible for your Family Help team and will work alongside another Team Manager. You will form a collaborative leadership team, sharing responsibility for supporting staff, overseeing practice and delivering high-quality services for children, young people and families. Together, you'll help create a positive team culture, champion excellent practice and drive the best possible outcomes for Suffolk families.

The Family Help Teams are responsible for all children in their area on Child Protection Plans, Child in Need Plans and subject to Targeted Early Help.

In this role, you will:

• lead, motivate and support a team to deliver effective, strengths-based practice
• manage service delivery, performance, resources and day-to-day decision making
• promote a learning culture through supervision, reflection and practice development
• use information, feedback and data to improve outcomes for children, young people and families
• work collaboratively across professional disciplines to deliver joined-up support
• take the lead for audit of casework, ensuring case recording is of high quality and in timescale
• deal with complaints, seeking early resolution where possible
• develop strategic planning and project management.

You will need

We’re looking for someone who can bring a suitable professional qualification at level 6, or equivalent experience at a seasoned professional level in a relevant area of work. We would particularly welcome applications from qualified and experienced social workers and managers.

We’re looking for someone who:

• is passionate about making a positive difference for children, young people and families in Suffolk
• has strong leadership skills and the ability to develop, support and motivate staff
• understands children’s services, safeguarding, assessment, risk and need
• can work confidently with colleagues and partners across a range of professional disciplines
• communicates clearly and can influence, challenge and support others constructively
• can manage pressure, competing priorities and change
• is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion
• shares our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults
  

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet every criteria, we’d still encourage you to apply.

The team

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

Our Family Help teams are multi-disciplinary, bringing together social workers and practitioners to provide early help, safeguarding and support to children and families.

We focus on:

• Early intervention and prevention
• Strengths-based, relationship-led practice
• Multi-agency working to deliver joined-up support
• Creating sustainable change for families
  

You will be joining a supportive and collaborative team that values learning, development and continuous improvement.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve and welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation.

For more information

For an informal conversation about this role, please contact:

• Ipswich and Felixstowe: Steve Blaney by email at: [email protected] or by calling 01502 674649.
• Lowestoft and Leiston: Nathalie Rich by email at: [email protected] or by calling 01473 263515.
• Bury St Edmunds: Charnine De'Ath by email at: [email protected] or by calling 01728 652379.
  
  

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP)

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.

1. Describe a time when you successfully led, motivated and developed a team to improve performance or achieve better outcomes. What was your approach, how did you support staff, and what was the result?
2. Describe a time when you used audits, performance information, feedback or data to identify an area for improvement. What actions did you take and what impact did this have on practice, performance or outcomes?
3. Family Help is a dynamic service that continues to evolve. Tell us about a time when you led or supported a significant change within a team or service. How did you engage others, manage resistance and ensure successful implementation?

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 are invited to the next stage, you will have another chance to request adjustments.

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 25 August 2026.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

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 checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts #LI-Hyrbrid