C&YP Social Work Manager – Care Leavers Team

Contract: Permanent
Location: Hereford
Hours: 22.5 hours – 3 days per week
Salary: 11HC £51,356 - £55,915 (pro rata) (plus market supplement of £5,000 (pro rata) per year)
Welcome payment: £10,000 (pro rata)
Relocation package of up to £10,000 available

Closing date: 8 January 2026

Introduction

Our Care Leavers service is made up of three teams.  Each Team comprises of a Team Manager and Personal Advisors.

We are proud of our restorative approach to social work - a way of working that is firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.

Curious about what it’s really like to work with us?

Want to know what it really feels like to work with our passionate and dedicated Social Work teams? This short video gives you a glimpse into the heart of our service and shows why Herefordshire Council could be the perfect place for your next career move.

https://youtu.be/FSjU-FV5uic

The Role

We are looking for a Team Manager to help us on our improvement journey. Come and join us on our Restorative Journey of Improvement to gain the best for children and families in Herefordshire. We have a strong coproduction ethos in the service helping children feel a sense of belonging, security and supporting them to thrive and achieve.

Leading our Care Leavers teams, you will thrive bringing your knowledge and experience to this supportive team, to make a difference. You will work closely with colleagues from multiple professions to ensure that the voice of the child is always heard. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve and protect the children and young people within it.

You will be fully qualified (DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent), with significant post qualification social work experience and a recognised social work qualification, plus evidence of CPD and HCPC registration.

Your proven record of effective service delivery will include managing staff and budgets, while implementing service and quality improvement methods successfully in pursuit of challenging performance expectations.

Herefordshire is on a journey, and we would like you to be part of our next chapter. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve the lives of children and young people across our communities.

To arrange an informal discussion, or ask any questions about the role, please contact

[email protected]

About You

• Passionate about improving outcomes for care-experienced young people, ensuring they receive high-quality support as they transition toward independence.
• Experienced in analysing complex histories and needs, using clear planning and professional judgment to develop robust pathway plans that empower young people.
• Committed to working collaboratively with young people, personal advisers, housing providers, education/employment partners, and wider agencies to ensure coordinated, holistic support.
• Resilient, reflective, and confident in managing risk, navigating challenging situations, and making balanced, child-centred decisions that prioritise safety and long-term wellbeing.
• Able to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment fostering a supportive team culture focused on learning, development, and continuous improvement in care leavers’ services.
• Registered with Social Work England and hold a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW)

We Offer

A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Team Manager starting salary of 11HC £51,356- £55,915 (pro rata) (plus market supplement of £5,000 per year)
• Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000
• Welcome payment £10,000 for experienced social workers joining our children’s teams.
• Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
• Professional development: protected time and budget to support social workers develop themselves and their careers.
• Career progression: clear pathways to progress
• Generous Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum
• Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Payment of professional membership fees
• Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

Why Choose Us?

Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community.

Our priority is clear: to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families, and partners to make a lasting difference.

It’s an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner, Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development, and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care.

If you’re committed to helping children and young people thrive, come and join the journey in Herefordshire - where your work truly matters.

Herefordshire Council Plan

The Council plan sets out how we will make our contribution to achieving a better and more successful Herefordshire, please see the link below to find out more:

Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-2028

Reasonable Adjustments

Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: [email protected].

If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, our Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.

Creating an inclusive workplace

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, collectives of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and offer support and community. They also play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs.

For more information on our Employee Network Groups please view our dedicated recruitment website: www.spiritofherefordshire.com.

Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.

We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.

How to apply

To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role.

Be sure to include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile! If you are successfully shortlisted, the C&YP Recruitment Team will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment. They will confirm the date, time and location of your interview, so please keep an eye on your email inbox - check your spam/ junk folder too.

Good luck, we’re looking forward to meeting you!

Please note: the council is currently unable to offer overseas visa sponsorship for Social Worker roles in Children & Young People. Overseas prospective candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK should not apply for these roles. We appreciate your interest in Herefordshire Council and would encourage you to consider other opportunities with us that may be open to sponsorship. A full list of current vacancies can be found here: https://spiritofherefordshire.com/children-young-people/jobs/