Team Manager - Children in Care

Team Manager – Children in Care (Bradford)

• Position: Team Manager (Children in Care)

• Partner Agency: Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency

• Client: Bradford Children and Families Trust

• Salary: PO6 (SCP 35-38), £51,356 - £54,495 per annum + £3,000 annual retention payment

• Hours: Permanent, 37 hours per week

• Location: Bradford (Vibrant, culturally diverse, and well-connected)

• Closing Date: 2nd August 2026

Introduction

At Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency, we believe in connecting extraordinary leaders with roles where they can make a lasting impact. We are incredibly proud to partner with Bradford Children and Families Trust to find an inspiring, resilient, and dedicated Team Manager for their Children in Care service.

If you are passionate about driving permanency, leading with empathy, and shaping the future of young lives, this is your moment. Bradford is a city on the move, and its Children and Families Trust is rapidly evolving—with recent Ofsted progress exceeding expectations ahead of schedule. By joining them, you aren't just taking a job; you are becoming a cornerstone of positive change in a highly supportive, restorative, and relational environment.

About the Role

As a Team Manager, you will lead from the front. Managing a dedicated team consisting of 6 Social Workers of varying experience levels, a Practice Supervisor, and a Community Resource Worker, your focus will be on driving positive, permanent outcomes for children in care.

Your leadership style will be nurturing yet robust, ensuring your team stays energized, focused, and backed by the resources they need to excel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Inspiring Leadership: Provide reflective case and personal supervision, supporting the professional progression of your team while proactively managing performance.

• Quality Assurance & Practice: Monitor performance through audit activities, group supervision, and quality assurance to ensure the highest standards of care.

• Collaborative Working: Chair multi-agency meetings, make decisions aligned with strict safeguarding thresholds, and collaborate with partner agencies and stakeholders.

• Practice Development: Implement restorative, relationship-based practices that place children and young people at the absolute heart of every decision.

What You Will Need to Succeed

We are looking for a qualified professional who matches Bradford's passion for outstanding child-centered practice.

• Qualifications: DipSW or equivalent qualification with active Social Work England registration.

• Experience: Minimum of 4 years post-qualifying experience in social work, with proven supervisory and/or management experience.

• Expertise: Deep understanding of statutory frameworks governing children in care and safeguarding thresholds.

• Interpersonal Skills: Outstanding leadership capabilities with the ability to build trust and mutual respect with children, families, colleagues, and external partners.

• Drive: A positive attitude toward change, a passion for developing others, and a commitment to relational practice.

What’s in it for You?

Bradford Children and Families Trust truly values its people, offering a comprehensive package designed to support your career progression, financial stability, and personal wellbeing:

• Attractive Retention Bonus: An additional £3,000 annual retention payment (paid in 12 monthly instalments).

• Generous Leave: 31 days of annual leave, rising to 34 days with continuous service (plus bank holidays).

• Financial Security: Excellent Local Government Pension Scheme and a structured pay progression scale.

• Work-Life Balance: Supportive carer, parental, enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave policies.

• Health & Wellbeing: Access to Occupational Health, confidential counseling, and active staff networks.

• Perks: Blue Light Card discounts for cost-of-living support.

• Professional Growth: Manageable workloads, extensive training, and a clear path for career development.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All preferred candidates will undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (including the Children’s barred list) and will be required to disclose relevant criminal history prior to interview.