Team Manager

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join an outstanding, high‑achieving Children in Care service at Durham County Council, a service that is rightly proud of the difference it makes to the lives of children and their families every day. What is involved? At the heart of our work is a deep belief that relationships matter most. We are committed to delivering high‑quality, relationship‑based social work practice that truly understands the lived experience of children in our care. Our social workers are supported to spend meaningful time with children and families, building trust, creating stability, and delivering interventions that lead to lasting change. As a Team Manager you will lead and oversee one of our strong, established teams who are passionate about their role and proud of the support they provide. This is a workforce that cares deeply about children, about each other, and about getting it right. Responsibilities Driving excellent practice, ensuring it remains child‑focused, evidence‑informed, and impactful Championing children’s voices, making sure their experiences are central to every decision Strengthening work with families and networks, recognising their importance in achieving stability and permanence Embedding a culture of learning and reflection, where practitioners feel valued, challenged, and supported to grow Supporting your team to embrace innovation and improvement in a service that is not standing still but looking ahead You will be part of a supportive, experienced leadership team that values collaboration, authenticity, and courage. You will have the trust to lead your team, and the opportunity to make a genuine difference. It is also a particularly exciting time to join Durham. We are building on our strengths, investing in our workforce, and continuing to evolve our approach to best meet the needs of children in care from placement stability and permanence, to strengthening kinship and family networks, to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. This post is eligible for a recruitment/retention allowance of £2,500 over 12 months (pro‑rata for part‑time workers). Payments are made in equal instalments across a 12‑month period alongside your pay. The allowance is subject to tax, National Insurance and pension contributions. How can I get more information? For an informal conversation about the post please contact Natasha Gray, Team Manager View email address on click.appcast.io. You can also find out more about social work in County Durham on ourwebsite, and about our practice model “how we practice in Durham” in our Resource Library. What will I need? We are looking for someone who shares our values, passion, and ambition, a leader who: Believes in the power of great social work Is deeply committed to children and families Can inspire, support, and challenge others Brings energy, vision, and a relentless focus on improving outcomes In return, you will join a council that genuinely cares about its children, its communities, and its staff, and where you can feel proud of the work you lead every single day. Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure. Our commitment to safeguarding Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought inclusive of a check of the Children’s Barred List and Adults Barred List. Interviews Interviews are expected to be held in person on 7 August 2026 at Spectrum 8 Offices in Seaham. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated that they have a disability, are a looked‑after young person, care leaver or a veteran. Our offer to you We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. Equality, diversity, and inclusion We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process. How to apply Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support your application and for guidance on completing your application. If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email View email address on click.appcast.io. All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from View email address on click.appcast.io. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates. Company details Company: Durham County Council Salary: Grade 14 – £50,269 – £54,495 (Pay Award Pending) Location: Durham, Durham Sector: Education Job Role: Teaching Assistant #J-18808-Ljbffr