Team Manager – Children Looked After & Leaving Care (x2 Vacancies)
London Borough of Sutton
Salary: £49,056 – £57,402 + Retention Bonus
36 hours | Full Time | Hybrid (minimum 3 days in the office)
ASAP start required
We are recruiting two full-time Team Managers within the Children Looked After (CLA) and Leaving Care (LC) Service at the London Borough of Sutton. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly supportive, child-focused service operating a pod model, with strong leadership and a hands-on approach to supporting young people.
Due to recent internal promotions, previous Team Manager experience is essential, alongside significant Leaving Care experience. You will join a structure with two established Service Managers, as well as a team committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for children and young people.
The team is warm, collaborative, and highly engaged — they run regular events for children and young people, maintain strong long-term relationships, and ensure managers are visible and actively involved in practice.
Key Benefits
Recruitment & Retention Package:
£1,000 in your first first month
£1,000 after 12 months
£2,000 after 24 months
£3,000 after 3 years
£3,000 annually thereafter
SWE registration reimbursement
Up to 5 additional annual leave days (after 5 years of service)
28 days annual leave + bank holidays
13% pension scheme
On-site facilities including a gym
Hybrid working: 3 days per week in the office (visits can count as office days)
Face-to-face pod meetings and managers’ meetingsAbout the Role As a Team Manager, you will lead high-quality practice across CLA and Leaving Care, ensuring strong corporate parenting and effective support for young people transitioning to adulthood. Key responsibilities include:
Leading and developing a multidisciplinary pod to deliver effective, child-centred intervention.
Overseeing assessments, care planning, pathway planning, and reviews.
Ensuring compliance with legislation, statutory guidance, and internal practice frameworks.
Chairing meetings and promoting strong multi-agency collaboration.
Providing reflective supervision, quality assurance oversight, and professional leadership.
Supporting practitioners to make robust, evidence-based decisions in complex and emotionally challenging situations.You will help drive performance, model best practice, and cultivate a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement.
Requirements
Registration with Social Work England
Degree in Social Work (or equivalent)
Essential: previous Team Manager experience
Essential: significant Leaving Care experience
Strong leadership and staff development skills
Advanced knowledge of legislation and statutory responsibilities
Ability to manage complex cases and balance risk, need, and strengths
Strong communication and multi-agency partnership skillsContact Phil at Ackerman Pierce on (phone number removed) or (url removed)