Locum Safeguarding Team Manager

Team Manager – Children’s Services

Location: London Borough of Sutton

Contract Type: Locum / Temporary

Duration: 3 months

Salary: £negotiable

Start Date: ASAP

About the Role

The London Borough of Sutton is seeking an experienced and dynamic Team Manager to join our Children’s Services on a 3-month interim contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident and capable leader to guide and support a dedicated team of social workers in delivering high-quality, child-centred practice across the borough.

As a Team Manager, you will be responsible for the operational management, supervision, and performance of your team, ensuring that statutory responsibilities are met and that children and families receive timely, effective, and proportionate interventions. You will play a key role in shaping service delivery, embedding best practice, and supporting continuous improvement across the service.

Main Responsibilities

 
• Provide strong, visible leadership to a team of social workers and practitioners, promoting high standards of practice and professional development.
   

• Ensure the team delivers timely and effective assessments, plans, and interventions in line with statutory and local authority requirements.
   

• Oversee complex cases, providing clear direction, professional oversight, and management of risk.
   

• Promote a culture of reflection, learning, and continuous improvement through supervision and case audits.
   

• Monitor team performance, ensuring compliance with quality standards, timescales, and performance targets.
   

• Work collaboratively with partner agencies and senior management to deliver integrated, multi-agency responses to children’s needs.
   

• Support service development initiatives and contribute to policy and practice improvement.
   

• Ensure the child’s voice and lived experience remain central to all assessments and planning decisions.

Requirements

 
• Essential qualification: Degree in Social Work (DipSW, CQSW, CSS, or equivalent).
   

• Registration: Registered with Social Work England.
   

• Substantial post-qualifying experience within children’s social care, including management or supervisory experience.
   

• Strong understanding of safeguarding, statutory frameworks, and social work best practice.
   

• Proven ability to manage, motivate, and develop a team within a fast-paced environment.
   

• Excellent analytical, communication, and organisational skills.
   

• Commitment to relationship-based, strengths-focused, and outcome-driven practice.

Why Join?

At the London Borough of Sutton, we are proud of our commitment to supporting children, young people, and families through high-quality social work practice. You’ll join a forward-thinking authority that values collaboration, professional growth, and reflective supervision. This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a key leadership role and make a tangible impact on service delivery and outcomes for children and families.

Interested? Apply today to join the London Borough of Sutton as a Team Manager and play a vital role in shaping the future of children’s social care across the borough.