Locum Safeguarding Team Manager
Romford, Greater London
Team Manager – Leaving Care
Brief Job Overview
We are recruiting an experienced Team Manager to lead the Leaving Care Service at the London Borough of Havering. This locum position, offered on a three-month contract, focuses on supporting young people as they transition from care to independent living. You’ll manage a skilled team of social workers and personal advisers, ensuring that care leavers receive the guidance, stability, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the Leaving Care Team, providing supervision, direction, and professional support to staff.
- Oversee the delivery of high-quality pathway planning and support for young people aged 16–25 leaving care.
- Ensure all statutory responsibilities are met in accordance with the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and local authority procedures.
- Monitor caseloads, allocate work, and maintain oversight of risk management and safeguarding practices.
- Chair team meetings, case discussions, and contribute to multi-agency reviews and planning processes.
- Promote independence, education, employment, and wellbeing outcomes for care leavers through effective partnership working.
- Manage performance indicators, quality assurance, and compliance with Ofsted and corporate standards.
- Contribute to service improvement and workforce development initiatives.
About You
You are an experienced social work leader with a passion for supporting care-experienced young people. You bring a balanced approach to leadership — combining empathy and accountability — to deliver a consistent, high-quality service. You’re confident managing complex cases, supervising staff, and working collaboratively across agencies to secure the best outcomes.
Requirements
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- Substantial post-qualified experience in children’s services, ideally within Leaving Care, Looked After Children (LAC), or Aftercare teams.
- Proven experience managing or supervising a team in a statutory social work setting.
- In-depth understanding of the Children Act 1989, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, and related guidance.
- Strong communication, leadership, and case management skills.
- Ability to manage priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Contract & Salary
- Job Type: Locum
- Contract Length: 3 months
- Location: London Borough of Havering
- Team: Leaving Care
- Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
- Working Hours: Full-time
How to Apply
If you are an experienced Social Work Team Manager with a strong background in Leaving Care or Looked After Children services, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply using the form on the page.