Assistant Team Manager - Children's Specialist Support Team

• Assistant_Team_Manager_-_Children_s_Specialist_Support_Team_-_JD_PS_Nov_25
• Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_Sept_2025

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Assistant Team Manager who is a registered Social Worker with Social Work England. The ideal candidate will have post-qualifying experience working with children and families in the statutory sector and will join our Children’s Specialist Support Team to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people.

To learn more about what it is like to work with us, take a look at our team's video.

If you would like an informal chat or a tour of the office prior to submitting your application, please contact helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk to arrange a suitable time.

About you...

You will have significant post-qualifying experience in statutory work with children and families. A strong understanding of assessment, planning and intervention is essential to ensure that needs-led services and interventions are provided and the right plans are in place for children and families.

You will be a natural leader with the ability to build effective relationships, demonstrate strong analytical skills and work collaboratively as part of a management team. You will have direct responsibility for Social Workers, including Newly Qualified Social Workers and Family Workers.

You will also be comfortable deputising for the Team Manager, managing performance, chairing meetings and supporting recruitment and retention efforts.

About the team…

The Children’s Specialist Support Team (CSST) is a highly skilled and supportive group of professionals dedicated to working with children who have disabilities and/or complex health needs. Our focus is on keeping children at the heart of everything we do. We deliver a range of services, including support for children with additional vulnerabilities, statutory responsibilities for disabled Children in Need, care packages and short breaks.

Our team is diverse, covering a broad range of areas, including social work, occupational therapy and short breaks, such as Larchwood, our respite unit. We embrace a "child-first" and social model approach, valuing partnership and collaboration as key to our success.

As a small and welcoming local authority, we pride ourselves on our inclusive culture and strong sense of community. We prioritise staff wellbeing and foster a supportive environment where everyone feels connected and valued.

Read more about our culture and what our staff say Children's social care culture | Bracknell Forest Council.

Key responsibilities…

• To support the Team Manager to manage the delivery and performance of the Children’s Specialist Support Team.
• To promote and support the council’s policies and procedures for safeguarding, ensuring children are at the centre of all decisions, and the social model of disability is respected in all work.
• To ensure arrangements for regular engagement/participation with children and young people, parents and carers by all staff within the service.
• To lead on strategy discussions, child in need meetings, professional meetings and other forums.
• To providing high quality, reflective supervision (in line with the supervision policy).

Our benefits…

• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.

Our values

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.

Interview date

Interviews will be held week commencing 15th December 2025.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Benigna Amago, 01344352378, Benigna. Amago@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.