Team Manager

Job description

Company: Polaris Children's Services
Location: Cyprus
Contract Type: Full time, permanent
Closing Date:
Salary: £42,306.04 plus 15% on-call allowance
Specific Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Polaris Children’s Services is part of the Polaris Community of companies and delivers statutory and non-statutory social care services the UK and to military communities overseas.

Since 2014 we have provided social work services to the Ministry of Defence in Germany and in October 2019 expanded our overseas work with the British military and associated civilian personnel and their families across Europe, Canada, Kenya, Belize and the United States of America and Saudi Arabia.

From 1st July 2020 we expanded our services to include the British Forces Social Work Service in Cyprus and the South Atlantic Islands.

While all under the management of Polaris Children’s Services we are proud to have developed our own BFSWS brand with specific identities for each service within our community of military social work services.

An opportunity has arisen in the Polaris Children Services, British Forces Social Work team in Cyprus for a full time Team Manager.

Polaris Children’s Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children’s Services. Polaris Children’s Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Job Duties

• Deputise for the head of service in their absence, including attending meetings, chairing team meetings and Foster Carer support groups
  
• Manage, develop and provide leadership to a multi-disciplinary team in line with regional objectives
  
• Take a lead in ensuring that the Social Work activities of the team meet relevant legislative requirements
  
• Supervision responsibilities to staff on a monthly basis
  
• Ensure and monitor compliance in relation to Care Plans, Placement Agreements, Foster Carer Reviews, DBS checks (or equivalent) and medicals are up to date and on file and take appropriate action where shortfalls are identified.
  
• Ensure Meetings are completed in accordance with Company procedure
  
• Take a lead role in a project or initiative
  
• Chair Strategy meetings and other meetings as required for the operation of the service
  
• Attend and prepare for a range of local meetings which may include ENMASO meetings, safeguarding meetings, station meetings and other meetings as required by Command. Meetings may be in person or held virtually.
  
• Attend Local Partnership Board Meetings
  
• Ensure the support of BFSWS in the delivery of Safeguarding Training levels 2 and 3 to partners and stakeholders
  
• Support the management with day to day operations of the social work service
  
• The post holder will be expected to undertake training and development deemed necessary for the pursuance of the post
  
• The post holder will be expected to ensure to comply with Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure in all employment practices
  
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the no smoking policy in place and ensure that Health and Safety is observed in the course of employment
• Ensuring compliance with safeguarding procedures, throughout all work within the Company, keeping the Regional Manager/ Director/ equivalent informed of work in progress and inform the Regional Manager/ Director/ equivalent immediately of any child protection matter or serious complaint.
  

Job Requirements

• Understanding and experience of working within a military environment is desirable
  
• Will require a Professional Social Work qualification (DIP SW, CQSW, CSS) or other Social Work England or equivalent.
  
• To have successfully completed Post Qualifying Award in Social Work
  
• 4 years’ experience within the role post qualification
  
• Relevant training and experience in safeguarding
  
• Experience in a wide range of aspects of the social work role
  
• 2 years management experience (desirable)
  
• Computer literacy skills
  
• Experience of report writing to a high level
  
• A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures
  
• The willingness and ability to travel extensively across Cyprus and the UK (including occasional nights away)
  
• Ability to work flexibly, including some weekends and evenings
  
• Full driving licence for manual cars
  
• Participate in the Out of Hours duty rota as required.
  
• The successful candidate if recruited from the UK will be supported to attain the legal right to reside and work in Cyprus. Other benefits such as accommodation, education, health support and moving costs is negotiated and confirmed during on boarding process.
  
• If recruited within Cyprus it is expected you already have the right to residence (MEU1 or MEU3) and work permits already in hand.
  
  

Job Benefits

• 24 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays as normally observed in Cyprus,
• Life Insurance x 2,
• Employee Discount Scheme