Join us in making childhoods safer, stronger and full of possibility

St Helens Borough Council

In St Helens, children are at the heart of everything we do.
Not as a statement—but as a daily commitment in how we listen, respond and act.

Situated in the North West, close to Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire, we are a Council on a journey—ambitious for our children, proud of our communities and deeply invested in the people who work here. Our progress comes from our workforce: skilled, cared for, and given the space to do what matters most—build meaningful relationships with children and families.

Make a difference where it matters most – become a Team Manager

Following our last Ofsted ‘Good’ judgement, we are continuing to strengthen and grow. We are looking for a Team Manager in our Family Help and Protection Service who shares our belief that every child deserves safety, stability and the chance to thrive.

This is more than a management role.
It is an opportunity to lead a team that walks alongside families during some of their most challenging moments—and helps change outcomes for children.

About the service and team

Our Family Help and Protection Service works with children who need us most—those subject to child in need plans, child protection plans and care proceedings. Once assessment is complete, your team supports children and families to make and sustain meaningful change.

You will lead a stable, experienced team including:

• 1 Assistant Team Manager
• 6 Social Workers
• 1 Social Work Assistant

This is a well-established team with strong foundations, and you will benefit from a comprehensive handover and ongoing peer support. You’ll also be part of a wider, collaborative management group of 14 Managers who work closely together—sharing thinking, challenge and support.

What kind of leader we’re looking for

We are looking for someone who:

• Keeps children’s voices, lived experiences and outcomes at the centre of every decision
• Leads with empathy, curiosity and reflective practice
• Creates a culture where social workers feel safe, supported and inspired to do their best work
• Is committed to practice excellence and continuous improvement

You will be supported to focus on quality over process, enabling social workers to build strong, purposeful relationships with families.

What you’ll need

• A recognised Social Work qualification
• Registration with Social Work England
• At least 3 years post-qualifying experience, including 2 years working with children and families
• Experience of supervision and supporting professional development

Why join St Helens?

Because here, you won’t just manage services—you will shape children’s futures.

We offer:

• A strong culture of supportive supervision and visible leadership
• Opportunities to influence practice development and service improvement
• Continuous professional development and career progression pathways
• A hybrid working model that supports balance, connection and reflection
• A workforce that values kindness, collaboration and shared purpose

Our journey

We are proud to be a ‘Good’ authority, but we are not standing still. Our ambition is clear: to become Outstanding, not just in inspection terms—but in the real experiences of children and families. And we know the only way to get there is through people like you.

If you’re ready to lead with purpose, champion children, and be part of something meaningful—we’d love to hear from you.

Find out More You can review the full job description and person specification information here.

St Helens is a great place to work so why not visit our Children’s Services web page https://socialcarerecruitment.sthelens.gov.uk/ to see what our colleagues have to say and discover our full range of in work benefits.

You can also contact us for a chat before applying or to submit your CV in the first instance. You can do this by emailing us at ginapower@sthelens.gov.uk

Please note we reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a sufficient number of applications and encourage you to apply early, to avoid disappointment.

This post is subject Enhanced DBS Disclosure.

Previous applicants need not apply

Children’s Services Social Work Academy site.

The St Helens Social Work Academy is all about continuous professional development in social work, supporting you at every stage of your social work career, focused on People, Promotion, Progression and Performance. The Academy supports social workers throughout their career journey to achieve better outcomes for our children and families and onto new career opportunities in the authority.

Take a look at our new site here Social Care Academy - Social Care Recruitment

St Helens Council is a Disability Confident Leader. This means that the Council guarantees an interview to disabled applicants who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria for the job, as detailed on the Person Specification, and will, for qualifying disabled candidates, make reasonable adjustments within the interview/selection process.

Equality & Diversity
St Helens Borough Council respects and values the individuality that every employee brings. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, who share our values, our commitment to inclusion, and who will help us on our journey to transform our organisation.

St Helens Borough Council is a Disability Confident Leader. Disability Confident Leader lead the way in helping to take action that changes attitudes, behaviours, and cultures for the better.

St Helens Council is officially recognised as one of the region’s leading fair employers, achieving accredited status under the Liverpool City Combined Authority Fair Employment Charter. The Charter recognises the ongoing commitment to fair pay, secure work, training & progression & staff well-being whilst celebrating employers who go above and beyond for their workforce providing an inclusive and supportive environment.

Be scam aware: St Helens Council will never ask applicants to share payment information or charge recruitment fees when applying for vacancies. If in doubt, contact recruitment@sthelens.gov.uk