About the role
West Northants Council uses the “three conversations” model, where appropriate, which re-emphasises focus on people, their strengths, and the networks through the development of community hubs. As an assistant team manager, we support Social Workers who are passionate about ensuring people have choice and control over their own support needs and focus on the person, their strengths and networks.
For an informal discussion about this role, please contact the Learning Disability Team Manager Jacqueline Hall on 01604 368307
What will you be doing?
We are looking for a highly motivated, organised and creative operational Assistant Team Manager with proven leadership skills. You will have experience of social work practice, performance management and proven experience of effectively supporting and managing staff. You will have a commitment to strengths based person-centred values, strengths based assessments, progression work and have good communication and IT skills.
We know that our staff are key to our success, and we are seeking people with ambition, creativity and commitment to our values to help us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our customers by supporting your supervisees and the team to promote our values.
Working 18.5 hours per week on a contract basis.
A DBS check will take place, at WNC cost.
Please note: There is no option to offer sponsorship or transfer of. We may close this vacancy early, if we receive sufficient applications for the role early.
About you
You are either a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England or have Level 5 leadership/management qualification or willingness to work towards it. You will have experience or an interest in leadership, and influencing practice across the team
• Experience of working with people with varying needs and are passionate about identifying their strengths and supporting them to achieve their outcomes.
• Managed staff, supporting their development and reviewing performance.
• Offer a proactive thought with the ability to think creatively.
• Exercised professional curiosity, rather than accept things at face value or make decisions based on assumptions.
• Can demonstrate problem solving abilities, working alongside team members to enable them to find their own solutions and develop their confidence.
• Willing to share knowledge and expertise with colleagues in your team.
• You put your ability to analyse and take action in challenging situations to good use and are able to evidence positive risk-taking skills – knowing how to balance individual rights against risks.
Our benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:
- Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
- Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
- Car Lease scheme
- Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
- Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
- Ongoing training and development opportunities.
- A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
- Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
- Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.
About us
At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.
Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU
We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner
The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.
If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.
West Northants Council, where careers thrive.