Social Care Team Manager (Newcastle)

Change lives in a life-changing career When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain. The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time. About the role We’re looking for a Team Manager with extensive social work experience to manage our Newcastle Team. In this role, you’ll be supporting children and young people diagnosed with cancer by managing a team of social care staff who deliver services in line with our organisation’s service specifications. You will be based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle where most of the team are based with one Social Worker based at the Freeman’s Hospital. This is a hybrid role with flexibility to work both from home and from Newcastle Hospital, however, there is an expectation that the majority of time (70% minimum) you will be present at the hospital with the team. This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an enhanced criminal record check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually. This role is also subject to a Social Worker Registration. What will I be doing? Our work is rewarding but also complex and demanding; you will need to be resourceful and resilient. We are looking for a social work qualified, experienced people manager to take responsibility for operational management and development of our social work services. You will ensure that effective services are delivered to children and young people with cancer and their families through the professional supervision of our staff group, working across split sites. What do I need? The key skills we’re looking for in this role are: You must hold an appropriate social work qualification. Extensive experience of working with children and young people including complex case work and risk assessment and care planning, caseload management and inter-agency working. Experience of managing safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults, legislation, procedures and best practice. Experience of supervising students and / or staff in a social care setting. Experience of delivering support to young people and families via different mediums including individuals, groups and digital delivery. A proven ability to manage expectations of key stakeholders including staff and service users. What will I gain? For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage. Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development. 27 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays. Generous paid and unpaid leave allowance. Great family/caring leave entitlements. 8% Employer pension contribution. Access to our employee savings scheme. To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website: https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/careers/our-benefits/ Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it. We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more. To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice. Accessibility We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview. To arrange an informal chat, please contact Service Manager: Louise Dolphin on 07775923710 or [email removed - click apply for more details]