Team Manager - Social Work

Team Manager

Salary: £43,998.28 (paid in Euros at the applicable exchange rate) plus on-call payments
Specific Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: British Forces Cyprus (BFC)
Benefits: 24 days annual leave plus Cyprus bank holidays (number may vary by year as per local observance), Life Insurance x 2, Employee Discount Scheme

About Us

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

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

On 1st April 2021 we further expanded our services to include Singapore, British Indian Ocean Territories (BIOT) and Gibraltar.

From 1st May 2022 we further expanded our services to include Brunei and Nepal.

While all services are under the management of Polaris Children’s Services, we are proud to have developed our own BFSWS brand with specific identities for each community of military social work service. As such, we have a new opportunity in the Polaris Children’s Services British Forces Social Work team in British Forces Cyprus for a Team Manager to join our team.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Service Lead in their absence, including attending meetings and chairing meetings with stakeholders and Command.
• 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.
• Provide supervision to staff on a monthly basis.
• Ensure compliance with Care Plans, Placement Agreements, Foster Carer Reviews, DBS checks (or equivalent) and medicals, taking action where shortfalls are identified.
• Ensure meetings are completed in accordance with company procedure.
• Take a lead role in projects or initiatives.
• Chair strategy meetings and other meetings as required for the operation of the service.
• Support Command with ‘wellbeing for welfare’ sessions.
• Attend, support attendance at, and prepare for a range of local meetings including ENMASO meetings, safeguarding meetings, station meetings and others as required by Command.
• Attend Local Partnership Board meetings as required.
• Ensure BFSWS supports the delivery of Safeguarding Training levels 2 and 3 to partners and stakeholders.
• Support management with day-to-day operations of the social work service.
• Undertake training and development deemed necessary for the role.
• Comply with Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.
• Comply with the no smoking policy and ensure Health and Safety is observed.
• Ensure safeguarding compliance across all work, escalating child protection matters or serious complaints immediately.
• Carry out any other duties required to meet business needs.

Requirements

• Understanding and experience of working within a military environment is desirable.
• Professional Social Work qualification (DIP SW, CQSW, CSS) or equivalent, registered with Social Work England or equivalent body.
• Successful completion of a Post Qualifying Award in Social Work.
• At least four years’ post-qualification experience.
• Relevant safeguarding training and experience.
• Experience across a wide range of social work practice.
• Management experience is desirable.
• Strong computer literacy skills.
• High-level report writing experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures.
• Willingness and ability to travel across Cyprus and the UK, including occasional overnight stays.
• Ability to work flexibly, including some evenings and weekends.
• Full manual driving licence.
• Participation in the Out of Hours duty rota as required.
• Candidates recruited from the UK will be supported to obtain the legal right to reside and work in British Forces Cyprus. Other benefits such as accommodation, education, health support and relocation costs will be confirmed during the onboarding process.
• Candidates recruited locally must already hold the right to reside (MEU1 or MEU3) and valid work permits.
• GFA terms apply only to roles recruited from the UK due to specialist skills.

Polaris Children’s Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, the 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.

The service is currently undergoing a review. While we are committed to this role, some aspects of the title, responsibilities and service management structure may be subject to change.