About this role
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days • membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) • travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits • performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase • training and encouragement to expand your knowledge • a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation • diverse and active staff networks • flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
Suffolk County Council Location: Landmark House, Ipswich IP1 5PB - On-site working Salary: £53,788 per annum (pro rata for part time) Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available Contract: Permanent At Suffolk County Council, we're reimagining how we support children, young people and families. As a Specialist Team Manager within the Integrated Front Door (IFD), you'll play a key role in developing a new specialist team at the heart of Suffolk's safeguarding system. This is more than a management role. It's an opportunity to shape practice, strengthen multi-agency decision making, and influence how services work together to ensure children and families receive the right support at the earliest opportunity. If you're a qualified Social Worker with strong leadership skills and a passion for developing people, practice and services, we'd love to hear from you. Reimagine the possibilities. Your role and responsibilities As a Team Manager, you'll lead a newly established team within the Integrated Front Door, bringing together specialist practitioners who provide expertise in areas such as:
• Return Home Interviews • 16-17 Homelessness • Domestic Abuse • SEND and Disability Family Support. Working alongside other Team Managers within the IFD, you'll ensure specialist knowledge is fully integrated into front door decision making and that children, young people and families receive the right response at the right time. You will:
• provide leadership, direction and professional oversight to a specialist multi-disciplinary team • support the development of a new service model and embed effective ways of working from the outset • ensure high-quality, timely and coordinated responses to safeguarding concerns and requests for support • promote strong partnership working across social care, education, health, police, housing and other agencies • use performance information, learning and feedback to improve practice and service delivery • support staff development through supervision, coaching and creating a positive learning culture • contribute to strategic service development and continuous improvement across the Integrated Front Door • manage risk, resources, staffing and operational performance to achieve positive outcomes for children and families. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future direction of a key service and leave a lasting legacy for children and families across Suffolk. You will need We're looking for an experienced leader who can inspire others, work confidently across professional boundaries and drive high standards of practice. You will have:
• a recognised Social Work qualification • registration with Social Work England • substantial experience of safeguarding and decision making within children's services • experience of leading and developing staff within a complex service environment • a strong understanding of legislation, guidance and practice standards relating to children and families • experience of working effectively with partners across agencies • confidence in managing risk, performance and change • the ability to analyse complex information and make sound professional judgements • excellent communication skills and a commitment to collaborative leadership. Experience of leading service development, implementing change and embedding new ways of working would be particularly valuable. You can view the full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP) which can be found in the How to Apply section below. The team The Integrated Front Door (IFD) is a multi-agency service that brings together professionals from children's services and partner organisations to ensure children and families receive the right support at the earliest opportunity. As part of Suffolk's Families First reforms, the IFD plays a key role in early decision making, information sharing and coordinated support. This role sits within a newly developed specialist team, offering a unique opportunity to help shape practice, influence service development and build a strong team culture alongside experienced colleagues and partner agencies committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and families. This is an office-based role. Team collaboration, partnership working and leadership visibility are central to the role, and therefore home working is not available. Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker, shaped by the voices of young people: find out more. Empowering Everyone We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report. For more information Please contact Sean Segul for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473260673 or emailing [email protected] or Milly Clark by calling 01473263139 or emailing [email protected] How to apply Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word). Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).
• Tell us about a time when you led a significant change or service improvement within children's services. What was your role, how did you engage others, and what was the outcome? • Describe a situation where you were required to make a complex safeguarding decision involving significant risk to a child or young person. How did you analyse the information available, what decision did you make, and what was the impact? • Tell us about how you have motivated, developed and supported practitioners to improve performance and deliver high-quality practice. What was your approach and what were the results? Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page. Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable. Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at [email protected] or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. Closing Date: 20 August 2026 This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Onsite