About the Role
Are you an experienced Team Manager with a strong background in Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) services? Shropshire Council are seeking a skilled and passionate leader to manage a dedicated UASC & Pathways Team, supporting vulnerable young people aged 16-18 as they progress towards independence. This is an excellent opportunity for a Manager who can provide strong oversight, ensure high-quality practice, and confidently lead social workers supporting young people with complex immigration, safeguarding, and care planning needs.
You will conduct;
- Monthly face-to-face team meetings
- Monthly face-to-face management meetings
- Quarterly Director Assurance meetings held in person
Additional travel may be required for:
- Chairing meetings
- Court attendance
- Joint family visits with Social Workers
- Service and case-related responsibilities
Location: Mount McKinley House, Shrewsbury, SY2 6LG
Rate: £41.42 per hour (Umbrella rate)
Contract: Temporary
Hours: 37 hours per week
Office Requirements: Office based one day per week
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and supervise a team of 7 Social Workers, ensuring statutory supervision takes place every 4 weeks.
- Provide clear management oversight across all cases within the UASC and Pathways Service.
- Chair multi-agency meetings relating to permanence planning, pathway planning, safeguarding, and risk management.
- Quality assure assessments, pathway plans, reviews, and statutory documentation in a timely manner.
- Monitor team performance and attend weekly performance meetings to review data, address outstanding actions, and drive service improvement.
- Act as Duty Manager for the CLA and UASC Service, providing management cover during annual leave and sickness periods.
- Support staff with complex decision-making, risk management, and permanency planning.
- Ensure statutory responsibilities are met for looked-after children and unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.
About You
- Have a strong knowledge of:
- Care Planning Regulations
- Looked After Children processes
- Pathway Planning and Leaving Care legislation
- Age assessments and immigration-related considerations affecting UASC young people
- Safeguarding and risk management practices
- Ability to provide robust case oversight and quality assurance
- Experience chairing multi-agency meetings and making complex management decisions
- Social Work England registered
- Full UK Driving Licence
This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people and care leavers, leading a committed team through complex and rewarding work. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates who have a proven track record within UASC services and can bring strong leadership, practice expertise, and statutory knowledge to the team.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. A DBS check may be applicable for this role, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.
