Family Help Team Manager Protection

Join an Ofsted Outstanding Children’s Service

There has never been a better time to join Norfolk Children’s Services.

In 2026, Norfolk Children’s Services was judged Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted, with inspectors recognising the council’s “inspirational strategic and operational leadership”, strong multi-disciplinary working, and child-centred approach. Inspectors highlighted the success of Norfolk’s Family Help model and the high-quality support provided to children and families across the county.

As a Peripatetic Manager, you will play a vital role in maintaining and building on this success, providing leadership, management oversight, and practice support across our Family Help and Protection Service.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and passionate social work leader who thrives on variety, enjoys supporting teams through change, and is committed to achieving the very best outcomes for children and families.

About the Role

Family Help Teams are led through a partnership approach, bringing together prevention, protection, and family support expertise to deliver the right help at the right time.

As a Peripatetic Manager, you will provide flexible leadership across Family Help and Protection Teams, supporting service delivery during periods of absence, vacancies, increased demand, service development, and organisational change.

Working alongside Prevention Managers, Protection Managers, Expert Practitioners and wider service leaders, you will ensure the effective delivery of social care services for children aged 0-17 and their families. You will provide oversight of practice, support decision-making, supervise staff, monitor performance, and help create high-performing teams that deliver outstanding outcomes.

Our Practice Vision – Vital Signs for Children

At Norfolk Children’s Services, we work with children, families and partners through a practice approach that is:

Relationship Based – Building trusted and consistent relationships with families.

Strengths Oriented – Identifying strengths and building on them to create positive and lasting change.

Outcome Focused – Doing whatever it takes to achieve the best outcomes for children, young people and their families.

We believe it is vital that children flourish through:

Their Family and Friends
Access to Learning
Opportunities to Lead a Good Life
Being Understood
Building Resilience
Respect for Their Individuality
Feeling Safe and Secure
Being Healthy

As a Peripatetic Manager, you will be a visible leader ensuring these principles remain at the heart of practice across Norfolk.

Key Responsibilities

Provide leadership and management support across Family Help and Protection teams.
Ensure high-quality practice and compliance with legislation, statutory guidance, policies, and procedures.
Oversee casework and provide management oversight and decision-making on complex and high-risk cases.
Lead and participate in supervision, allocation meetings, performance reviews, and team development activities.
Support induction, probation, performance development planning, and workforce development.
Monitor quality and performance through auditing, dip sampling, case reviews, and performance dashboards.
Promote restorative, relationship-based practice and continuous improvement.
Support threshold and risk discussions to ensure children receive timely and effective interventions.
Ensure effective allocation of resources and caseload management.
Build positive relationships with children, families, partner agencies, and stakeholders.
Contribute to budget monitoring and ensure resources are used effectively and appropriately.
Support staff wellbeing and foster high-performing, psychologically safe teams.
Provide advice, guidance, and leadership support to managers and practitioners across the service.

About You
You will be an experienced social work leader who can quickly establish credibility, support teams through challenge, and drive excellent practice.

Essential Skills and Abilities

Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to motivate, support, and develop staff.
Ability to make sound professional judgements under pressure.
Strong chairing, facilitation, and decision-making skills.
Experience of leading multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working.
Commitment to relationship-based and restorative practice.
Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results.
Strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-discriminatory practice.
Flexible, pragmatic, and solution-focused approach to problem-solving.

Essential Knowledge and Experience

Significant frontline management experience within UK Children’s Services.
Experience of leading and developing high-performing teams.
Experience of coaching, mentoring, and workforce development.
Experience of performance management, quality assurance, and service improvement.
Detailed knowledge of relevant legislation, safeguarding procedures, policies, and regulations.
At least four years’ experience working with children and families.
Extensive knowledge of child development, childhood trauma, safeguarding, parental capacity, substance misuse, and the experiences of children in care.
Experience of working effectively with a wide range of agencies and partners.

Essential Qualifications

Master’s Degree, BA, Social Work Diploma, CQSW or equivalent recognised Social Work qualification.
Registration as a Social Worker with Social Work England.
Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to safeguarding, leadership, management, and children’s social care.

Safeguarding
This role involves regulated activity with children and is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Children’s Barred List check.

Norfolk County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Ready to lead, inspire and make a difference?
Join our Outstanding Children’s Service and help ensure every child in Norfolk has the opportunity to flourish, feel safe, and achieve their full potential.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria.

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

Competitive salary
Generous holiday entitlement
Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need.
Financial benefits such as:
- ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.
- A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
- Relocation expenses (where applicable)
- An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions.
- Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes
- Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)
- A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.

Redeployment closing date: 22 July 2026 at 23:55

All other applicants closing date: 30 July 2026 at 23:55

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