Team Leader

Children's Social Care provides social work interventions to children in need, this includes those children subject to child in need or protection plans and children looked after, the service also supports care leavers and children with disabilities. It is the responsibility of Children's Social Care to offer a range of options for children who need placements outside their families, including fostering and residential care alongside adoption, special guardianship and kinship arrangements.

About the Role

As Team Leader in our South Family Support & Safeguarding Team, you will:

• Supervise a team of social workers
• Support children in need, those under protection plans, and Looked After Children
• Ensure high-quality assessments, planning, and interventions
• Promote staff development, performance management, and quality assurance
• Embed restorative and family safeguarding approaches
• Lead planning meetings and reflective supervision sessions
• Work closely with partner agencies across health, education, police, housing, and voluntary sectors

This role will be based at the Civic Office (Central 1, 2 & South), reporting to the Service Leader.

Please ensure that you read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.

Working Arrangements

Attendance requirements to the designated workplace for the role in line with the Hybrid Working - Working from the office 5 days per week we do have some flexibility.

The ideal candidate

We're seeking an inspirational and experienced social worker who:

• Holds a Diploma/Degree/MSc in Social Work and is registered with Social Work England.
• Has substantial post-qualification experience in Children and Families Social Work.
• Possesses a strong understanding of relevant law, theory, and statutory guidance.
• Is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Demonstrates creativity, curiosity, and a solution-focused approach.
• Works effectively with children, families, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
• Has experience in staff or student supervision, with the ability to support and challenge appropriately.
• Is confident in problem-solving and managing tasks within agreed timescales.
• Contributes to workforce development and supports capability and disciplinary processes as needed.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact: Jenny Cullen -

Application process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.

As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.

We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria

More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

About Portsmouth City Council

What we can offer you:

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact or call the recruitment team on