Family Group Conferencing Team Manager

Family Group Conference Team Manager

Salary: PO3/PO4 - £42,839.00 - £49,282.00 Permanent, 37 hours per week x 2 posts. Base is to be within the Bradford district.

Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.

We are fully committed to equal opportunities and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Our service is continuing to grow as we further embed Family Group Decision Making at the heart of our practice with families and increase our Family Group Conference offer for families. We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader to manage a Family Group Conferencing (FGC) team. As the FGC Team Manager, you will oversee a team of Family Group Conference Coordinators and ensure the service delivers meaningful, child‑centred outcomes for families.

You will provide strong leadership and champion the use of Family Group Conferences across the Trust. You will support and contribute to the development of and vision for the service and ensure that Family Group Conferences are used to strengthen family involvement and relational ways of working with families, to safely achieve best outcomes for children. Our approach is rooted in restorative and relational practice, fostering trust, mutual respect, and meaningful relationships with children, families, and professionals.

Our strategic vision and values  are upheld across the Trust, fostering a reliable and supportive environment for both staff and the children in our care.

• Ensure effective leadership, management and supervision of the FGC coordinators and any other relevant staff in the team.
• Provide high quality leadership and direction to FGC staff, setting out the team goals and plan and making it clear how they support the fundamental purpose and contribute to the wider Trust’s values, strategies and plans.
• Ensure that requests for FGC’s are allocated among the coordinators in a timely manner.
• Use both qualitative and quantitative data to produce regular performance reports, evaluating the effectiveness of the FGC Service and identifying opportunities for improvement. Make evidence‑based recommendations for change and take responsibility for driving actions that improve practice standards and service outcomes.
• Ensure that all agencies involved in FGC work are aware of their responsibilities in relation to information sharing, facilitate safe and secure information exchange and provide support and challenge where any information sharing difficulties arise.
• Be proactive in employee development activities including regular supervision and appraisal to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.

• A relevant professional, academic or management qualification minimum NVQ Level 5 and/or able to demonstrate equivalent experience and evidence of on-going training and CDP.
• Minimum two years’ experience of working in a relevant role is desirable and as is experience of working in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Completed Family Group Conference facilitator training through an accredited organisation.
• Substantial and recent experience of managing staff and/or students working directly with children and families, building trust and establishing relationships.
• Experience of liaising with other professionals and working as a part of multi‑agency groups.
• Experience of managing, motivating and empowering staff to achieve improvement.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays as required by the needs of the service.
• Have a usable car available at all times or as advised by the line manager. The post is designated Casual Class 1 Car User status for the better performance of the duties for which the HMRC rate is payable.

• Generous Employer Contributions in a Local Government Pension Scheme
• Competitive salary and pay progression structure
• Real living wage as the minimum rate of…