Team Leader - Family

Join an Outstanding Children's Service and Shape the Future of Family Help!

Following our July 2026 Ofsted inspection, Portsmouth Children's Services achieved an Outstanding judgement in all four inspection areas, recognising the exceptional progress we have made for children, young people and families. Inspectors highlighted our strong leadership, committed workforce and relentless focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.

This is an exciting time to join Portsmouth City Council. We are building on our Outstanding Ofsted success through the implementation of our innovative Family Help Model, bringing together targeted early help, family support and statutory social work into one coordinated, relationship-based service.

We are seeking experienced and passionate Team Leaders to provide operational leadership within our Family Help service and help drive excellent outcomes for children and families.

Why work in Family Help in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth is entering a significant and exciting phase in how we support children, young people and families. As Family Help becomes central to our system, we are strengthening our workforce so that practice remains relational, purposeful and sustainable.

We are investing in people, strengthening practice and creating the conditions where good work can thrive.

People who work in Portsmouth consistently tell us that relationships matter here with families, with colleagues and with leaders.

Family Help in Portsmouth means:

• working with families using high support and high challenge
• intervening earlier to create meaningful change
• building on family and community networks through Family Group Decision Making
• having the time, space and support to practise reflectively

We are clear about our Portsmouth Model of Family Practice and invest in helping staff apply it well, through reflective supervision, protected learning time and accessible professional development.

Family Help removes traditional boundaries between early help and statutory services, making it easier for families to access the right support at the right time .

Our approach is rooted in:

• Awhole-family approach
• Single assessment and planning
• Evidence-based, relational interventions
• Family-led planning and decision - making
• Strong multi-agency collaboration

Judged 'Outstanding' by Ofsted across all areas of inspection, we are committed to promoting a 'whole family' approach to Family Help, safeguarding and to support children we care for in Portsmouth. We continue to provide significant investment in intervention with children, young people and their families to make this a reality.

About the Role

As Team Leader Family Help, you will:

• Provide day-to-day leadership to a team of Social Workers and Family Help Lead Practitioners
• Ensure high-quality, safe and proportionate practice across early help, Child in Need and safeguarding work
• Offer reflective supervision, coaching and mentoring to support professional development
• Lead on risk management, decision - making and case progression
• Drive continuous improvement, quality assurance and inspection readiness
• Champion restorative, strengths-based and child - centred practice
• Work collaboratively with partners across education, health, police and the voluntary sector

This is a key leadership role in our service transformation journey, supporting the embedding of Family Help and Family Safeguarding approaches across Portsmouth .

The ideal candidate

You will be:

• Aqualified and registered Social Worker with substantial post-qualifying experience in Childrens Services
• An experienced manager with confidence in supervising and leading staff
• Skilled in safeguarding, risk assessment and statutory decision - making
• Knowledgeable in the Children Act, Working Together guidance, SEND Code of Practice and early intervention principles
• Passionate about restorative, relational and trauma-informed practice
• Committed to equality, anti-discriminatory practice and staff wellbeing
• Organised, resilient and able to manage pressure in a complex, fast-paced environment

Why Join Portsmouth City Council?

• Be part of a service that puts families at the centre of everything we do
• Work within a supportive , learning-focused culture
• Access excellent professional development and leadership support
• Competitive salary and market supplement
• Make a real and lasting difference to children and families in the city

Please ensure that you download and 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: Expectation is that role is primarily office based

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please email…