Assistant Team Manager (Refugee Team)

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC622929

Salary Range: £48,993 - £53,427 pro-rata, per annum, inclusive of Market Supplement of £8,350 pro-rata, per annum (actual salary for part-time role £39,723 - £43,318 per annum)

Work Location: The Parkway, Fareham (Hybrid Working)

Hours per week: 37 or 30

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 4 January 2026

Interview Date: 15 January 2026

The Role:

As an Assistant Team Manager in our Refugee Team, you’ll play a vital role in supporting separated children, unaccompanied minors, care leavers, and families with No Recourse to Public Funds as they seek safety and stability in the UK. This is a unique opportunity to work within a service that supports young people through their entire journey – from arrival and initial assessments of age, risk, and trafficking, through navigating the asylum process, to helping them transition into independence.

You’ll work closely with the Team Manager and practitioners to deliver a service that makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people, empowering them to feel safe, supported, and ready to build a new life in the UK.

What you’ll do:

• Oversee and support practitioners in assessing, monitoring, and reviewing social care needs, ensuring services meet the highest standards.
• Be involved in the child’s end-to-end journey, from their arrival in the UK through critical assessments and care planning.
• Work creatively to reunite children with family and friends already in the UK, while maintaining strong links with parents abroad.
• Collaborate with carers, relatives, and partner agencies to shape future service delivery and contribute to ongoing improvements.
• Embed child-centred practice and contextual safeguarding in all decision-making.

What we’re looking for:

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Significant frontline statutory social work experience, including senior-level practice within Children & Families services.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and relevant legislation.
• Excellent communication and partnership-building skills, with the ability to lead and motivate a team.
• Skilled in decision-making and producing clear, analytical reports.
• Resilient, adaptable, and committed to delivering high-quality, child-centred services. 

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Assistant Team Manager role, team and our values. The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

Why join us?

• Be part of an innovative, supportive team making a real difference to vulnerable children and families.
• Access to ongoing professional development and post-qualifying training.
• Flexible working options and a strong commitment to staff wellbeing.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.  
• Competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.

Important: You must already have the right to work in the UK. We are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Other job titles you may be searching for: Senior Social Worker, Deputy Team Manager, Social Work Supervisor, Assistant Manager – Children’s Services, Social Work Team Leader.

Travel Requirements:

You will be required to travel to various locations within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight or other local authority, and it is essential that you have a current drivers’ licence and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis.

Additional Information:

Assistant Team Manager (Refugee Team) Candidate Pack

Vetting Requirements:

The post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

For general enquiries, please contact care.careers@hants.gov.uk
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Natasha Phillpott, Team Manager on natasha.phillpott@hants.gov.uk