Team Leader (Children & Families)

Job Description

Team Leader – Children & Families Social

Work Location: Dumbarton/Clydebank
Service: West Dunbartonshire HSCP – Youth Services and Children with Disabilities 

* *(subject to service redesign) * *

Due to the retirement of longstanding team member, West Dunbartonshire HSCP is seeking an experienced and motivated Team Leader to join our Children and Families Social Work Service.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Youth Services Team (over 12) and Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs Team.

• Oversee Child Protection and Looked After Children care planning, ensuring safe and effective practice.

• Champion family-based solutions, helping children remain safely within their families wherever possible.

• Delivering services for children in conflict with the law taking a Whole Systems and Early and Effective Intervention approach

• Overseeing the assessment, planning and commissioning and review of packages of care

• Provide leadership and support to social workers and senior social workers managing complex cases, including ensuring seamless transition to adult services

• Has proven experience in child protection and care planning.
• Embraces reflective practice and continuous improvement.
• Can inspire and guide their team to deliver excellent services for children and families.

Why Join Us?

2026 marks an exciting phase as we enter year three of our “What Will It Take” 5-Year Strategy, introducing innovative approaches such as Signs of Safety and Care and Risk Management and Contextual Safe Guarding. You’ll play a key role in driving these improvements forward.

If you are passionate about making a difference and ready to lead a team dedicated to positive outcomes for children and families, we’d love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion please contact Sharon Laing, Senior Manager, Sharon.Laing@west-dunbarton.gov.uk

Requirements

This post is considered as Regulated Work with Children/Adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and as such membership with the PVG scheme is essential. Further details of this scheme can be found here.

Preferred applicants will be required to become members of the relevant PVG scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme update check prior to a formal offer being made by West Dunbartonshire Council.

Responsibilities

The employment for which you are applying is excepted from the provisions of section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applicants are, therefore, not statutorily entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are "spent" under the provisions of the Act.

In the event of employment any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action.

The Individual

The successful candidate will benefit from the following:

WDC was voted one of the top ten flexible employers and prides itself in providing flexible working to support work life balance. In addition to this there are also additional benefits:

• Access to the Local Government pension scheme (LGPS) with an employer’s contribution of at least 19.3% and all associated benefits
• A minimum of 25 days annual leave, increasing a day each year up to 35 days as well as 8 fixed public holidays each year
• Access to employee wellbeing supports including occupational health & counselling if ever you need help and support
For information about West Dunbartonshire Council please click on the following link and see why we are an employer of choice: About Us
More information on the benefits of working within West Dunbartonshire Council, can be found using the following link: Benefits of Working with us