Team Leader

West Sussex Change Grow Live, Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Network (Young Persons and Families Service) – Family Safeguarding Team Leader co-located in the WSCC Family Safeguarding Team

Change Grow Live are a charity dedicated to the belief that we can make a difference to our Service Users lives. Our core values are ‘Be open, be compassionate and be bold’ and our teams apply these daily, offering support and respect in a safe environment, treating each user as an individual and working with them to find the right treatment and care options.   

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic individual to join our Young Person and Families Service in West Sussex, part of our West Sussex Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Network.

As a Family Safeguarding Team Leader in Change Grow Live, you will work alongside the Service Lead and you will support the delivery of our Family Safeguarding Team Service, co-located with Children’s Social Care. The post holder will provide line management to Drug and Alcohol Practitioners and will be responsible for operational management and strategic development of the service.

Where: Your main office base will be in Worthing, but this is a countywide role and will entail travelling across the county. Please note - this is an outreach service, delivering support in community. Driving license and access to own car is necessary for this role.

Full Time Hours: 37.5 per week 

Full Time Salary Range: £34,700.09 - £36,635.37 (based on full time hours, pro rata for part time) 

We are looking to appoint a team leader, with experience of working with children and families, to join our drug and alcohol service at this exciting time. Your duties will include supporting the delivery of an effective and comprehensive family service; having regard for those who are most at risk and the needs and expectations of partners and stakeholders.

Working from shared locations across the county and utilising our existing relationships with other providers, this work will focus on supporting a team of drug and alcohol practitioners who provide frontline support. You will be acting as a lead on drug and alcohol support within the Family Safeguarding teams, liaising with senior management to inform and develop the service. The role may also entail holding a complex caseload.

About the role:

• To assist in the delivery of the YP and Families Service across West Sussex, supporting individuals and families to overcome multiple, complex needs, so they can live successfully within the community.
• To provide direct line management and supervision to a team of Family Safeguarding Drug and Alcohol Practitioners, volunteers and social work students based across West Sussex.
• To work effectively with key partners to ensure provision is joined up and families receive the best possible support packages.
• To ensure quality of service provision throughout the service
• Inspire, empower and motivate team members to ensure an engaged and unified learning culture.
• Identify learning and development needs of team members and to support them in achieving their learning requirements.
• To take a lead on performance management, utilising tools such as observed practise and implementing effective support and action plans where improvement needs are identified.

About you:

• Experience of working with families displaying behavior that challenges in one or more of the following fields: social work, youth offending, substance use, probation, health, family work, education, youth and community.
• Knowledge of the issues facing children, young people and their families affected by drug and alcohol use.
• Excellent knowledge of drugs and alcohol and their effects.
• Excellent knowledge of safeguarding policies and practices relating to children and young people and experience of embedding these operationally.
• Line management experience including the delivery of reflective supervision.
• The ability to lead, empower and motivate a team.
• The ability to foster new partnerships and to maintain positive relationships with partner agencies.

 Please see the attached job description for full details.

What we will give to you: 

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) rising by 1 day for each years’ service “Capped at 30 days”. 
• Paid Wellness hour each week along with a Wellness hub and Employee Assist Programme 
• Contributory pension scheme 
• A great selection of benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc. 
• A friendly and supportive team 
• Training, career development & progression opportunities 

Please ensure that when completing your application form and supporting statement, you reflect on the details outlined in the job description. This will help us understand how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the role. 

Closing Date: 05/02/2025

Competency based interview: 10/02/2025

Value based Interviews: TBC with successful applicants

We would love you to get in touch for more information on the Family Safeguarding Model in West Sussex. If you would like to speak with someone about this role, please don’t hesitate to contact: Anja Rijavec, Young Persons and Families Service Lead on anja.rijavec@cgl.org.uk

Change Grow Live are committed to creating an inclusive environment, which celebrates difference and allows our staff and service users to flourish. We recruit staff from a wide range of backgrounds, ensuring service users benefit from our diverse skills and expertise. We always work to the principles of fairness and equality of opportunity in all our recruitment processes.

CGL takes an assertive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children and applicants to the above post will need to demonstrate an understanding and commitment to best safeguarding practice.