Safeguarding Families Team Leader
Safeguarding Families Team Leader (Dorset)
- locations
- Dorset SSMTR - Weymouth Coffee Tavern
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
- job requisition id
- JR013044
Safeguarding Families Together (SFT) Team Leader - Dorset
Location: DorsetWorking Hours: 37 hoursContract Type: PermanentSalary: £31,030 - £37,500
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier and more independent lives?
Join Waythrough, one of the UK’s leading mental health and social support charities, and make a lasting impact every day.
We support over 125,000 people each year through our 200 services, empowering individuals to overcome challenges around mental health, housing, and substance use.
About the Role
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Team Leader to lead our Safeguarding Families Together (SFT) service within REACH, Dorset's substance misuse service.
This is a rewarding leadership role where you will play a key part in supporting adults affected by substance misuse while improving outcomes for children, families, and carers across Dorset. Working within a multi-disciplinary environment, you will lead a specialist team that supports parents and carers to achieve sustainable recovery and help children remain safely at home.
As Team Leader, you will be responsible for recruiting, inducting, and developing two Senior Specialist Workers, as well as providing day-to-day leadership, supervision, and performance management across the county-wide team. You will work closely with key partners including Children's Social Care, Adult Social Care, Mental Health Services, Probation, and Domestic Abuse Services to ensure effective service delivery and positive outcomes for families.
A key aspect of this role will be developing and maintaining strong working relationships with Children's Social Care in line with the existing Service Level Agreement, ensuring collaborative and integrated support for individuals and families.
What You’ll Do
Provide effective leadership, oversight, and performance management across the Dorset-wide SFT team.
Develop and maintain strong partnership working with Children's Social Care and other statutory and voluntary sector partners.
Ensure high-quality service delivery that meets contractual, safeguarding, and organisational standards.
Support the team in managing complex cases involving substance misuse, safeguarding concerns, and family interventions.
Contribute to strategic service development and continuous improvement initiatives.
Represent the service at multi-agency meetings, case conferences, and partnership forums.
Promote recovery-focused, strengths-based approaches that improve outcomes for individuals and families.
To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need:
Significant experience working within substance misuse and/or social care services.
Proven leadership and people management experience.
Strong knowledge of safeguarding practices relating to children and vulnerable adults.
Experience working with families where children may be subject to Child Protection Plans, Child in Need Plans, Pre-Proceedings, or Care Proceedings.
Excellent partnership working skills and experience of collaborating with statutory agencies.
Experience managing complex caseloads and supporting staff to deliver effective interventions.
Strong communication, organisational, and decision-making skills.
A commitment to improving outcomes for children, families, and individuals affected by substance misuse.
A relevant Social Care qualification would be advantageous, although it is not essential.
For full person specifications and job details, please visit <i>this link.</i>
About Waythrough
Make a real difference in your community
What We Offer
27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
Life assurance (3× annual salary)
Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
Recognition and long service awards via our
Way to GoandAspirationsportals£500
Recommend a FriendbonusCycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Inclusion and accessibility
If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk
Closing Date:
2026-07-08