We are looking for an experienced manager to join our leadership team and help shape the future of children’s social care in Lewisham.

Lewisham is proud to be the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary and a wave 2 Pathfinder authority, leading on national reforms through the Families First for Children programme. Our borough is vibrant, diverse, and ambitious for every child.

The Role:

We are looking for a skilled and passionate Permanency Team Manager to join our Corporate Parenting Service. In this pivotal role, you’ll lead our mission to achieve timely and stable permanence for children looked after in Lewisham.

As our Permanency Team Manager, you’ll:

• Lead and coordinate permanency planning and tracking processes.
• Chair key permanency planning and progression meetings.
• Work collaboratively across social work, health, legal, fostering, and adoption partners.
• Use data to monitor, report on, and improve outcomes for children in care.
• Line-manage the Case Progression Officer, ensuring strong oversight of PLO and court proceedings.
• Champion and embed best practice in permanency across the division.

Enhanced DBS check required

About You:

You will be an experienced, registered Social Worker with:

• Proven expertise in care planning, permanency, and corporate parenting.
• Strong leadership experience, including staff supervision and operational management.
• Confidence chairing complex meetings and driving multi-agency planning.
• An inclusive, relationship-based approach that centres the voice and needs of the child.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone ready to make an impact and lead from the front on permanency in an authority recognised for its improvement and ambition.

Read more about the role here