Safeguarding Families Team Leader (Dorset)

Safeguarding Families Together (SFT) Team Leader - Dorset

Location: Dorset
Working Hours: 37 hours
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £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>

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. 

About Waythrough 

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. 

 

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

• 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 Go and Aspirations portals

• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus

• Cycle 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 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

 

If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk 

Closing Date:

2026-07-08