7.2 The Role of the Lead Social Worker's Manager

The Lead Social Worker should receive regular supervision in line with Children's Social Care supervision policy, from the Team Manager, and the Team Manager should ensure that the Lead Social Worker is able to maintain the child's safety, health and development as the primary focus.

The Team Manager should be fully aware of all aspects of the Child Protection Plan, and should ensure that the plan is adhered to, that open communication is maintained between agencies and that agreed procedures and timescales are followed, including arrangements for Core Groups and Child in Need meetings.

The Team Manager should ensure that the Child Protection Plan is followed during periods of absence by the Lead Social Worker and should inform Core Group members of any temporary or permanent change in Lead Social Worker.

The Team Manager is responsible for endorsing decision-making in the child protection process, and recording decisions endorsed on the child's file. Reading and signing of case records is also a function of the supervisory responsibility.

The Team Manager is also responsible for chairing the Core Group, unless this task is delegated to a Lead Social Worker. Only a suitably experienced Lead Social Worker should chair a Core Group meeting.