Assistant Director for Belonging – Homes for Children, Fostering and Adoption (incl ADM)

JR United Kingdom; England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

JR United Kingdom cherche un Assistant Director for Belonging pour diriger les services de protection de l'enfance à Northamptonshire. Le poste exige des compétences en leadership dans un environnement social complexe, avec l'objectif d'améliorer les résultats pour les enfants à travers des services de placement et d'adoption. Le candidat idéal démontrera une passion pour le leadership et le changement, avec une forte volonté d'innovation et d'amélioration continue.

Benefits

28 jours de congés annuels plus jours de congé bancaire

Pension de gouvernement local

Programmes d'assistance aux employés

Travail flexible

Développement de carrière

Stationnement disponible

Qualifications

• Expérience préalable dans un cadre de travail social complexe.
• Connaissance à jour des législations et réglementations pertinentes.
• Capacités éprouvées en management et en leadership.

Responsibilities

• Fournir une direction stratégique et opérationnelle dans les services de protection de l'enfance.
• Veiller à la conformité aux normes et à la gestion des inspections OFSTED.
• Développer des stratégies pour le recrutement et la rétention des familles d'accueil.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Change Management

Relationship Building

Education

Extensive experience in children's social work

Job description

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Assistant Director for Belonging – Homes for Children, Fostering and Adoption (incl ADM), Northamptonshire

Client: Northamptonshire Children's Trust

Location: Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Job Category: Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Views: 11

Posted: 12.06.2025

Expiry Date: 27.07.2025

Job Description:

About the role

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for improving the lives of children and young people and ensuring they have a sense of belonging in their home and community?

This is an exceptional opportunity for a high-calibre professional with leadership experience to join our organisation.

All children and young people deserve to live somewhere they feel they belong, are safe, and are loved.

As the Assistant Director for Belonging, you will ensure that children and young people who cannot live with their families reside in suitable settings, such as residential homes, foster care, or adoption. You will oversee the strategic development, management, and delivery of these services, bringing your social work expertise to the brokerage and placements service to meet individual needs.

This role reports to the Director of Social Care and is part of our senior leadership team, supporting over 1200 children and young people across Northamptonshire.

You will lead and motivate these service areas to deliver high-quality services, focusing on positive family experiences, safety, education, and preparing children for adulthood. Collaboration with local authorities, promoting equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, will be key.

What will you be doing?

Providing strategic and operational leadership across the system, managing children’s social care services with a social worker background and senior management experience. Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, leading OFSTED inspections, and maintaining statutory obligations are essential.

You will act as the agency decision maker (ADM) for adoption, fostering, and children’s homes, developing strategies for recruitment and retention of carers and matching children with suitable homes. Managing teams of Responsible Individuals and Registered Managers, you will ensure high performance and compliance.

Building strong partnerships with agencies, elected officials, and voluntary organisations to promote fostering and adoption, and ensuring children’s participation in service planning are vital.

As a senior leader, you will oversee service delivery, outcomes, and value for money, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

About you

You will have extensive experience leading children’s social work in a large, complex setting, with a passion for improving outcomes. Change management skills, excellent communication, and relationship-building abilities are essential. You must have up-to-date knowledge of legislation, regulations, and best practices in children’s services. An ambition to make a difference and a drive for excellence are crucial.

For informal discussions, email [emailprotected] to arrange a call. When applying, include a supporting statement addressing the essential criteria and a full employment history.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, local government pension, employee assistance programs, discounts, flexible working, career development, and parking schemes.

About us

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is committed to putting children, young people, and families at the centre of all we do. We value diversity, support our staff, and promote an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. We are a disability confident employer and guarantee interviews for care leavers meeting the criteria.

Join us and make a real difference in children’s lives.