Deputy Area Manager

Olive Branch Fostering; Greater London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent fostering agency is seeking a Deputy Area Manager to support and develop their foster care services across Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. The role involves managing social work teams, enhancing foster care delivery, and liaising with local authorities to ensure high-quality care standards. Applicants should be experienced social workers committed to improving the lives of looked-after children and willing to travel across regions.

Benefits

Generous Annual Leave

Birthday Leave

Good Health Days

Refer A Friend Scheme

Comprehensive Employee Assistance Platform

Auto Enrolment Pension

Learning & Development Opportunities

Private Healthcare Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• 3 years post qualification experience.
• Full UK Driving Licence and vehicle required.
• Commitment to Equal Opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the local social work team supporting foster carers.
• Attend and chair management and clinical meetings.
• Liaise with Local Authorities regarding children in placement.

Skills

Leadership

Management Experience

Child Services Experience

Education

Recognised Social Work Qualification

Social Work England Registration

Job description

Job reference REQ00493 Date posted 09/06/2025 Application closing date Blank Location Sussex and Surrey Salary Blank Package Blank Contractual hours 37.5 Basis Full Time Job category/type Manager Attachments Blank

Job description

Job Title:Deputy Area Manager

Location:Portslade /Maidstone

Salary:£44,155 - £47,740

Working Pattern:37.5 hours per week, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday

Blue Sky Fostering has an exciting opportunity for a Deputy Area Manager to join our Kent /Sussex and Surrey team.

Who are we?.

Blue Sky Fostering is an established Independent Fostering Agency, operating across the south of England, to provide foster placements to children and young people.

We provide a number of different services including mainstream fostering for children aged 0-18 and Parent and Child Placements. We also have an established and well regarded Therapeutic Led Care (TLC) service where our team of experienced clinical practitioners work alongside specialist foster carers to provide therapeutic care to children to prevent them moving to residential care.

Our ethos is to provide the best service possible for children, and for all children placed with us to achieve their full potential. We work hard to ensure children experience love, care, nurture and stability with our carers.

The Role

Blue Sky Fostering has a brilliant opportunity for a Deputy Area Manager to join the team.

We are looking for a dedicated and dependable individual to work with and develop both the Blue Sky therapeutic and mainstream service. You will be responsible for working closely with the Team Manager to manage and develop the local social work team that supports our foster carers, children and young people in placements as well as for the recruitment, training, assessment, approval, supervision, support and development of foster carers in the local area.

As a Deputy Area Manager, you will be responsible for the formal supervision and management of all social work staff in the local office, including a case supervision of clinical practitioners, as well as guiding the local administrative staff. This includes ensuring all recording systems for children, carers and staff are maintained in line with Blue Sky Fostering procedures and all tasks are completed in and effective and efficient manner to support the fostering service. You will also be required to allocate new tasks and responsibilities within the team and input into caseload discussions/decisions.

The successful candidate will need to attend and report to management meetings as well as convene and chair both local team and clinical TLC meetings regarding children and young people placed with Blue Sky Fostering. You will be responsible for liaising and negotiating with Local Authorities in relation to children in placement as well as meeting regularly with them to ensure that the principles of partnership are upheld and positive working relationships are developed.

Location

For this role, willingness to travel and use of a car is essential as the successful applicant will be required to support the team and visit carers and placements across Kent/Sussex and Surrey.

What we’re looking for

• To apply for this position, it is essential you:
• Hold a recognised Social Work qualification
• Have a current Social Work England registration
• 3 years post qualification experience
• Leadership and management experience
• Hold a full UK Driving Licence and have a vehicle
• Are willing to undertake an enhanced DBS
• Have experience in children’s services and foster care delivery
• Willing to participate in an out of hours telephone support system and undertake occasional out of hours/weekend work by attending events, meetings and training
• Share a commitment to Equal Opportunities in all work practices and to improving the lives of Looked After Children.

Why work for us?

• Generous Annual Leave – 28 days PLUS your Bank Holiday Entitlement
• Annual Leave increase after 3 full years of service by 1 day - up until a max of 12 years
• Birthday Leave – a paid day off for your birthday
• Good Health Days – no sickness in a 6 month period and get an additional day off!
• Refer A Friend Scheme with a monetary incentive
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Platform that provides access to advice and support 24/7
• Auto Enrolment Pension
• Learning & Development Opportunities
• Optional Private Healthcare Scheme
• Eyecare Vouchers
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Optional Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Leave/Shared Parental Leave

Everyone is welcome.

Diversity and inclusion are the principles for how we build our teams and Blue Sky Fostering strives to create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are valued and celebrated. We want a workforce which represents the communities we serve and work, to ensure no applicant or employee is treated unfairly on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, religion or identity. We recognise and value the individual differences and contributions of all employees and believe that by working together we can achieve equality for all.