Fostering Deputy Team Manager

Coram Academy Ltd; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36 days paid leave

Hybrid working

Company pension

Leadership coaching

Job summary

Evergreen Foster Care in the United Kingdom is seeking an Advanced Practitioner to join the leadership team, assisting the Registered Manager to drive outstanding fostering practice and staff development. You will balance governance with hands-on practice while supporting a growing team.

You will lead, coach and guide practitioners, manage a small caseload of foster carers, and contribute to service improvement and strategic growth.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification and SW England registration.
• Significant fostering experience.
• Experience mentoring or supervising other practitioners.
• Excellent knowledge of fostering legislation and safeguarding.
• Confidence in decision-making and professional judgement.
• Passion for developing people and improving practice.

Responsibilities

• Support the Registered Manager with day-to-day management of the fostering service.
• Lead, coach and inspire the social work team, helping colleagues develop professionally.
• Support compliance with Ofsted regulations, the Fostering Services Regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Carry out quality assurance audits and contribute to continuous service improvement.
• Promote high-quality safeguarding and child-centered practice.
• Provide consultation and guidance on complex cases.
• Hold a small caseload of foster carers.
• Undertake occasional Form F Assessments.
• Deputise for the Registered Manager when required.
• Contribute to the strategic growth and development of Evergreen Foster Care.

Skills

Mentoring others

Leadership experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Social Work degree

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

Working alongside the Registered Manager, you will help lead our fostering service, ensuring children receive outstanding care while supporting staff to deliver high-quality practice. You will provide day-to-day support to a multidisciplinary team of:

• 4 Supervising Social Workers
• 2 Therapists
• 2 Family Support Workers

Supporting approximately:

• 35 Foster Carers
• 20 Children and Young People

This is a hands-on leadership role, combining operational management with a small amount of front-line practice. You'll hold a small caseload of foster carers and complete approximately one fostering assessment at a time, enabling you to remain connected to practice while developing your management experience.

• Support the Registered Manager with the day-to-day management of the fostering service.
• Lead, coach and inspire the social work team, helping colleagues build confidence and develop professionally.
• Support compliance with Ofsted regulations, the Fostering Services Regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Carry out quality assurance audits and contribute to continuous service improvement.
• Promote high-quality safeguarding and child-centered practice.
• Provide consultation and guidance on complex cases.
• Hold a small caseload of foster carers.
• Undertake occasional Form F Assessments.
• Deputise for the Registered Manager when required.
• Contribute to the strategic growth and development of Evergreen Foster Care.

We're looking for someone who enjoys developing others, values excellent social work practice and wants to become part of a growing leadership team.

You will have:

• Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
• Significant fostering experience.
• Experience supporting, mentoring or supervising other practitioners.
• Excellent knowledge of fostering legislation and safeguarding.
• Confidence in decision-making and professional judgement.
• A passion for developing people and improving practice.

Evergreen Foster Care is a therapeutic independent fostering agency committed to providing safe, nurturing and stable homes where children can flourish. We are proud of our relationship-based approach, investing in our foster carers and staff to ensure children receive exceptional care and support.

Advanced Practitioners

• Senior Supervising Social Workers
• Practice Leads
• Assistant Team Managers
• Experienced Team Leaders looking for their next career move.

Why Join Evergreen?

• Salary £53,000-£57,000 (DOE)
• Genuine opportunity to progress into a senior leadership role.
• Supportive Registered Manager committed to developing future leaders.
• Small, therapeutic agency where relationships matter.
• Opportunity to influence practice and shape the future of the organisation.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Continuous professional development and leadership coaching.

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and help shape the future of an ambitious fostering agency, we'd love to hear from you.

Alongside this, the role offers:

• 36 days' paid annual leave, including bank holidays.
• 37.5 hours per week on average, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break each day. We recognise that the nature of the role sometimes requires flexibility, including occasional evenings and weekends, but we also believe in giving people the autonomy to manage their time responsibly.
• Company pension scheme, with enrolment after three months in line with auto-enrolment legislation.
• Hybrid working, with the freedom to organise your diary alongside Vicky, allowing you to balance the needs of the service with your own working style.