Fostering Recruitment Team Manager

Connect2Hackney; London Borough of Hackney; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect2Hackney, recruiting on behalf of Hackney Council, seeks an experienced Fostering Recruitment & Assessment Team Manager to lead the Corporate Parenting Service's unit. The role focuses on ensuring high-quality foster carer assessments, timely recruitment, and strong decision-making within a trauma-informed, anti-racist STAR framework.

You will supervise social work professionals, drive practice excellence, support staff development and engage partners across children's services to improve

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration.
• Significant post-qualification experience in children's social care and fostering services.
• Proven management experience, including supervision and leadership of social work teams.
• Strong knowledge of fostering legislation, safeguarding and statutory guidance.
• Experience with quality assurance, auditing and service improvement.
• Commitment to anti-racist, child-centered and trauma-informed practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of social work professionals, fostering practitioners and support staff.
• Oversee fostering recruitment, assessment and approval processes to ensure timely and high-quality practice.
• Provide reflective supervision, performance management and professional development to staff.
• Ensure compliance with fostering regulations, childcare legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures.
• Drive quality assurance, audit activity and continuous service improvement.
• Lead on multi-agency partnership working to support children, carers and families.
• Champion Hackney's STAR practice model, embedding anti-racist, trauma-informed and systemic approaches across the service.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Supervision

Quality assurance

Partnership working

Anti-racist/trauma-informed practice

Education

Social Work qualification

Social Work England registration

Job description

Connect2Hackney is recruiting on behalf of Hackney Council for an experienced Fostering Recruitment & Assessment Team Manager to lead a dedicated team within the Corporate Parenting Service. This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive local authority committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for children and families through its Systemic, Trauma-informed and anti-racist (STAR) practice model.

As Team Manager, you will provide strong leadership and management oversight to the Fostering Recruitment & Assessment Team, ensuring high-quality assessments, effective decision-making, and the successful recruitment of foster carers. You will drive practice excellence, support staff development, oversee performance and quality assurance, and work collaboratively with partners across children's services to achieve the best possible outcomes for Hackney's children.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of social work professionals, fostering practitioners and support staff.


• Oversee fostering recruitment, assessment and approval processes to ensure timely and high-quality practice.


• Provide reflective supervision, performance management and professional development to staff.


• Ensure compliance with fostering regulations, childcare legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures.


• Drive quality assurance, audit activity and continuous service improvement.


• Lead on multi-agency partnership working to support children, carers and families.


• Champion Hackney's STAR practice model, embedding anti-racist, trauma-informed and systemic approaches across the service.

About You

• Social Work qualification and current Social Work England registration.


• Significant post-qualified experience within children's social care and fostering services.


• Proven management experience, including supervision and leadership of social work teams.


• Strong knowledge of fostering legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding practices.


• Experience of quality assurance, auditing and service improvement.


• A commitment to anti-racist, child-centered and trauma-informed practice.

Hackney offers a forward-thinking environment where innovation, learning and professional development are actively encouraged.

This role would suit an experienced Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager ready to lead a high-performing fostering service and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people.