Fostering Services Manager

Action-For-Children; Exeter; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and

Excellent support and leadershipopport

Flexible maternity, paternity andadop

Up to 5% employer contribution and

Blue Light Card eligibility with

Job summary

Action for Children in Exeter, Devon and Bristol seeks a Fostering Services Manager to lead our regional fostering services, ensuring compliance, safeguarding and high-quality practice.

You will work within the senior management group, oversee budgets and contracts, and partner with commissioners to sustain services that support looked-after children and young people through our HOMES model.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker (Degree/DipSW/CQSW) and registered with Social Work England.
• Extensive experience in children's social care, including fostering.
• Experience leading managers and social workers; ability to improve practice.
• Strong budget management and data analysis skills; commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for regulated fostering services across regions.
• Oversee day-to-day operations and ensure safeguarding standards.
• Lead safeguarding, recording and practice; build relationships with commissioners.
• Represent AFC externally at events and advocate for the service.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Data analysis

Commercial awareness

People management

Education

Degree in Social Work

DipSW

CQSW

Job description

Fostering Services Manager

Salary: Up to £56,700 per annum (dependent on experience) -higher salary can be considered for an exceptional candidate.
Location: Exeter, Devon and Bristol
Contract/Hours: Perm/Full time – 37 hours per week

Benefits:

• Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave. consideration of continued service leave balance
• Excellent support and leadership opportunities
• Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages
• Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover
• Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers

At Action for Children, we offer more than just a job. Join us andyou’llbe part of a team dedicated to giving children safe and happy childhoods.See howyour skills can make a real difference, leading on embedding a therapeutic fostering offer to children and young people

A bit abouttherole

Our Fostering Service Manager will oversee standards and the compliance, safeguarding and sustainability needs of Fostering services within south-west England

You will be part of the senior management group within England Fostering Services and work to Action for Children’s Head of Fostering

The role involves strong financial acumen, ability to impact practice and culture and embed our AFC people strategy. You will provide strong leadership and direction to a range of professional social work, health and business support staff and work in partnership with marketing and central AFC staff to maintain sustainable services

You will hold the Registered Managers role for Devon Short Breaks and Fostering Southwest peninsular and oversee the Registered Manager role in Fostering Southwest (Bristol) services. You will be accountable for regulatory requirement and standards as directed by AFC Head of Fostering Services

You will be responsible for local budgets and contracts, providing accuracy and accountability, and to build on strong relationships with commissioners and other stakeholders.

You will be responsible to oversee our therapeutic HOMES Model.information on this can be found by clicking here

About the service

This is an exciting opportunity to take over services that embed the HOMES model throughout its entire fostering approach, as the current leader is moving on.You will be supported by highly equipped and experienced managers who see the importance of delivering on a culture of psychological safety

Action for Children Fostering Services in England southwest provide the highest standards of care to the most vulnerable children and young people by the provision of safe, secure, and successful foster homes including short breaks for children with additional needs. These services are located around Exeter, Devon and Bristol.

We provide foster families with excellent training, supervision, and support to achieve the best outcomes for the young people we look after. We provide high quality of care always ensuring children and young people are at the centre of our approach. We offer a therapeutic HOMES model and carers and staff have access to skilled psychologists with specialist knowledge of the needs of looked-after children.

Howyou'llhelp to create brighter futures

• Provide strategic leadership to ensure strong practice and leadership is upheld
• Provide and deliver on AFC values
• Oversee the day‑to‑day operations of regulated services across Exeter, Devon and Bristol
• Provide oversight and accountability to AFC Head of Service (Fostering) and Ofsted, the Regulatory Body
• Lead and be accountable for safeguarding, recording and practice.
• Build strong relationships with carer families, local organisations and partner agencies
• Be the external representative and attend local events, panels and forums to promote and strengthen the service.

Let'stalk about you.

• Hold a recognised social work qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW) and be registered with Social Work England
• Significant experience across children’s social care, including fostering.
• Experienced in leading, motivating and supporting managers and social workers, challenging under‑performance and promoting best practice.
• Confident analysing data, managing budgets and applying commercial awareness within a social care context.

Why Action for Children?

Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many childrendon’t.

By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience,you’llhelp us create change that really matters. And when we succeed,we’llrecognise what you did to make a difference.

We'vebeen driven by love totake actionfor children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need,hasn’t. Soas long aschildren need us,we’llbe here.

Will you join us?

For more information about our Fostering Services Manager role, please check out job description here

Diversity,equalityandinclusion

Wework hard to create an inclusive environment. One where individuality is celebrated and where everyone feels valued and supported. Because when we come together, with skills like yours,we’recapable of amazing things.

Weactivelyencourageapplications frompeople withBlack, AsianandMinority Ethnicbackgroundsandpeople with adisability,as these groupsare under-represented within Action for Children.

Menarecurrentlyunder-represented within our Children Service roles.We’dlike to change that.So,we reallyencouragemen to applyforany ofour Children Serviceroles.