Fostering Team Manager

Newcastle City Council; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Newcastle upon Tyne is seeking an experienced fostering manager to supervise a team of fostering workers. The ideal candidate will have a professional social work qualification and significant experience in children's social work, particularly in fostering. The role includes providing leadership, ensuring compliance, and supporting foster carers. The council offers comprehensive benefits including flexible working options and professional growth opportunities.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

Flexible and hybrid working options

Generous annual leave

Up to five days additional paid leave for fostering-related activities

Qualifications

• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Significant post-qualifying experience in children's social work.
• Experience managing or supervising social workers.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and supervision to a team of fostering workers.
• Oversee complex fostering caseloads and ensure compliance.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary partners to support foster carers.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Team management

Child safeguarding

Education

Professional Social Work qualification

Job description

Overview

Newcastle City Council is a fostering friendly employer, a UNICEF Child Friendly City, and a City of Sanctuary, committed to providing the highest quality of care to our children and families. We are seeking an experienced and child-centred fostering manager to supervise and inspire a team of supervising social workers and resource workers, within a service rated "Good" by Ofsted. The fostering service is composed of four individual teams. As a team manager, you will be expected to work closely with colleagues in the management team to provide good quality supervision and support, empowering the teams to deliver excellent, relationship-based practice, provide appropriate care arrangements, and achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Your role and responsibilities

• Provide strong leadership, supervision, and guidance to a team of fostering workers.
• Oversee complex fostering caseloads, ensuring all work is compliant with statutory responsibilities, policies, and national minimum standards.
• Drive best practice in a supportive and reflective way, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the team.
• Ensure the effective assessment, training, and support of foster carers, maintaining high standards and meeting service targets.
• Provide high-quality management support for the service and contribute to service development.
• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary partners and partner agencies to support foster carers and the children in their care.

Qualifications

• A professional Social Work qualification (e.g., Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent) and current registration with Social Work England.
• Significant post-qualifying experience in children's social work, with demonstrable experience in fostering.
• Experience of managing, supervising, or mentoring social workers, preferably within a local authority setting.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of relevant fostering regulations, legislation, and national minimum standards.
• A proven ability to lead and motivate a team, manage resources, and drive service improvements.
• A strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Benefits

• A supportive culture: Join a local authority where social workers and leaders are valued, supported, and heard.
• Comprehensive benefits: Enjoy a defined benefit pension scheme, flexible and hybrid working options, a generous flexi-time scheme, and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Professional growth: We offer a dedicated 5-day induction and ongoing leadership training, development, and coaching opportunities.
• Generous leave: Newcastle City Council offers generous annual leave, with the option to buy more.
• Additional leave for employees who are also foster carers: As a Fostering Friendly Employer, the council provides up to five days of additional paid leave for fostering-related activities, such as attending training and settling in a new child.