Fostering Team Manager: Lead Practice & Impact

Salford Council; Salford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Salford Council is recruiting a Fostering Team Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for assessments, supervision and support of foster carers, ensuring safety, compliance and best practice.

You will oversee reviews, audits and quality assurance, manage weekly duty rosters, support recruitment and retention, and contribute to policy development while advising the panel and safeguarding colleagues.

Qualifications

• Holds social work qualifications and SWE Registration.
• Experience and strong knowledge of fostering regulations and safeguarding.
• Proven ability to lead staff, manage performance, and deliver high standards as an advance social worker or experienced manager.
• Understanding of sufficiency, foster carer recruitment, assessment, and retention.

Responsibilities

• Manage a high-performing team responsible for assessments, supervision, and support of foster carers and supported lodgings; ensure safety, effectiveness, and statutory compliance.
• Provide clear leadership and management oversight, including covering fostering duty on a weekly rota basis.
• Oversee reviews, audits, and quality assurance of fostering assessments and reports; ensure alignment with statutory requirements.
• Monitor performance through weekly and monthly reports and use data to drive service improvements.
• Ensure compliance with fostering regulations and safeguarding; support recruitment and retention strategies for foster carers and Mockingbird Hub Liaison workers.
• Develop policy and guidance; ensure it remains current and aligned with legislation.
• Act as Panel Advisor when required and provide professional advice and regulatory oversight to the panel.
• Support LADO referrals and ensure timely follow-up actions.

Skills

Team leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Decision making

Data driven decisions

Education

SWE Registration

Social work qualification

Job description

Salford Council is recruiting a Fostering Team Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for assessments, supervision and support of foster carers, ensuring safety, compliance and best practice.

You will oversee reviews, audits and quality assurance, manage weekly duty rosters, support recruitment and retention, and contribute to policy development while advising the panel and safeguarding colleagues.