Head of Fostering Services – North East

Team Fostering; North Shields; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly supervision

30 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Hybrid working arrangement

Flexible working arrangements

Life assurance cover

Employee assistance programme

Retail discount scheme

Salary sacrifice schemes

GP helpline

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Team Fostering North East is seeking an experienced Registered Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across our North East service. The role involves ensuring high-quality fostering provision, safeguarding, and compliance with National Minimum Standards, with travel across the North East and occasional visits to Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

You will lead a team of managers and staff, oversee foster carer recruitment, development and supported decision-making, and drive

Qualifications

• Significant leadership and management experience within fostering or children’s social care services.
• Understanding of fostering legislation, safeguarding, National Minimum Standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of leading teams, managing performance and driving continuous service improvement.
• Strong decision-making, organisational and quality assurance skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with carers, authorities and Ofsted.
• Commitment to achieving outstanding outcomes for children, young people and foster families.
• Full UK driving licence and ability to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Act as Ofsted Registered Manager for the North East service, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.
• Provide leadership, management and support to managers and staff with high standards of practice.
• Ensure safe and robust decision-making across the service including safeguarding and referrals.
• Oversee recruitment, assessment, training, support and retention of foster carers.
• Lead quality assurance and auditing for high-quality assessments, reports and planning.
• Monitor outcomes for children and identify improvements to placement stability.
• Contribute to budget planning, target setting and reporting to Board and SLT.
• Develop relationships with local authorities and partner agencies for service development.
• Support tendering processes, contracts and regional growth initiatives.
• Monitor performance, compliance and financial viability, report to senior leadership.

Skills

Leadership & management

Safeguarding

Regulatory knowledge

Team building

Decision making

Communication

Driving licence

Job description

Team Fostering North East is seeking an experienced Registered Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across our North East service. The role involves ensuring high-quality fostering provision, safeguarding, and compliance with National Minimum Standards, with travel across the North East and occasional visits to Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

You will lead a team of managers and staff, oversee foster carer recruitment, development and supported decision-making, and drive