Team Manager Fostering

Action-For-Children; West of England; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Over 7 weeks paid leave with buy/sell

Wellbeing day annually

Leadership opportunities

Flexible maternity/paternity/adoption

Employer pension contribution

Blue Light Card discounts

Job summary

Action for Children in Bristol will appoint a Team Manager for Fostering and Adoption to lead safeguarding, standards and the sustainability of fostering services across the southwest. You’ll be part of the senior management group reporting to the Head of Fostering Services and work to embed a therapeutic HOMES model within the fostering service.

You will oversee a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets and contracts, and build strong relationships with commissioners and partner agencies to

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Oversee standards and safeguarding, compliance and sustainability of fostering services in southwest England.
• Lead a dedicated team and ensure strong team culture aligned with AFC values.
• Accountable for local budgets and contracts, building relationships with commissioners and stakeholders.
• Provide oversight to AFC Head of Service (Fostering) and Ofsted, the Regulatory Body.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

People management

Budgeting

Education

Social work qualification (Degree/DipSW)

Job description

Team Manager Fostering and Adoption

Salary:£50,400 per annum - negotiable for an exceptional candidate
Location: 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
• As part of our commitment to staff wellbeing, you’ll receive a paid annual Wellbeing Day to use however you choose, supporting a healthy balance between work and life.
• 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

You will oversee standards and the compliance, safeguarding and sustainability needs of fostering services within southwest England

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

The role involves the leadership of a dedicated team, compliance to fostering standards and maintaining a strong team culture and being ambitious for children and young people. 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 Manager role for Southwest Fostering. You will be accountable for regulatory requirement and standards as directed by AFC Head of Fostering Servicesand Foster Service Manager

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 careto the most vulnerable children and young people by the provision of safe, secure, and successful foster homes

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 southwest
• 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, ) 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, inputs to 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 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.

See below for further information about working with us:

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement

Management Competency Framework

Make a Difference - A Career in Residential Services