This role is ideal for a strategic professional who can balance high‑level compliance with a genuine, child‑centred approach. You will lead an experienced team of Social Workers to deliver exceptional support to foster families and ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care.

What will your responsibilities be?

In this role, you will:

• Strategic Leadership: Direct the day‑to‑day operations of the agency, ensuring alignment with the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards (NMS).
• Safeguarding Excellence: Act as the designated Safeguarding Lead, managing all concerns with precision and serving as the primary point of contact for external agencies and the LADO.
• Team Development: Supervise, mentor, and inspire a team of Social Workers, fostering a culture of professional growth and high‑quality practice.
• Service Growth: Oversee the recruitment, assessment (Form F), and retention of foster carers, with a particular focus on specialist placements such as Parent and Child.
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain the agency’s high standards in preparation for Ofsted inspections, including the completion of Regulation 35 reports and robust monthly auditing.
• Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Local Authority commissioners.

Qualifications and experience

• Qualified Social Worker: Must hold a Degree or Diploma in Social Work and be currently registered with Social Work England.
• Proven track record: Experience in a senior leadership or Registered Manager capacity within a fostering setting is essential.
• Management credential: Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management (or an equivalent qualification or willingness to work towards one).
• Expert knowledge: A thorough, working understanding of the Children Act 1989 and current Fostering Regulations.
• Flexibility: A valid UK driving licence and the ability to participate in an out‑of‑hours on‑call rota.

Reasonable Adjustments:

If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity by contacting our team. With this information, we will provide appropriate support to you throughout the process and into your work placement.

We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.

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