At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dedicated team to ensure high standards in fostering services across southwest England.
- Company: Join Action for Children, a passionate organisation committed to creating safe childhoods.
- Benefits: Enjoy over 7 weeks of paid leave, flexible family packages, and a Wellbeing Day.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Must hold a recognised social work qualification and have significant experience in children's social care.
The predicted salary is between 50400 - 50400 £ per year.
Salary: £50,400 per annum
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.
- A paid annual Wellbeing Day to support 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 and you’ll be part of a team dedicated to giving children safe and happy childhoods. See how your skills can make a real difference, leading on embedding a therapeutic fostering offer to children and young people.
A bit about the role:
- 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 requirements and standards as directed by AFC Head of Fostering Services and 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.
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 care to 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.
How you'll help 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's talk 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 children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us create change that really matters. And when we succeed, we’ll recognise what you did to make a difference.
We've been driven by love to take action for 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. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here.
Will you join us?
For more information about our role, please check out the job description here.
Interviews to be held week commencing 5th October 2026.
How to apply:
If you require any support to apply, please contact: Scott Jones via email at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13659. For any questions or early enquiry, please contact Colette Ferns, Head of Fostering via email at coletteferns@actionforchildren.org.uk. Or Adrienne Cronin, Foster Service Manager at adriennecronin@actionforchildren.org.uk.
Diversity, equality and inclusion:
We work 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’re capable of amazing things. We actively encourage applications from people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with a disability, as these groups are under-represented within Action for Children. Men are currently under-represented within our Children Service roles. We’d like to change that. So, we really encourage men to apply for any of our Children Service roles.
Team Manager Fostering and Adoption in Bristol employer: Action for Children
Action for Children is an exceptional employer that prioritises a supportive and inclusive work culture, offering flexible hours to accommodate personal commitments. Employees benefit from professional growth opportunities through collaboration with passionate colleagues and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the community. Working in this role not only allows you to lead exciting fundraising events but also to engage with dedicated supporters and volunteers, making every day rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager Fostering and Adoption in Bristol
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Action for Children.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Action for Children!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Action for Children, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Action for Children or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager Fostering and Adoption in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Action for Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Action for Children! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
