Head of Fostering and Adoption

Head of Fostering and Adoption

Location: Aylesbury

Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our senior leadership team as the Head of Fostering & Adoption. This pivotal role involves leading, influencing, shaping, and challenging across the critical area of Children’s Social Care. The successful candidate will oversee the management and leadership of the Fostering, Adoption, and Placement Services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality childcare placements and supporting the LAC & Permanence Strategy.

We are looking for a candidate who is not only qualified and experienced but also passionate about commitment to equality and positive outcomes for all children and young people.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected– only an hour from London on the train.

About the role

The role involves leading, influencing, shaping, and challenging across the critical area of Children’s Social Care. The post holder will be responsible for the oversight, management, and leadership of the Fostering, Adoption, and Placement Services. Working closely with the Head of Commissioning to ensure that commissioned services complement in-house provision and support the delivery of the LAC & Permanence Strategy by ensuring the sufficiency of good quality childcare placements. Other key responsibilities are below:

1. Manage financial allowances in line with budget allocations.
2. Act as the named decision maker for Regulation 24 placements.
3. Support the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) in developing adoption services and attend national meetings and strategic boards.
4. Lead on key strategies including the LAC & Permanence Strategy, Corporate Parenting Strategy, and Change for Children (C4C) LAC Project.
5. Chair the Resources panel, Reg 24 panel, and act as the ADM for new foster carers.
6. Develop and maintain excellent relationships with partner agencies and other services within the local authority and with schools.
7. Promote diversity, equality, and inclusion within the team.
8. Oversee the Fostering Service, ensuring the provision of emergency and planned placements for children and young people.
9. Approve Adoption, Special Guardianship, and Child Arrangement Order Support Plans.

About you

We are looking for a candidate who is not only qualified and experienced in the below but also passionate about commitment to equality and positive outcomes for all children and young people:

1. Significant relevant experience in managing a service/professional expertise area in a large public sector organisation, preferably local government.
2. In-depth knowledge of national and local issues related to children and young people’s services.
3. Excellent knowledge of legislation and guidance relating to corporate parenting, safeguarding, and children’s services.
4. Proven leadership ability with evidence of developing a multi-disciplinary team approach.
5. Registered (SWE) and qualified social worker.
6. The post holder will be accountable to OFSTED for Fostering and Adoption and will lead the Children’s Services Improvement Plan across their area of responsibility.

This role requires a full driving license.

Other information

Salary – £85,000 up to £89,250

If you would like an informal conversation with Errol Albert – Service Director to find out more about this role, please contact Joanne Parker at

Closing date : midnight 8th December 2024

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

1. All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
2. All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

1. a fair and inclusive culture
2. the chance to really make a difference to those around you
3. health and well-being initiatives
4. ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
5. opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

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