At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead teams to support children in care and improve placement stability.
- Company: Enfield Council, dedicated to making a difference in the community.
- Benefits: Generous salary, excellent pension, up to 32 days leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a supportive, collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Shape services that truly impact children's lives and foster positive change.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in children's social care and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 70752 - 90921 £ per year.
Reference Number: PEO-002856
Salary: HOS2 £70,752 to £90,921
Advert closing date: 24/09/2026
Department: People
Location: Thomas Hardy House
Contract type: Permanent
Division: Children in Care
Hours Per Week: 36
Interview Date: 02/10/26
Role overview: As Service Manager for Fostering and Permanence, work with the Fostering and Special Guardianship teams you will guide the teams in providing support, guidance and supervision to family and local authority assessed carers. In addition, you will be responsible for the management of the in-house contact centre. You will drive high-quality, relational and trauma-informed practice, working with partners to improve permanence, placement stability, education, health and wellbeing. Reporting to the Head of Children in Care and Care Leavers, you will support service strategy, transformation and continuous improvement.
What You’ll Do:
- Provide the teams and partner agencies with support to maintain placement stability and improve permanence and wellbeing for children in care.
- Lead service improvement and embed strong relational practice.
- Ensure strong performance, quality assurance, and statutory compliance.
- Strengthen partnerships and develop the enduring relationship Hub to support stability, family time, lifelong networks and better outcomes including the successful reunification of children with parents following a positive assessment.
- Support the current Fostering association and the staff group to review the support improved placement stability.
- Produce and promote the local offer to Kinship carers alongside partner agencies.
- Be an active member of the North London Fostering Consortium.
- Represent Enfield with partners, Members and regional forums.
What We’re Looking For:
- Senior leadership experience within statutory children’s social care services including working with children in care and carers.
- Ability to lead high-performing teams, manage complex services and deliver improvement.
- Able to lead change while maintaining good services.
- Strong understanding of children in care and the importance of family and lifelong networks.
- Experience managing large budgets effectively.
- Knowledge of statutory frameworks, Ofsted and quality assurance.
- Experience leading change in complex organisations.
- Politically astute and confident with Members and senior stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, influencing and partnership skills.
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
Why Join Us:
- A key leadership role improving outcomes and shaping change.
- Opportunity to shape services that make a difference.
- Collaborative, forward-thinking leadership culture.
- Commitment to development and improvement.
- An ambitious, diverse borough with strong partnerships.
We do not see your name or title when shortlisting your application. This is one of many initiatives to build a more talented and diverse workforce. However, if you put your name on your CV or Statement it will be visible to us. Please note it is your responses to the Essential/Desirable criteria, as detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification which is available on the job advert, that will determine if you are shortlisted for an interview, therefore we encourage you to always address the essential and desirable criteria in your application/CV.
Why it's great to work for Enfield Council:
- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Up to 32 days annual leave depending on grade and length of service.
- You will also get eight public holidays per year and an extra day off at Christmas.
- A blend of remote and office based working for most roles.
- Interest free season ticket loan repayable over three or ten months.
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
- Employee Assistance Programme to provide advice and counselling services. This is a free and confidential service available to staff and members of their family.
- Health and leisure discounts and tax-free bikes for work.
- 1 month's paid sabbatical for registered Social Workers working in Children's Social Care.
We are passionate about our people and how we deliver services to our community in Enfield. That’s why we encourage a culture that puts our customers at the heart of everything we do - by empowering our people to work together to find solutions, be open, honest and respectful, take responsibility and listen and learn. If you value these behaviours too, we’d love to hear from you - and of course we are always happy to talk flexible working.
Certain posts in the Council are ‘politically restricted’ which means that staff employed in these posts may not undertake political activities either in or outside the workplace and therefore if candidates are affiliated with any political party, we may not be able to proceed with their application.
Service Manager for Fostering and Permanence in Enfield employer: . Enfield Council
Enfield Council is a highly regarded employer dedicated to delivering exceptional environmental services while prioritising the well-being of its employees. With a strong commitment to career development, generous leave entitlements, and a supportive work culture, we empower our staff to make a meaningful impact in the community. Join us at Morson Road Depot and enjoy a fulfilling career with excellent benefits, including a robust pension scheme and health discounts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager for Fostering and Permanence in Enfield
✨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 . Enfield Council.
✨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 . Enfield Council!
✨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 . Enfield Council, 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 . Enfield Council 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 Service Manager for Fostering and Permanence in Enfield
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 . Enfield Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to . Enfield Council! 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 . Enfield Council
✨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.
