At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead recruitment and fostering panel functions while ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on improving children's lives through fostering.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and the chance to influence positive change in the community.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with management experience and a passion for fostering.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Reports to
Registered Manager / Responsible Individual
Responsible for
- Recruitment and Home-finding Officer
- Marketing Officer
- Assessing Social Workers (where applicable)
- Panel Administrator (where applicable)
- Recruitment, Assessment, Home-finding and Fostering Panel functions
- Leadership and People Management
- Provide effective leadership, supervision and performance management to the Recruitment and Home-finding Officer and Marketing Officer.
- Set objectives, monitor performance and support professional development through regular supervision and appraisal.
- Ensure the Recruitment and Home-finding Officer delivers an effective enquiry management, foster carer recruitment and home-finding service that meets agency targets and the needs of children.
- Ensure the Marketing Officer develops and delivers effective marketing campaigns to attract high-quality prospective foster carers, enhances the agency's brand and monitors campaign performance.
- Promote collaborative working between recruitment, marketing, assessment and operational fostering teams to maximise enquiry conversion, carer retention and placement availability.
- Monitor recruitment, home-finding and marketing performance through key performance indicators (KPIs), producing reports and recommending service improvements.
- Lead regular team meetings and contribute to a positive, high-performing and values-led culture.
- Identify workforce development needs and ensure staff receive appropriate training, coaching and support.
- Support succession planning and continuous service improvement across recruitment, marketing, quality assurance and panel functions.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Qualified Social Worker with a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, Dip SW, CQSW or equivalent).
- Current registration with
Social Work England .
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare/Leadership and Management (or equivalent Level 5 Management qualification), or willingness to achieve within an agreed timeframe.
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to fostering, safeguarding and leadership.
- Management or Leadership qualification above Level 5.
- Training in Quality Assurance, Auditing or Inspection Readiness.
Experience
- Minimum five years' post-qualification experience within children's social care, including substantial experience within fostering services.
- Experience of completing and/or quality assuring Form F Assessments.
- Experience of managing fostering panel processes.
- Experience of quality assurance, auditing and service improvement.
- Experience of supervising, mentoring and developing social workers or operational staff.
- Experience of recruitment and retention of foster carers.
- Experience of preparing for and contributing to Ofsted inspections.
- Experience of managing performance through KPIs and quality standards.
- Experience working within an Independent Fostering Agency.
- Experience of leading recruitment, home-finding or marketing functions.
- Experience deputising for a Registered Manager.
- Knowledge
- Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011.
- National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services.
- Children's Act 1989 and 2004.
- Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations.
- Working Together to Safeguard Children.
- Ofsted Inspection Framework.
- Foster carer recruitment, assessment and approval processes.
- Safeguarding, risk management and quality assurance frameworks.
Skills
- Excellent leadership and people management skills.
- Strong analytical and quality assurance skills.
- Excellent report writing and presentation skills.
- Ability to make sound professional judgements.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- High level of IT competence.
- Personal Attributes
- Child-centred and committed to achieving excellent outcomes.
- Values-driven with high professional integrity.
- Resilient, adaptable and solution focused.
- Collaborative leadership style.
- Committed to continuous improvement and learning.
- Able to work independently and as part of a senior leadership team.
- Other Requirements
- Full UK driving licence.
- Access to a vehicle insured for business use.
- Ability to travel throughout England.
- Enhanced DBS clearance.
- Flexibility to work occasional evenings for Fostering Panels, recruitment events and meetings.
Ability to deputise for the Registered Manager in their absence, ensuring the safe and effective operational management of the fostering service.
Participation in the management of the Out of Hours (OOH) rota, providing senior management support and decision-making outside normal office hours as required.
- Additional Job Description Responsibilities
- Deputy Registered Manager Responsibilities
- Deputise for the Registered Manager during periods of annual leave, sickness or other absence, ensuring continuity of leadership and operational oversight.
- Support the Registered Manager in ensuring the fostering service remains compliant with all statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements.
- Contribute to strategic planning, business development and continuous service improvement.
- Support the implementation of recommendations arising from Ofsted inspections, audits and quality assurance activity.
- Act as a senior decision maker in relation to safeguarding, placements, recruitment and operational issues when required.
- Represent the agency at external meetings and with commissioning authorities as delegated by the Registered Manager.
- Out of Hours Responsibilities
- Participate in the management Out of Hours (OOH) rota.
- Provide advice, guidance and management oversight in response to safeguarding concerns, placement disruptions, allegations, significant incidents and other emergencies occurring outside normal office hours.
- Ensure all Out of Hours decisions are recorded appropriately and communicated promptly to the Registered Manager and relevant operational teams.
- Support foster carers and staff by providing responsive management decision-making to maintain placement stability and safeguard children.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Fostering QA, Recruitment, Assessment and Panel Manager in Nottingham employer: Hope Fostering Services
As a leading Independent Fostering Agency, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values the growth and development of our staff. Our supportive work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, ensuring that every team member has access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities. Located in a vibrant community, we offer a meaningful career path where you can make a real difference in the lives of children and families while enjoying a flexible work environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering QA, Recruitment, Assessment and Panel Manager in Nottingham
✨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 Hope Fostering Services.
✨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 Hope Fostering Services!
✨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 Hope Fostering Services, 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 Hope Fostering Services 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 Fostering QA, Recruitment, Assessment and Panel Manager in Nottingham
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 Hope Fostering Services:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Hope Fostering Services! 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 Hope Fostering Services
✨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.
