Deputy Team Manager Fostering

Join to apply for the Deputy Team Manager Fostering role at Milton Keynes City Council.

We have a brilliant opportunity for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Deputy Team Manager to join our Fostering Service within Children’s Social Care.

You’ll report to the Fostering Operations Manager alongside another Deputy Team manager, managing Senior Practitioners, Social Workers and Social Work Assistants to fulfil Milton Keynes City Council’s statutory requirements under the Children Act 1989, Fostering Regulations 2011 and National Minimum Standards 2011.

The work of the team covers mainstream fostering, kinship and special guardianship. The team you will manage focuses on the support and supervision of foster carers, kinship carers and special guardians.

Location and Work Arrangement

This is a site‑based role. Managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and circumstances.

Interviews for this role will be held on 2 December.

Main Responsibilities

• Support the Fostering Operations Manager to ensure that services are delivered in line with legal requirements and ensure that all children placed with carers are safeguarded and their wellbeing is promoted.
• Assist in the recruitment, retention and support of foster carers, and the timely completion of assessments.
• Oversee the placement duty system.
• Support the Fostering Operations Manager with the development of Fostering strategies and policies and completion of household reviews.
• Manage the team, supervising social work staff and allocating cases.
• Undertake staff performance tasks as directed by the Fostering Operations Manager to ensure staff performance conforms to the required professional and performance standards.

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified Social Worker with a valid Social Work England registration, eligible to work in the UK and hold a UK driving licence. Minimum of 4 years post qualification experience.
• Experience of case management practice within the Fostering Service and supervisory experience of Social Workers, Social Work Assistants to improve outcomes.
• Self‑motivated and able to analyse highly complex information, summarise and write/record relevant information clearly and concisely so that it is easily understood.
• Able to make difficult decisions and support staff in complex work.
• Able to lead and motivate staff to deliver changes and improve practice.
• Good interpersonal, organisational and information management skills.
• Candidate required to have a full UK driving licence, access to a vehicle, and evidence of vehicle insurance with business insurance. Without this documentation the candidate will not be appointable.
• Enhanced DBS will be actioned as part of pre‑employment checks (unless on DBS Update Service).

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits – most roles include 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. Holiday purchase scheme allows up to 5 additional days each year.
• Excellent pension – eligible to join the National Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Family‑friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award‑winning employee benefits programme with health cash plan, low‑cost bike purchase scheme, high‑street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low‑cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card – discounts from national retailers and local businesses for social care staff.

About the Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern, and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across eight areas. We provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round‑the‑clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, such as protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. Working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and, because of the size and scale of the organisation, there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.