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- Tasks: Lead and oversee referral hubs to ensure high-quality placements for children in need.
- Company: Join the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK, rated a Great Place to Work!
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 39 days annual leave, a competitive salary, and a 4-day working week after probation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while driving innovation in fostering services.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's services, strong leadership skills, and a social work qualification required.
- Other info: Flexible benefits platform tailored to your needs and a commitment to employee wellbeing.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: National role with travel
Contract Type: 6 month fixed term contract
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: Competitive dependent on experience
Our Core Benefits include:
- Up to 39 days annual leave (including BH, One Moment in Time day and opportunity to buy 5 extra days)
- Minimum 9% Contributory Pension
- Life Assurance
- ‘The Hub’ discount marketplace
- EAP
- Occupational Health
- Sick pay
- Family Friendly leave
- Expenses and Mileage
- Tech Scheme
About the Group
With over 20 years experience, National Fostering Group is the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK with a community of over 2,500 foster carers. All of our fostering agencies across the UK are officially recognised by Ofsted, Welsh and Scottish regulators as either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’.
We also offer a 4 day working week - this means 80% of the hours for 100% pay! This will be given following a successful 6 month probationary period and is a performance based benefit.
About the Role
The Referral Hub Director will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all referral hubs across England, with potential links to Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The role is responsible for ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, child-focused placements for children referred by local authorities, many of whom have complex needs. A key focus will be on achieving timely, well-matched and stable placements that support the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
The postholder will lead national efforts to drive consistency across referral operations, promote best practice and embed innovation. This includes improving placement success rates while maintaining robust safeguarding standards, meeting regulatory requirements and delivering against key performance targets.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an experienced senior leader with a strong background in children’s services or fostering, and a proven ability to lead multi-site teams and deliver strategic objectives at a national or regional level. You will have in-depth knowledge of fostering legislation, safeguarding requirements and regulatory frameworks, alongside experience of improving referral and placement matching processes for children with complex needs.
The ideal candidate will be highly skilled in performance management, using data, KPIs and insight to drive continuous improvement and achieve positive outcomes for children and young people. You will be an excellent communicator and relationship builder, confident in working collaboratively with local authorities, foster carers and internal stakeholders. A recognised social work qualification, professional registration and the ability to travel regularly across the UK are essential for this role.
Why work for us?
At National Fostering Group, our employee’s health and wellbeing are important to us. We offer an exceptional rewards package as well as access to our flexible benefits platform - so you can choose extra benefits that are suited to you. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks. We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Referral Hub Director employer: National Fostering Group
Contact Detail:
National Fostering Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Referral Hub Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fostering and children's services sector. Let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities, and don't hesitate to ask for introductions or referrals. Personal connections can often lead to job openings that aren't advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their approach to fostering and child welfare. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference in children's lives.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable discussing your experience in leading teams and improving processes. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, get your application in and let’s make a difference together!
We think you need these skills to ace Referral Hub Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Referral Hub Director role. Highlight your experience in children's services and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about fostering and how you can contribute to our goals. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality come through!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and improve outcomes for children. Use data and examples to back up your claims – we appreciate a results-driven approach!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our fantastic benefits!
How to prepare for a job interview at National Fostering Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fostering legislation and safeguarding requirements. The role of Referral Hub Director is all about ensuring high-quality placements, so being well-versed in these areas will show that you're serious about the job.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led multi-site teams in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your ability to drive consistency and promote best practices across referral operations.
✨Data is Your Friend
Be ready to discuss how you've used data and KPIs to improve performance in previous roles. Highlight any specific metrics you've improved and how that positively impacted outcomes for children and young people. This will show that you can leverage insights to drive continuous improvement.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can communicate your relationship-building skills during the interview. Be prepared to share examples of how you've collaborated with local authorities, foster carers, and other stakeholders. This is crucial for a role that requires strong partnerships to achieve the best outcomes.
